Arlington National Cemetery, Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 703-557-0613
Open All Year
Overview. Robert E. Lee resigned his commission with the U.S. Army in 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War. Lee went to war, and his wife and family moved to Richmond, the Confederate capital. They left behind a 1,100-acre estate on the Potomac River. Designed by the architect who envisioned the Capitol, Arlington House was originally owned by George Washington's adopted son George Washington Parke Custis. Lee married into the Custis family, and the mansion became his home until the Civil War. In 1864, the U.S. government confiscated the property when the Lees didn't pay Federal taxes. Two hundred acres of the estate were reserved for what is now the country's most famous national cemetery. The house has been restored to its 1861 appearance in tribute to Robert E. Lee. What to see and do. Arlington House is open daily from 9:30 AM to 6 PM, April through September (to 4:30 PM October through March). It is closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Inside the 26-room house, costumed staff members answer questions you may have along your self-guided tour. The first floor is accessible. Groups can arrange for guided tours during the summer season. Call for information. In the dining room, you'll find the original china and glassware used by the Lee and Custis families. A few original pieces of furniture remain, but most are period pieces. Outside you can walk through the landscaped grounds. If you visit on June 30th, don't miss the special events scheduled in honor of Lee's wedding anniversary. In January, the site celebrates his birthday. Call ahead for details about these occasions.
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