Nearly four million visitors come to Arlington National Cemetery each year. Most come to pay respect to their loved ones, to honor the leaders interred here, or to thank the more than 300,000 people buried here, many of whom were soldiers killed in the line of duty.
The original 200 acres were designated as a military cemetery on June 15, 1864. Soldiers and veterans from every war the United States has fought, from the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq, are buried here (those who died prior to the Civil War were reinterred in Arlington after 1900). Three unknown soldiers--from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War-- are buried at the never-officially-named Tomb of the Unknowns. (The Vietnam veteran who had been buried here was identified in 1998, and his body was returned to his family in St. Louis.)
President John F. Kennedy is buried in Arlington. His grave is marked by the Eternal Flame, designed so that a constant spark of electricity ignites the gas, keeping the flame alive through rain and wind.
Arlington National Cemetery Information
Address: Memorial Dr. and Schley Dr., Arlington , VA
Phone: 703/607-8000
Hours of Operation: Apr. - Sept., 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., daily and Oct. - Mar., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily
To learn more about family vacation destinations, see:
- Family Vacations: Learn about hundreds of family vacations in destinations all over North America.
- Virginia State Guide: Learn about Mobil Travel Guide-rated hotels and restaurants in Minnesota, as well as other recreational activities.
- Scenic Drives: For those who think that getting there is half the fun, we have compiled more than 100 of the most scenic drives throughout the country.
