Arlington National Cemetery

Tour Overview

Arlington National Cemetery is the nation’s most sacred resting place, where more than 400,000 servicemen and women are buried among rolling hills and sweeping views of Washington, DC. Every American war is represented here—from the Revolution to the present day. Two U.S. Presidents, thirteen Supreme Court justices, and countless others whose lives shaped the nation are buried in these hallowed grounds.

Arlington is not only a collection of graves; it is a carefully composed memorial landscape. Its tree-lined avenues, symmetrical rows of headstones, and monumental memorials embody evolving ideas about honor, sacrifice, and national identity. On this guided walk, we’ll explore how history and design converge to make Arlington a living memorial.

What We'll See

We begin outside the Visitor Center with the origin story of Arlington: once the estate of George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington, and later the home of Robert E. Lee. During the Civil War, the Union seized the plantation, and by 1864 Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs transformed it into a cemetery. Meigs envisioned Arlington as a national stage for remembrance and a pointed message to the Lee family. He embedded symbolism into its geography: Union soldiers at Lee’s doorstep, broad vistas oriented toward the Capitol, and a layout conveying discipline, unity, and permanence.

As we walk the grounds, we’ll see how design reinforces meaning at every turn. Arlington House, perched atop the hill, serves as the cemetery’s visual anchor. The nearby grave of Pierre L’Enfant, planner of Washington, DC, commands a sweeping vista across the city he envisioned, though this was not his original resting place. At the foot of the hill, the Kennedy family gravesites, with its iconic eternal flame, introduces a modern memorial language of light and renewal. Section One features some of the oldest and most intriguing graves, including that of Meigs himself.

Our walk culminates at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where austere white marble and the solemn ritual of the Changing of the Guard create one of America’s most powerful symbolic spaces.

Private & Group Tours

Private tours are available any day and time, for groups of all sizes! Check our private bookings calendar to reserve a walking tour for groups of up to twelve people. For times not listed online, groups larger than twelve, driving tours, or custom itineraries, please get in touch.

Tour Details

2.5 hours
2.5 miles
Children under 5 years old are welcome for free.
Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water, and comfortable clothes are recommended!

Where to Meet

Meet your guide outside the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center on the West side. Your tour will end back at the Visitors Center.
GPS Address: 1 Memorial Ave Fort Myer, VA 22211