As you walk past the thousands of white headstones lining Arlington National Cemetery, don’t be surprised to hear “Taps” in the distance. The cemetery averages 28 funerals a day, honoring not only soldiers who have fallen recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, but many World War II and Vietnam veterans who have asked to be buried here. More than 300,000 people are interred on this 612-acre site in Arlington, VA, located just across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. They include the nation’s war dead and soldiers going back to the American Revolution, as well as 3,800 former slaves, whose graves are marked with the words “Citizen” or “Civilian.”
The Tomb of the Unknowns, where three servicemen are interred, is among the most visited sites at the cemetery and hosts presidential wreath-layings on Memorial and Veteran’s Days. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by Tomb Guard sentinels, members of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry. The guard changes every hour, on the hour, Oct. 1 to Mar. 31, in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 through Sept. 30, another change of the guard is added on the half hour.
The gravesite of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, settled on a steep hillside below the Custis-Lee Mansion, is also worth a visit. Here, the Eternal Flame burns from the center of a circular granite stone; it was installed at the request of Mrs. Kennedy when the President was buried in November 1963. Robert Kennedy is also buried at the cemetery, as are the seven crew members of the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger. A 40-acre cemetery expansion is currently under way; it is expected to make space available for burials through 2060.
Travel Tips
Arlington National Cemetery offers a free shuttle service for individuals to visit a gravesite. For more on the cemetery, visit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil
Travel InformationArlington National Cemetery Hours: Arlington National Cemetery opens to the public daily at 8:00 a.m. From April 1 to September 30, the cemetery closes at 7:00 p.m., from October 1 to March 31, it closes at 5:00 p.m. Admission: Free Parking: Paid parking is available to visitors, accessible from Memorial Avenue. The parking garage closes 1 hour after the cemetery. Metrorail: Blue Line stop for Arlington Cemetery. |
Nearby Attractions
Lincoln Memorial
Pentagon
Marine Corps War Memorial — Iwo Jima Memorial
Suggested Tours
Old Town Trolley Tour
Need advice as to the best option to visit the various historical sites in the Arlington National Cemetery during the first two weeks of October, 2019.
We will be visiting the D.C. area this summer and would like to visit Arlington National Cemetery. I noticed their website says that only bottled water is allowed in, are there lockers or anywhere similar that are available for temporary storage for the other items we will have with us?
According to the Arlington Cemetery web site, there are not lockers available for visitors. If you want to ask them how to handle your other belongings, you can call them at 877-907-8585, or fill out a question form at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/ContactUs/FeedbackForm.aspx.
My family and I will be visiting the DC area around Christmas. A friend has told us that Arlington offers a tour that stops at all the popular spots in the cemetery. I am unable to find any info online on a tour. Could you please give me any info on this matter?
Thank you
-michele
According to Arlington National Cemetery:
“The Tourmobile which was the only authorized tour operator to service sites within Arlington National Cemetery, ceased all tour operations Monday, October 31, 2011. The National Park Service maintained the Tourmobile contract and is exploring options to continue providing tour service at Arlington.”