Arlington National Cemetery is one of the capital's most famous places and the final resting place for over 400,000 service members who gave their lives for the nation's freedom, and it's best seen with a private guide with intimate knowledge of the stories of those buried here.
During this inspirational three-hour tour, you will learn the stories of the military heroes, states-people and presidents who have been buried in the cemetery in its over 150-year history.
On your private walking tour, you will:
- Enjoy a tram ride uphill (tickets included) and a walking tour (downhill) of Arlington cemetery grounds;
- Learn about General Robert E. Lee's home and its history during and after the Civil War;
- Discover the tombs of iconic American figures, including President John F. Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, General George Marshall, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and General Philip Sheridan;
- Visit the memorials dedicated to the victims of the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger;
- See the unmissable Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
A sobering reminder of the realities of war, but a stunningly beautiful tribute, the Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of nearly half a million service members and their families.
Your tour begins at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, where you will learn about the astounding efforts of women in service of the military and how servicewomen came to have a dedicated space in Arlington.
Next, you will hear the stories of General Marshall, Chief Justice Rehnquist and Army General Bradley, while visiting their final resting places. From there, you will learn about General Robert E. Lee, the previous owner of these grounds who inhabited Arlington House.
You will also explore lesser-known graves, including famed boxer Joe Lewis and the astronauts of the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger.
Following this, your guide will take you to the highlight of the tour for many—The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where you will be able to see a Changing of the Guard ceremony and hear the harrowing efforts undertaken to uncover the identities of the nation’s fallen soldiers whose bodies have never been identified.