Information Panel: Cherish these forest trees

Cherish these forest trees...

NPS / Claire Hassler

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Towering groves of oak and chestnut trees once shaded the grounds of Arlington House. A dark, leafy backdrop made the pale-colored bricks pop in contrast. The Custis family admired the natural beauty of the forest, but war and burials transformed the landscape. Only 12 original acres of mature forest, known as Arlington Woods, survive today.

"Recollect, my dear, how much easier it is to cut a tree down than to make one grow."

Marquis de Lafayette to Mary Custis, amid the cool breeze of the Arlington House portico, 1824.

An acorn appears at the top of the Lee family crest, which declares in Latin, "Not Heedless of the Future."

After the Union Army's occupation of Arlington House, the forest was cleared to improve sight lines on the hill.

Union soldiers camped in the woods around Arlington House.