Things To Do

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Self-Guided Tour of House

Arlington House Self-Guided Tour (September-May, 9:30-4:30, with last entry to the plantation house at 4:00; June-August 9:00-4:30, with last entry to the plantation house at 4:00)

Visitors typically spend 10-20 minutes in each of Arlington House's four buildings. In the south wing of Arlington House, you will view museum exhibits and period furniture and objects associated with Mr. and Mrs. Lee, George Washington, and George Washington Parke Custis. No tickets are required.

Getting There
Access to Arlington House is through Arlington National Cemetery either from the Cemetery’s Parking Garage or by Arlington Cemetery Metro. You cannot drive directly to Arlington House. From within the Cemetery you can take the Arlington Cemetery Tour trolley, or walk, about 15-20 minutes from the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center Security Access Point up a hill to Arlington House.

Restricted Areas
Do not cross barriers or rope stanchions. The site is monitored by security cameras and alarm systems. Do not attempt to touch or get close to historic objects in the house. Look but do not touch. The north wing and upstairs portions of the house are not open at this time.

Restricted Items Inside Buildings
The National Park Service prohibits the following inside Arlington House, museum and North and South Slave Quarters.

• Smoking;

• Food and drink (except a small quantity of sealed food items);

• Strollers;

• Bags larger than 18 x 16 x 8 inches;

• Animals (except service animals);

• Glass;

• Weapons;

• Ammunition;

• Mace or aerosols;

• Explosives or highly flammable substances

Group Tours

Arlington House is a self-guided experience. Public guided group tours are not available.

Ranger Guided Programs

Please see the calendar for free ranger talks.

 

The Museum in the old potting shed on site.

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Museum and Slave Quarters

The Museum at Arlington House contains exhibits and artifacts about Robert E. Lee and his family. Included are original objects from the Lee and Custis families.

The two slave quarters are located on the North and South ends of Arlington House and help to tell the story of those enslaved at Arlington House.
All three buildings are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

View from Arlington House of Arlington Memorial Bridge and the National Mall.

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Other Nearby Sites

Arlington National Cemetery surrounds Arlington House, occupying more than half of the 1100 acres of land that was Arlington Plantation, home of George Washington Parke Custis and Robert E. Lee. Visit the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy and see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The National Mall is just across the Potomac River from Arlington House. The National Mall and Memorial Parks include the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the National World War II Memorial.

Arlington House is administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway and also includes the Netherlands Carillon and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (often called the Iwo Jima Memorial), both located just north of Arlington Cemetery. The parkways runs alongside the Potomac River from the American Legion Bridge on the beltway to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate.