Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
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Location
Arlington, inside Arlington National Cemetery
Operated by
National Park Service
Admission
Free; no entrance pass required
Getting there
Arlington Cemetery Metro station or cemetery visitor parking
Arlington House is more than a grand Greek Revival mansion overlooking Washington, D.C. Built between 1802 and 1818 for George Washington Parke Custis, it became home to his daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis and her husband, Robert E. Lee. The National Park Service interprets the house, grounds and surviving outbuildings as a place shaped by the Washington, Custis and Lee families—and by the enslaved people whose labor built and sustained the estate.[1]
Plan time for the mansion, museum, gardens and the North and South Enslaved People’s Quarters. The house sits within Arlington National Cemetery, and reaching it from the cemetery’s Welcome Center involves a steep uphill walk; visitors can also use the cemetery’s official bus service. Check current entry arrangements, hours and transportation details before setting out.[2]
Plan a trip to Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Why visit Arlington House?
The appeal is the chance to encounter several layers of American history in one compact visit. The mansion preserves the story Custis wanted to tell about George Washington, while the outbuildings and exhibits help visitors understand the realities of plantation life and slavery. The views across the Potomac River toward the capital add context to the estate’s setting, but the strongest experience comes from exploring the whole site rather than treating the mansion as a stand-alone historic home.
Start here
Begin with the outdoor interpretation and museum, then visit the mansion and the two Enslaved People’s Quarters. This order helps place the elegant rooms and gardens in the wider history of the plantation and the people who lived and worked there. NPS exhibits include objects associated with the Custis and Lee families, as well as interpretation of enslaved people’s lives at Arlington.[3]
What to see and do
Tour the mansion
Explore the open portions of the house, including rooms associated with Robert E. Lee and the Custis-Lee family. The self-guided route and which rooms are open can vary, so check current NPS information.
Visit the Enslaved People’s Quarters
See the North and South quarters and their interpretation of the people enslaved on the estate. These buildings are essential to understanding how the plantation functioned and whose labor made it possible.
Explore the museum
Exhibits and objects help tell the stories of the Lee and Custis families and the history of the site.
Walk the grounds and gardens
Follow the paths around the mansion, garden and outbuildings. Outdoor interpretation considers the different experiences and perspectives connected to the estate.
Look for the wider view
The hilltop setting looks across the Potomac toward Washington, D.C. Take time to notice how the estate’s position relates to the capital and the surrounding cemetery.
History and significance
George Washington Parke Custis began building Arlington House in 1802 as both his home and a memorial to his adoptive grandfather, George Washington. The house was completed in 1818. Custis’s daughter Mary Anna married Robert E. Lee there in 1831, and the property later became the Lee family home.[4]
Enslaved people made and fired bricks, harvested timber and carried out the work of building and maintaining the estate. The NPS describes Arlington as home to dozens of enslaved people over nearly six decades, including people whose families and descendants are part of the site’s history. Their stories are not an aside to the mansion’s history; they are central to understanding how Arlington was built and lived in.[5][6]
During the Civil War, the United States Army took control of the property, and the estate became the site of Arlington National Cemetery. The NPS has stewarded Arlington House since 1933. Its interpretation today brings together the history of the mansion, the plantation, enslavement and the creation of the cemetery.[7]
Planning a visit
Arlington House is inside Arlington National Cemetery, not a separate drive-up attraction. The Arlington Cemetery station on Metro’s Blue Line is near the cemetery Welcome Center. Visitors arriving by car park at the Welcome Center; the walk uphill to Arlington House is steep. The cemetery’s official bus service is another way to reach the site. Confirm current cemetery entry, transportation and parking arrangements before visiting.[8]
NPS currently lists the house, grounds, museum and Enslaved People’s Quarters as open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last entry to the mansion at 4 p.m.; the site is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is free, though parking or transportation charges may apply. Hours and access can change, so verify them on the official NPS visit page before traveling.[9]
The main floor of the house, museum and quarters are wheelchair accessible, and paved paths connect key areas. The hilltop location and walk from the Welcome Center may be challenging; NPS provides mobility and transportation details, including information about the cemetery bus and walking routes. Check the accessibility pages for current specifics and assistance options.[10]
Nearby attractions
Arlington, Virginia
Explore the communities, parks and landmarks surrounding the cemetery.
Alexandria, Virginia
A historic Potomac waterfront city a short distance south of Arlington.
George Washington Memorial Parkway
A scenic route connecting riverfront landscapes and historic destinations in Northern Virginia.
Great Falls Park
See the Potomac River’s dramatic falls and gorge upstream from Arlington.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ History & Culture, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Things To Do, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ History & Culture, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Slavery at Arlington, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Architecture and Construction, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ History & Culture, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Directions, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Accessibility, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.