Remembering the Price of Freedom at Arlington National Cemetery
Over 400,000 fallen soldiers are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, one of the most iconic and beautiful cemeteries in the world. It's honorable to pay your respects to our fallen soldiers, former Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices at this nationally recognized historical landmark in Arlington, Virginia, any day. Admission is free, and getting here is easy if you're visiting Washington, DC, near the White House and Capitol Building.
160 Years of Arlington National Cemetery
2024 marks 160 years of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). It was established in 1864. The cemetery has grown since the 19th century from 200 acres to 639 acres. It is the only cemetery with soldiers from all of America’s conflicts. Visiting is free, and it's an ideal place to pay your respects to our Armed Forces, whether on a family vacation, on a date in Arlington, or you're local. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Three graves are honored at the Tombo of the Unknown Soldier. Three unknown servicemen represent the two World Wars and the Korean War here. It's incredibly moving to stand at this point and thank our nation's servicemen and women as you look out to the capital, reflecting on those who give their lives to protect our freedom. Read more: Creative Date Ideas in Arlington
Changing of the Guard
There is always an armed serviceman at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. One of the highlights of visiting Arlington National Cemetery is witnessing the Changing of the Guard. This happens every thirty minutes or on the hour, depending on the season. The guards' steps are very methodical and symbolic: they take 21 steps and pause for 21 seconds, reflecting the highest military honor: the 21-Gun Salute. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
Memorial Amphitheater
The Memorial Amphitheater is a gorgeous marble structure and gathering place in ANC. Each year, three memorial services are conducted here on Easter, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. The events are sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The amphitheater can accommodate 5,000 visitors. Inside the apse is the inscription, “When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen.”, said George Washington in a letter to the New York Provincial Congress, dated June 26, 1775. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
Arlington House: A Historic Estate
Today, the National Park Service owns and operates Arlington House, which sits on a hill overlooking Arlington National Cemetery. Built by enslaved African Americans between 1802 and 1818, George Washington Parke Custis (George Washington's relative) and his wife, Mary Lee Fitzhugh, lived here until they died in 1857 and 1853, respectively. Their daughter, who was married to Robert E. Lee, inherited the estate in 1857. Read more: Creative Date Ideas in Arlington
Supreme Court Justices
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is buried in a plot with her husband, Marty, in Arlington National Cemetery. Their gravesite is very close to John F. Kennedy and the Eternal Flame. This impactful Supreme Court Justice died from pancreatic cancer in September 2020. Her husband was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army and lost his battle with testicular cancer in 2010. The grave of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall is steps away. Read more: Creative Date Ideas in Arlington
Gravesite of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
Only two U.S. Presidents are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest here after his assassination in 1963. Though he was originally buried elsewhere on the property, the construction of his final resting place at its current location concluded in 1967 to accommodate the vast number of annual visitors his grave receives. First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was laid to rest by his side in 1994.
Speech Excerpts from John F. Kennedy
When you visit the grave of John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, you enter a small plaza. Within this plaza is a granite wall overlooking an amazing view of Washington, DC. The granite is inscribed with excerpts from President Kennedy's famous inaugural address, which included the famous sentence, “Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.” Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
Plaques and Memorials at Arlington National Cemetery
Memorials and plaques throughout the cemetery indicate what groups or organizations have made certain areas possible, including various plantings. Here, the Daughters of the American Revolution planted an American Red Maple in memory of those who served in the Revolution. ANC is a Level III Arboretum with 400 varieties of trees (the highest level is Level IV). Read more: Creative Date Ideas in Arlington
AnC is a Cemetery with Daily Funerals
Arlington National Cemetery has always been — and remains — an active cemetery. Respect is required when you visit, including speaking quietly, not sitting on or vandalizing any graves or monuments, being mindful of the landscaping, and respecting funeral services and mourning visitors. Signs are posted throughout ANC to remind visitors of these rules. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
ANC Welcome Center
The Welcome Center is where all guests enter the cemetery. All guests proceed through metal detectors to ensure the safety of everyone there. ANC is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you wish to upgrade your experience, you can pay for the trolley tour or a guided walking tour, though entrance to the cemetery is free. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
Education at Arlington National Cemetery
ANC is a historic cemetery but also an educational place. Millions of annual visitors gain perspective and insight here, starting at the Welcome Center. Download the ANC Explorer app for additional information as you explore the property at your own pace. Be sure to bring water for hot months; there is a refilling station for your water bottle at the Welcome Center.
Medal of Honor
Three Medals of Honor are on display in the Welcome Center. This incredibly special medal is awarded for acts of valor beyond the call of duty. Different yet similar designs are designated for the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Of more than 3,500 recipients, the only woman to have received the award was Mary E. Walker, a surgeon during the Civil War in the 1860s. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
Gravestone Requirements
The U.S. government provides upright, white marble headstones or white marble niche covers for the deceased. Because of the cemetery's limited space, ANC no longer accepts private, non-government-provided headstones, though they can still be seen in various areas of the cemetery.
No funeral service goes Unattended
Thousands of service men and women are buried in ANC. Families and friends are encouraged to attend the services. The Arlington Ladies is a volunteer group formed in 1948 to ensure no Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Coast Guardsman is buried alone. Read more: Top Arlington Attractions
