Arlington House The Robert E Lee Memorial - Plan Your Visit (U.S. National Park Service)

Keith Drews

Arlington House on a September morning

Arlington House was the home of Robert E. Lee and it was here, in his second floor bedchamber, that he made his decision to resign from the United States Army at the start of the Civil War. Two days after writing his resignation letter Lee left and never returned.

Be prepared to spend an hour touring the house, walking through the flower garden and visiting the Robert E. Lee Museum. Of course you may spend as much time as you like. The view of Washington DC from Arlington House is the best, with the possible exception of what can be seen from the top of the Washington Monument or the Old Post Office Tower. George Washington Parke Custis built his home on this hill so that it could be easily seen by anyone in the city named for his 'father'.

Guided tours of Arlington House are now provided by park rangers. The tours run every 20 minutes, with the first tour starting at 9:30 am. The last tour of the day will begin at 4:10 pm and the house will remain open until 4:30 pm. Tours will be given on a first come, first served basis and there are no advance tickets. Visitors may still tour the Center Hall, White Parlor and Morning Room, the North Wing, museum and exhibits independent of the guided tours. The second floor is available only to those taking the guided tour.

Arlington House is currently empty of furnishings in preparation for a major restoration and rehabilitation project due to start in 2008. The house will continue to be open to the public while much of the work is conducted with some possible exceptions. Please call ahead to be sure the house is open on the day of your visit. The work should be finished in 2010 at which time the furnishings will return.

Just down the hill from Arlington House is the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy. And on the next hill to the south is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the changing of the guard takes place every hour on the hour. From April 1st to September 30th the changing of the guard occurs every thirty minutes.