Guide to Arlington National Cemetery

The final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans and their families, Arlington National Cemetery is America’s largest military burial ground for those who have served our nation during times of war — including every military conflict in American history — and times of peace. Our country’s most hallowed ground bears witness to American history and the service and sacrifice of men and women in uniform.

With its rolling green hills speckled with about 8,500 trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, the grounds provide a sense of beauty and tranquility for the 3 million annual visitors. Gardens featuring more than 500 species of trees, shrubs and perennials throughout 639 acres invite moments of reflection and respite. This lovely landscape honors the service of every individual laid to rest here.

rows of graves surrounded by greenery and trees in Arlington National Cemetery

Famous Gravesites

Monuments, memorials and dedicated trees that commemorate individuals and significant events in American history appear among the headstones. They honor members from all branches of the military, as well as astronauts, chaplains, nurses, war correspondents, those who died in the 9/11 Pentagon attack, and the unknown, among others.

Notable graves include 14 Supreme Court Justices, politicians, sports figures, physicians, explorers, cultural figures and 400 Medal of Honor recipients, most of whom served in the military. Among the marquee names are Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg (buried with her U.S. Army veteran husband) and Thurgood Marshall; civil rights activist Medgar Evers; actors Lee Marvin and Jackie Cooper; boxing champ Joe Louis; and big-band leader Glenn Miller.

Only two presidents are buried here: John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite marked by an eternal flame is one of the most visited, and William Howard Taft, who died in 1930.

As you wander through the headstones and monuments, ponder the stories each person could tell about their place in the fabric of U.S. history.

rows of graves shaded by fall foliage at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) in Arlington, Virginia

Active Burial Ground

Still an active burial ground, the cemetery conducts between 33 and 38 funeral services each week. Veterans are laid to rest with dignity and honor by a compassionate work force dedicated to the sacred duty entrusted to them.

As you stroll through the grounds, you may see a horse-drawn caisson carrying an American flag-draped casket or hear the firing of three rifle volleys in the distance and a lone bugler playing the 24 lingering notes of “Taps.”

Changing of the Guard

Watch the time-honored tradition of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) maintaining a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which represents America’s fallen soldiers from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Erected in 1921, this neoclassical, white marble sarcophagus — one of Arlington’s most well-known memorials — is guarded 365 days a year by Tomb Guard sentinels.

Catch the changing of the guard, an elaborate, somber ritual where one sentinel seamlessly assumes guard duty for another. It takes place every hour from October through March and every half hour from April through September.

white Caisson Horses In Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia

Caisson Horses In Arlington National Cemetery - Photo by Andrea Izzotti (Shutterstock)

History

Founded in 1864, the cemetery sits on the former grounds of Arlington House, the onetime mansion of George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington and step-grandson of George Washington. Originally built as a memorial to President Washington, the ground became a burial site for Civil War soldiers with the first military interment for Private William Christman.

Perched on a hill overlooking the cemetery, Arlington House — also known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial — passed to Custis’s daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who was married to Robert E. Lee. After the Lee family vacated the estate in 1861 at the start of the Civil War, it served as a military headquarters, a community for emancipated enslaved people (and their graves) and eventually a national military cemetery. Today, you can tour this preserved historic home daily.

Special Events

More than 3,000 ceremonies and memorial services take place at the cemetery each year, including national observances for Memorial Day and Veterans Day held at the Memorial Amphitheater. Each year for Memorial Day, volunteers place a flag by every tombstone, monument and columbarium row in the cemetery.

Tours

Throughout the year, visitors can take one of countless tram and guided or self-guided walking tours of the property. Most feature the signature points of interest, while others focus on natural highlights such as the Memorial Arboretum, rain gardens and plants. You can join Arlington’s horticulturist, for example, on a memorable walking tour of the well-tended flora at its peak of seasonal splendor.

How to Visit

The cemetery is accessible via the Arlington Cemetery Metro station and via a commercial parking facility located next to the entrance Welcome Center. It’s open seven days a week, 365 days a year.