Flower garden at Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial consists of approximately 16 acres of the original 1,100-acre estate of George Washington Parke Custis. Aside from the mansion, the grounds include two of the original slave quarters that now house exhibits on slavery at Arlington House prior to the Civil War and what happened to the freed workers after the war; a 1920s brick building that now serves as the Robert E. Lee Museum; a flower garden; and a kitchen garden (aka vegetable garden and orchard). There is also a book and souvenir store located across from the Robert E. Lee Museum.

Book and gift store at Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

The gardens have been placed close to the house, though nobody knows for sure where the originals were located. Flowers, vegetables, and fruits that were grown at Arlington in 1861 are grown today: roses, peas, beans, potatoes, corn, asparagus, strawberries, cherries, and pears. The vegetable garden was used to feed the residents of the plantation, while flower gardening was a favorite pastime of the Custis and Lee women. Mary Lee sold flowers from the garden to raise money to help freed slaves return to Africa.

Gardeners working at the Kitchen Garden of Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

The original driveway to the house is lined with the graves of Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. After confiscating the Arlington plantation when Mary Lee failed to pay a property tax, the government created Arlington National Cemetery, a political move designed to infuriate Robert E. Lee. If he were ever to return, he would have a permanent reminder of the men who died due to a rebellion that he helped lead. He never did return. Mary Lee came back only one time before her death in 1873.

Graves of Union soldiers line the driveway to Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

Grave of Lieutenant John Goulding at Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

At the front of the house is the tomb of Pierre L’Enfant, the man who designed Washington D. C. L’Enfant was originally buried on Digges Farm in Prince Georges County, Maryland, when he died in 1825. Because he fought in the American Revolution, he was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in 1909.

Grave of Pierre L’Enfant at Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

Union General Philip Sheridan is also buried near Arlington House, though it is not very noticeable from the top of the hill. His monument is slightly down the hill and off to the left when looking out over the Potomac River towards Washington. Sheridan was a general in the Civil War and was later promoted to General of the Army (5-star general) by President Grover Cleveland.

Grave of General Philip Sheridan on the grounds of Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial

Located directly below Arlington House is the grave of President John F. Kennedy. The placement of his grave undoubtedly draws many tourists who subsequently wander up to the house to see what it is. Arlington House is the most visited historical home in the National Park system.

View of President John F. Kennedy’s grave from Arlington House

A walk around the grounds, including stops at the Robert E. Lee Museum and the slave quarters buildings, takes about an hour.

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