Arlington National Cemetery tours

The Arlington National Cemetery located in Arlington County, Virginia, is the biggest military cemetery in the United States of America. Just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., the 624 acre cemetery was established during the Civil War and is under control by the United States Department of the Army.

Back in 1802, the Arlington Estate was originally owned by George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted grandson of former President George Washington. After Custis passed, his estate was inherited by his daughter Mary Anna, who happened to be married to U.S. Army officer Robert E. Lee.

After the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, General Lee resigned from the Army in order to take command of the Virginia forces and fled the estate where he had lived for 30 years, never to return. The government seized the property in 1864 and turned it into a new military cemetery since the one in Washington D.C. was already full to capacity.

Discover the rich history of the land on a guided tour and visit the final resting place for over 400,000 military veterans and their family members. From the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan, World War I and II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, the Cold War, and Civil War, the Arlington National Cemetery is the only military cemetery to hold servicemembers from every war in U.S. history. You can also pay a visit to the gravesites of John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft, two Presidents that are buried in the cemetery.

Watch the ritual Changing of the Guard that happens every hour on the hour, or every half hour, depending on the month. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is guarded 24 hours a day by the most qualified members of The Old Guard. The tomb contains the remains of service members from both World Wars and the conflict in Korea.

Arlington National Cemetery is open year-round with complimentary admission to tour the grounds but it's recommended to book a private tour to gain more insight. The opening hours vary throughout the year; the cemetery is open from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM April 1-September 30, and from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM October 1 to March 31. It can be easily accessed by car as well as public transportation, the metro stops just across from the cemetery's Visitor Center.

More than three million tourists pass by each year to pay their respects to those who have served honorably and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.