One of the most sacred spaces in a region filled with memorials and monuments is Arlington National Cemetery, located directly across the Potomac from the U.S. Capital. Jim Carr, a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel, offers an overview of its history and heritage and examines what sets Arlington National Cemetery apart from other cemeteries in the world.

He covers some of the customs and cultures of the five traditional military services; noteworthy figures, including two presidents, buried here; and some of the unique headstones and sections in the cemetery. He also discusses one of the cemetery’s most distinctive ceremonies, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which observed its 100th anniversary on Veterans Day 2021, as well as the history of the venerable Tomb Guards.

Carr is president of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C., and a former official with the Secretary of the Navy.

Patron Information

• If you register multiple individuals, you will be asked to supply individual names and email addresses so they can receive a Zoom link email. Please note that if there is a change in program schedule or a cancellation, we will notify you via email, and it will be your responsibility to notify other registrants in your group.
• Unless otherwise noted, registration for streaming programs typically closes two hours prior to the start time on the date of the program.
• Once registered, patrons should receive an automatic email confirmation from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.
• Separate Zoom link information will be emailed closer to the date of the program. If you do not receive your Zoom link information 24 hours prior to the start of the program, please email Customer Service for assistance.
• View Common FAQs about our Streaming Programs on Zoom.