It might sound a bit morbid, but a visit to Arlington National Cemetery is a truly poignant experience. You’ll see line upon line of simple military graves as far as the eye can see. The cemetery is geared up for visitors and amongst the most notable graves here, you’ll find the grave of John F Kennedy with its eternal flame.
Technically Arlington Cemetery is in Virginia as it’s on the opposite side of the river to Washington DC, but the Metro ride from the city centre last no more than 10 minutes. Around 4 million people visit the cemetery annually and the first stop is the Visitors Center where you’ll find exhibits, maps and information if you’re looking for a specific grave. There are plenty of signs to John F Kennedy’s grave and the eternal flame.
On the hill overlooking the cemetery is Arlington House (pictured below) which is the national memorial to Robert E. Lee, who was a prominent figure promoting peace and reunion after the US Civil War. There is a self guided tour of the house you can do which calls into his old office. The house was originally built as a memorial to George Washington.
Arlington National Cemetery is open to the public at 8am every day of the year. From April 1st to September 30th, the cemetery closes at 7pm whilst the other six months of the year, it closes at 5pm. There is no admission fee. The easiest way to get here is on the Metro – the cemetery has its own stop.
Location & Contact
Address: Arlington National Cemetery, 214 McNair Rd, Fort Myer, VA 22211-1304, United States.
Tel: +1 703 607 8000
More on Arlington National Cemetery
Washington DC City Guide – From our sister site, Free-City-Guides.com
Arlington Cemetery – Official Website
Arlington Cemetery – Wikipedia