Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, managed by the United States Army. It covers 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia and is the resting place of more than 400,000 people.

The cemetery was created on May 13, 1864, during the American Civil War. The land came from the home of Robert E. Lee, a leader of the Confederate States Army, after a tax problem with the U.S. federal Government.

Today, Arlington National Cemetery has about 27 to 30 funerals each weekday and between six and eight on Saturdays. In 2014, the cemetery and nearby places were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

History

19th century

In 1802, George Washington Parke Custis began building Arlington House on land he owned. Custis later lived at Mount Vernon with George Washington and Martha.

Custis married Mary Lee Fitzhugh in 1804, and they had four children, but only one lived to adulthood. In 1818, Arlington House was finished. It was meant to honor George Washington, who had died before it was built.

American Civil War

The American Civil War began in 1861 after the bombing of Fort Sumter. Virginia decided to leave the Union, which made Washington, D.C., less safe.

When the war started, soldiers who died near Washington, D.C., were buried in cemeteries in the city or Alexandria, Virginia. By 1863, these cemeteries were almost full.

In 1864, the Union Army decided to create a new national military cemetery. They chose the Arlington Estate because it was high up, usually not flooded, and had been the home of Robert E. Lee, a leader of the other side. On May 13, 1864, the first person was buried at Arlington Cemetery.

In 1866, a church was built nearby. Later, some people had to leave the area as it became part of a military space.

U.S. v. Lee

In 1874, George Washington Custis Lee sued the U.S. government for the Arlington Cemetery land. In 1882, the U.S. Supreme Court said the government had taken the land without following the rules.

But Lee later sold the land back to the government for money.

20th century

By 1900, the last residents of a settlement for freed slaves had left. As more soldiers died in wars like World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, more burial space was needed at Arlington.

In 1929, a Memorial Day ceremony was held there for the first time.

In the 1990s, plans were made to clear land for more graves. In 1992, a company gave wreaths to honor soldiers buried there, which became an annual tradition.

21st century

In the early 2000s, the cemetery had problems with mistakes in grave markings and burials. More staff and new leaders were added to fix things.

Plans continued to expand the cemetery to provide space for future burials. In 2014, the cemetery celebrated its 150th anniversary with special events.

Management

In 2017, Katharine Kelley became the superintendent of the cemetery. She moved to another Army job in 2019.

In 2020, Charles R. "Ray" Alexander became the superintendent of the cemetery.

Sections

The Cemetery has 70 sections, with some areas kept open for future burials. Section 60 holds service members who died after 2001. Section 21, called the Nurses Section, honors many nurses and includes the Spanish–American War Nurses Memorial and the Nurses Memorial. Another area, Chaplains Hill, features monuments for Jewish, Protestant, and Roman Catholic military chaplains.

In 1901, soldiers who fought for the Confederacy were buried in a special section after being moved from other places. The United Daughters of the Confederacy put up the Confederate Memorial in 1914. These graves have pointed headstones instead of rounded ones.

More than 3,800 people who were once enslaved are buried in Section 27 between 1864 and 1867. Their headstones say "Civilian" or "Citizen."

Grave markers, niches, and headstones

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs helps families put special signs on grave markers in military cemeteries. These signs can show the person's beliefs and are put on stone markers or covers for ashes. As of March 2026, there are 98 different signs to choose from.

In the past, some signs were not allowed, but rules have changed to include more choices. Before 2001, people could put their own markers in some parts of the cemetery, but those areas are almost full now. Some older parts have many different markers, including one that looks like a big gun. There are also markers for soldiers from other countries who fought with the United States in World War I and World War II.

Arlington Memorial Amphitheater

Main article: Arlington Memorial Amphitheater

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is part of the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater. This special place holds important ceremonies for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Easter. Each year, many people come to these events. The amphitheater was built from strong marble stone from Vermont. Inside, there is a beautiful room made from stone that came from Italy.

The idea for this amphitheater came from a person named Ivory Kimball who wanted a place to honor those who served America. The U.S. Congress approved building it on 4 March 1913. The first stone was placed by Woodrow Wilson in 1915. Before this grand building was finished in 1921, important events were held at an older amphitheater. That older place was built in 1868. Many famous people have spoken there over the years.

Memorials

Main article: List of memorials and monuments at Arlington National Cemetery

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Main article: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington National Cemetery)

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a special place at Arlington National Cemetery. It looks over Washington, D.C. The tomb holds remains of soldiers whose identities were never found from big wars, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The tomb is made from strong marble and was finished in 1932.

Special soldiers called Tomb Guards watch over the tomb all the time. They move in careful steps and turns to keep an eye on the tomb. This tradition began in 1937 and continues today.

Other memorials

Arlington National Cemetery has many memorials for important events and people. Because space is limited, new memorials need special approval. Some memorials remember people who died in airplane accidents, wars, and other important events. Each memorial tells the story of those who were lost and honors their memory.

Burial procedures

The flags at Arlington National Cemetery are lowered each day during funerals. Funerals happen about five days a week. About 6,900 people are buried there every year.

Besides regular burials, the cemetery also has a place for cremated remains. Right now, four sections are open, each holding 5,000 spots. When finished, there will be nine sections with space for 100,000 remains. Any veteran who served honorably can be buried here if they served on active duty at some point.

Burial criteria

Rules for who can be buried at Arlington are very specific because space is limited. Only certain people can be buried there, and they must have left the armed forces honorably. This includes current service members, retired veterans, and others who have earned special awards or held important government jobs.

Inurnment criteria for columbarium

Because there is less space for regular burials, the rules for burying cremated remains are not as strict. Generally, any former service member who left honorably and served on active duty can be buried in the columbarium.

Prohibitions against interment or memorialization

Some people are not allowed to be buried at Arlington, even if they would normally qualify. This includes those convicted of certain serious crimes, as decided by Congress to keep the cemetery respectful for all.

Notable burials

Main article: List of burials at Arlington National Cemetery

The first soldier buried at Arlington was Private William Henry Christman from Pennsylvania in May 1864. Many brave people are buried there, including 396 who received the Medal of Honor for their bravery.

Arlington has held important funerals for leaders, including Presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy, and General of the Armies John J. Pershing. U.S. presidents are allowed to be buried there because they lead the armed forces as commanders-in-chief.

One of the most visited places is the grave of President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy. Their son Patrick and their baby daughter Arabella are also buried nearby. Kennedy’s grave has a special flame that always burns. His brothers, Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy, and Robert’s wife Ethel Kennedy, are buried close by.

Many important military people from all backgrounds rest at Arlington. This includes General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., the first Black brigadier general of the United States Air Force, and many others from different parts of the world and many different roles in the military.

Visitor requirements

In 2016, Arlington National Cemetery added new rules to keep visitors safe. Some rules might make visits take longer.

Bicycles are only allowed if you have a special family pass because they can be unsafe.

The cemetery also added more security. Visitors must enter through special gates: the main entrance on Memorial Avenue, the Ord and Weitzel gate, and the Old Post Chapel gate at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Everyone walking in must go through a screening area at the Welcome Center. Cars need to show a valid government ID, like a driver’s license or passport, and might be checked randomly. These steps could make waiting times longer when entering the cemetery.