Across the Potomac River is our country’s most recognized and respected burial sites, Arlington National Cemetery. During the American Civil War, these hallowed grounds were occupied by the Confederate States Army and used as a military stronghold.
The restored Arlington House, once the home of General Robert E. Lee, stands in the center of the property. Despite General Lee’s defiance, the building is a protected memorial today due to his aid in uniting the land after the Confederacy’s defeat. Unity is a present focus of the cemetery as the monuments to the former adversaries of Lincoln and Lee sit together with the Memorial Bridge connecting them.
This enormous refuge nestled in an otherwise urban landscape is the final resting place of many: war heroes, freed slaves, even Presidents like John F. Kennedy. Famed sites, such as the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier lay on the property with other attractions the Marine Corp Memorial, Air Force Memorial, and Pentagon just nearby.
