Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 400,000 American veterans and family members. As the largest military cemetery in the world, it preserves the history of the United States’ past. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a visit to the 640-acre cemetery that includes stops at the graves of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy, Arlington House, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Arlington estate was once the home of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted grandson of George Washington. The land passed to Custis’ daughter, Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee, the wife of Robert E. Lee, before being taken over by the Union Army during the Civil War. Since 1864, Arlington National Cemetery has served as the final resting place for veterans of every military conflict.
Learn about the fraught origins of the cemetery in the midst of the Civil War, view the original home of the Custis-Lee family, and enjoy beautiful vistas across the Potomac River of Washington, D.C. Visit two presidential burial sites: those of Kennedy, including the eternal flame, and William Howard Taft. See the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Know Before You Go
- Tour participants meet outside the Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center on the cemetery’s west side (1 Memorial Ave., Fort Myer, Virginia). The tour will end back at the welcome center.
- Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water, and comfortable clothes are recommended.
- The tour involves approximately 2 1/2 to 3 miles of walking and is 2 1/2 hours in length.
Additional Date Options for this Tour
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
