Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery, the most famous cemetery in the country, is the final resting place for many of our nation’s greatest heroes, including more than 300,000 veterans of every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan. Since its founding in 1866, Arlington National Cemetery has provided a solemn place to reflect upon the sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States Armed Forces in the name of our country.

The cemetery's location was formerly Arlington House, the home of Mary Lee Fitzhugh and George Washington Parke Custis, who was George Washington's adopted grandson. Custis chose George Hadfield, an English architect, to create his residence on a hill overlooking Washington. The cemetery's curving lanes follow the terrain's natural topography, and most of the grounds are naturally planted. However, a few significant lanes are bordered with trees, especially in the southeast quadrant of the grounds. Monuments are erected on prominent hills all across the cemetery, and many of them serve as visual and symbolic connections to Washington, DC, which is situated over the Potomac River.

Location: Virginia