Arlington House
321 Sherman Drive, Arlington, Washington DC, VA, 22211
The former home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Arlington House now exists as a museum and a memorial to this complex and controversial figure in American history, as well as the nearly 100 enslaved people who worked for his family. The site contains the main house, a small museum, and North and South Enslaved People’s Quarters.
The basics
Arlington House was originally built as a repository for artifacts and mementos related to George Washington. Today, it’s administered by the National Park Service as an important and complex American monument, and its grounds transformed into Arlington National Cemetery. It stands as a reminder of some of the darkest periods of the nation’s history. Arlington House features on numerous Washington DC and Arlington tours, including hop-on hop-off bus tours, veteran-led itineraries, and Arlington National Cemetery visits.
Things to know before you go
Arlington House is free to visit year-round, and no passes or advance bookings are required.
Only some sections of the memorial are accessible to wheelchair users, including the ground floor of the main house and the museum.
Food and drinks, large bags, strollers, and pets are prohibited in all indoor areas of Arlington House.
The National Park Service does not offer guided tours of Arlington House, and most visits are self-led.
How to get there
Arlington House’s address is: Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington 22211. If traveling from Washington DC by car, take the Memorial Bridge. Arlington House can also be reached by public transportation: Take the Blue Line of the DC Metro to the Arlington Cemetery stop, just a few minutes walk away.
When to get there
Arlington House—including its grounds, museum, and the two Enslaved People’s Quarters—is open daily, from morning until late afternoon (last entry is 30 minutes before closing time). The landmark is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
What to see in Arlington National Cemetery
In 1866, the grounds of the Lee family’s plantation were transformed into Arlington National Cemetery, now the best-known military cemetery in the country. The final resting place of some 400,000 soldiers across several centuries and military conflicts, the cemetery also contains the gravesites of several former presidents and other luminaries. Today, it is a moving place of reflection.
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