Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Welcome to Arlington National Cemetery, our nation's most sacred shrine.  Please conduct yourselves with dignity and respect at all times.  Please remember these are hallowed grounds.

Arlington National Cemetery is one of only two national cemeteries.  The Arlington Mansion and 200 acres of ground immediately surrounding it were designated officially as a military cemetery June 15, 1864.  Today, in addition to honoring America's fallen heroes, you will also find the Tomb of the Unknowns and the final resting place of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy memorialized by the Eternal Flame.  Located on rolling hills across the Memorial Bridge from DC, Arlington is open to the public.  When visiting Arlington National Cemetery, please be respectful and respect the hallowed grounds.  Make your first stop the visitor's center and pick up a map - you will find the grounds large with many roads and paths to follow.  Additionally, note the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the top of every hour.

	Looking out the gates of Arlington Cemetery			Looking over the wall at the main entrance towards Arlington Mansion
	Kennedy Eternal Flame, Arlington Mansion uphill			View of Lincoln Memorial across Memorial Bridge
	Changing of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier			Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

If you are ambitious (as I was last summer), make the walk from the National Mall, across the Memorial Bridge on foot, all the way to Arlington.  It is a very very long walk - I learned a hard lesson that you must wear comfortable shoes!  But, the view is rewarding, with panoramic views of the Potomac River, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Georgetown in the distance, and behind you are all the monuments on the Mall.  As you cross over into Virginia, you will have a great view of the tall hill atop which the Arlington Mansion is perched.

The Arlington Mansion (Lee Residence) is currently undergoing complete interior renovation, but is open to the public (all rooms are furniture-less).  In several years, once the restoration is complete, all the rooms will look exactly as they did when Lee owned the home (and all the surrounding property) - complete with furniture and furnishings of that era.

Note - there is a charge for the public parking.  Wear comfortable walking shoes when visiting.  Please be respectful when visiting Arlington - do not walk on the grass, do not be boisterous, no jogging at Arlington, and please no smoking or chewing gum at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  View map of Arlington.  Visit the official website for more information. 

Arlington National Cemetery offers many challenging and inspiring photo opportunities.  The visitor's center has a display showing many spectacular and moving photos of Arlington over the years and is a must-see exhibit.  The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier grants visitors to see and photograph the formal ceremony of the changing of the guard.  Another wonderful photo opportunity is from the top of the hill in front of the Arlington Mansion.  From this perch, you can photograph sweeping views of DC (including the monuments and landmarks) as well as dramatic shots of memorial bridge below (best done with clear skies and an afternoon sun).  This same vantage point offers a wonderful night shot of DC as well, but you must time it just right -- the best time to do this is in the winter when the days are shortest (Arlington closes at 5:00 PM in the winter).

DC Lights Viewed from the Lee House, Arlington Cemetery

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