Two-Hour Walking Tour Preview

The cemetery was established during the Civil War to accommodate the sudden influx of military dead who could not be transported home. On May 13, 1864, the first military burial was conducted for Pvt. William Christman, and Arlington officially became a national military cemetery on June 15, 1864. The original 200-acre cemetery has since expanded to 639 acres.

Arlington is an active cemetery, conducting 24 to 27 funeral services each weekday. ANC also hosts more than 3,000 ceremonies each year, including the National Memorial Day Observance and the National Veterans Day Observance. Exhibits in the Welcome Center and the Memorial Amphitheater Display Room feature artifacts and historical photographs, explain ANC's origins, history and meanings.

Guidance for Your Visit

• Allow time to go through security screening and bring minimal to no bags or bulky items.
• We welcome visitors with disabilities. If you have an accessibility or accommodation concern, please contact us at 877-907-8585.
• Consult our visitor tips for overall guidance. Please be mindful that ANC is an active cemetery. During your visit, you may encounter funeral services. Speak quietly and remain at a distance from funerals.
• Enjoy the space appropriately. You may walk on the grass to visit a gravesite, but activities such as running, climbing, bicycling and picnicking are not allowed.
• Stay hydrated! Food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
• Please review our safety guidelines. Call 911 for emergency situations. To report any suspicious activity within the cemetery, call Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Department of Emergency Services at 703-588-2800.

As you walk from the Welcome Center toward President John F. Kennedy's gravesite, you will pass Section 5, the resting place of more than a dozen Supreme Court justices. Most were eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery due to their military service or the military service of a spouse. This steep, picturesque hillside includes the gravesites of, in alphabetical order:

• Warren Earl Burger (1907–1995): The 15th chief justice of the United States, Burger served on the Supreme Court for 17 years. During Burger's tenure, he authored more than 250 decisions and oversaw landmark cases pertaining to capital punishment, school desegregation, abortion and criminal justice procedure. However, he is perhaps best known for authoring the unanimous opinion in United States v. Nixon (1974), which required President Nixon to surrender the White House tape recordings and papers that had been subpoenaed for use in his impeachment trial. (Section 5, Grave 7015-2)
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020): The first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court, and the second female justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg served on the nation’s highest court from Aug. 10, 1993 until her death on Sept. 18, 2020. Described by Chief Justice John Roberts as “a tireless and resolute champion of justice,” Ginsburg steadfastly advocated for the equal rights of all U.S. citizens regardless of gender, race or religion. She is is buried alongside her husband, Martin Ginsburg, an Army veteran and distinguished tax attorney. (Section 5, Grave 7016-1)
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841–1935): Born to an elite Boston family, Oliver Wendell Holmes received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University. In 1881, his book "The Common Law" made Holmes, at only 40 years old, one of the most eminent legal philosophers in the United States. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt nominated him for the Supreme Court. Holmes, still widely cited today, earned his nickname, "The Great Dissenter," on account of his forceful and persuasive dissenting opinions. (Section 5, Grave 7004-A)
• Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993): Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967, Thurgood Marshall was the first Black Supreme Court justice, and the only Black justice during his 24-year tenure. A graduate of Howard University Law School, Marshall founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He won 29 out of 32 cases that he argued before the Supreme Court — including Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which held that the racial segregation of public schools violated the Constitution. (Section 5, Grave 40-3)
• John Paul Stevens(1920–2019): Stevens served more than 30 years on the Court, from December 1975 to June 2010. He is also notable for his military service. After graduating from the University of Chicago, Stevens joined the U.S. Navy on Dec. 6, 1941 — the day before Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Commissioned as a signals intelligence officer, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor through the end of World War II. He received a Bronze Star for his work on breaking Japanese codes. (Section 5, Grave 7015-4)

On Nov. 25, 1963, three days after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery as one of only two presidents buried at here (the other is William Howard Taft). Kennedy’s televised state funeral, watched by millions, led to an unprecedented increase in requests for burials here.

President Kennedy is buried at Arlington National Cemetery due to his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. On Aug. 2, 1943, while on a nighttime patrol, a Japanese destroyer cut his patrol boat, PT-109, in half. Two crew members died, but Kennedy helped save 11 others. The survivors swam for hours until they reached an island. They were rescued several days later.

Other Kennedy family members are buried or memorialized nearby, including Mrs. Kennedy Onassis; two of the couple’s children who died as infants; and brothers Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy (along with his wife, Ethel Kennedy) and Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., all of whom served in the military.

One of the older sections of Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2 was created in the 1870s primarily for Civil War officers. It is one of three "officer's sections" (along with Sections 1 and 3) that originated when burials were segregated by both rank and race.

This vast section is the final resting place of many prominent military leaders, as well as some civilians, who made significant contributions to American society. They include:

• Robert S. McNamara (1916–2009): Robert McNamara served as Secretary of Defense under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. He also played a key role in the history of Arlington National Cemetery. After President Kennedy’s assassination, McNamara advocated that the president’s place of burial be here. After the president’s funeral, McNamara ordered a study which discovered that ANC would run out of space by 1980. As a result, eligibility requirements at ANC became more restrictive, the cemetery expanded to the east, and columbarium courts were created, extending the cemetery's "lifespan" for decades. (Grave 1233-A)
• Marguerite Higgins Hall (1920–1966): Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Marguerite Higgins covered World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. She reported on the liberation of concentration camps, the Nuremberg trials and the early Cold War. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Higgins was one of the first reporters, and the only female reporter, on the front lines. She is buried with her second husband, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. William Evens Hall. (Grave 4705-B)
• Fleet Adm. William "Bull" Halsey Jr., U.S. Navy (1882–1959): William "Bull" Halsey was promoted to the five-star rank of fleet admiral in December 1945. He was a leading proponent of carrier-based air and naval warfare. During World War II, Halsey commanded Navy forces in the South Pacific, including the first bombing raid on Tokyo. He led attacks on Japanese-occupied islands, which decimated the enemy fleet and eventually enabled direct attacks on Japan. (Grave 1184)

In addition to memorials, Arlington National Cemetery has more than 140 memorial trees — living tributes to service members, units, wars or battles. This memorial tree was dedicated on May 8, 1932 in honor of the mother of the World War I Unknown Soldier. It is the earliest known memorial tree in the cemetery.

After World War I, family and friends of unknown service members lacked the closure of knowing the fate and final resting place of their loved ones. The United States government responded by constructing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Mother of the Unknown Soldier Tree stands as a living memorial to the nation's commitment to those who lost loved ones in war.

Learn More: Memorial Arboretum

Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Arboretum is a living tribute to those who have honorably served our nation. Rolling green hills, majestic trees and a diverse collection of ornamental plants create a rich natural tapestry on these hallowed grounds. The cemetery's 639 acres blend formal and informal landscapes and feature more than 9,000 native and exotic trees. Some of the oldest trees, at nearly 250 years old, predate the first burials. Intimate gardens enhance the cemetery's beauty and sense of peace.

More than 140 memorial trees commemorate veterans (including Medal of Honor recipients), military units and battles. ANC was awarded Level III Arboretum accreditation in June 2018, and its Level III status was renewed in 2023.

ANC’s horticulture professionals contribute to the arboretum community, tree science, and urban forestry through numerous collaborative research projects. They also actively engage in public outreach efforts, including public walking tours that focus on topics ranging from seasonal highlights to sustainability practices.

On Jan. 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff, killing all seven crew members — including high school teacher Christa McAuliffe. It took nearly two months to recover the remains from the ocean floor. On May 20, 1986, the comingled cremated remains of the seven Challenger astronauts were buried here. Two also have individual gravesites: Lt. Col. Francis R. "Dick" Scobee (Section 46, Grave 1129-4) and Commander Michael J. Smith (Section 7A, Grave 208).

On Feb. 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia re-entered Earth's atmosphere and suddenly burst into flames, killing all seven crew members. This memorial honors the entire crew, and three astronauts whose remains could be identified individually also have gravesites in Section 46: Capt. David Brown (Grave 1180-1), Capt. Laurel Blair Salton Clark (Grave 1180-2) and Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson (Grave 1180-3).

The USS Maine Mast Memorial overlooks the remains of the more than 260 sailors who died when the battleship exploded off the coast of Havana, Cuba, on Feb. 15, 1898. As Cubans were fighting for independence from Spanish colonial rule, President William McKinley ordered the Maine to Cuba to protect U.S. interests. Popular sentiment and sensational journalism blamed the disaster on the Spanish. On April 25, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain. "Remember the Maine!" became pro-war Americans' signature rallying cry.

In March of 1912, the U.S. Navy transported the ship’s mast to Arlington. It was placed onto a granite base, inscribed with the names of those who died in the explosion. Behind the memorial are two bronze mortars captured from the Spanish during the war.

Audie Murphy was one of the nation's most-decorated soldiers, earning 28 medals for his service during World War II — including the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration. Murphy was wounded three times during the war.

Murphy enlisted in the Army in 1942, altering his record so that he appeared to be 18, a year older than he actually was.

Murphy was assigned to the 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa. First entering combat in July 1943, during the invasion of Sicily. He later fought in Italy. Throughout both campaigns, his skills earned him medals and advancements in rank.

On Jan. 26, 1945, near the village of Holtzwihr in eastern France, Lt. Murphy's forward positions came under fierce attack by six German tanks and 250 infantrymen. Murphy ordered his men to fall back. Alone, he mounted a burning tank destroyer and fired its machine gun at the enemy while calling in artillery. He repelled the attacking Germans while killing 50 of them. He earned the Medal of Honor for his actions. In May 1945, when victory was declared in Europe, he had not reached his 21st birthday.

When given the option of a special Medal of Honor headstone with gold lettering, his wife declined, stating: “I believe Audie would want himself remembered like millions of others, the common soldier – all equal in death.”

Dedicated on May 15, 1920, the Memorial Amphitheater is the site of the annual National Memorial Day and National Veterans Day Observances. The president of the United States or a designated high-ranking official typically gives remarks at these ceremonies.

In early 1913, Congress authorized the construction of the Memorial Amphitheater, replacing a smaller one elsewhere in the cemetery. On Oct. 13, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson placed the building’s cornerstone.

Inscriptions surrounding the outside of the memorial lists 44 battles, from the American Revolution through the Spanish-American War. The names of 14 U.S. Army generals and 14 U.S. Navy admirals are inscribed on either side of the stage.

• Inside the aspe: "When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen." — George Washington, letter to the New York Provincial Congress, June 26, 1775
• Above the stage: "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain." — Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
• Above the west entrance: "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." ("It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.") — Horace, Odes (III, 2, 13)

Ongoing preservation projects aim to maintain this hallowed space for generations to come.

Also at Memorial Amphitheater

• The Display Room, at the top of the stairs facing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, features interpretive exhibits on the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb. Display cases also feature a rotating selection of the many items in ANC's artifact collection — including gifts left by groups and dignitaries, both foreign and domestic, in honor of the Unknown Soldiers and as tribute to the American military. If you have an extra 15 to 30 minutes, visit the Display Room for a visual immersion in the cemetery's history. The Display Room is wheelchair accessible.
• Restrooms, with changing stations in both the women's and men's facilities, are located in the basement of the Amphitheater. Follow the sidewalk toward the Changing of the Guard viewing area, and take the stairs or ramp to your left. Visitor Assistants can also guide you.
• Water can be purchased at a vending machine next to the restrooms, where there is also a water fountain and bottle filler.
• Tram tickets can be purchased at the tram stop near the West Steps on the opposite side of Memorial Amphitheater as an alternative to walking back to the Welcome Center.

The Tomb sarcophagus stands above the grave of an Unknown Soldier from World War I, buried when the Tomb was dedicated on Nov. 11, 1921 (Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day). Originally a flat marble tomb, the Army placed the sarcophagus in 1932 after holding a design competition where over seventy artists and architects competed. Two additional crypts, for Unknowns from World War II and the Korean War, were added in 1958. A third crypt, added in 1984, once contained the remains of an Unknown from the Vietnam War. Following that Unknown's 1998 disinterment and eventual identification as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, the empty crypt was rededicated to honor all missing from the Vietnam War.

The Tomb was not always guarded. In its early years, reports of disrespectful public behavior led to the establishment of a civilian guard in 1925 and a military guard the following year. In 1937, the Army changed the daytime guard to twenty-four hours a day. In 1948, soldiers from the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) assumed this duty, which they continue to hold today. Known as Sentinels, these soldiers guard the Tomb 24/7. They provide security for the Tomb, lead ceremonies, maintain the sanctity of the space, and — most importantly — honor the Unknowns through the precision and perfection of their rituals.

To learn more about the Tomb and its history, explore the exhibits in the Memorial Amphitheater Display Room, located at the top of the steps in front of the Tomb plaza.

Joe Louis Barrow, known professionally as Joe Louis, is best known as boxing's Heavyweight Champion of the World. He held that title longer, and defended it more often, than any other boxer in history. Nicknamed the "Brown Bomber," he ended his 17-year boxing career with 68 wins, 54 knockouts and only three losses.

Louis was born in Alabama to sharecropping parents who moved to Detroit in 1926 in search of opportunities. Louis began boxing in 1932, at the age of 17. Joe Louis suffered only one defeat in his first 69 fights: to Germany's Max Schmeling, on June 19, 1936. In 1938, Louis faced Schmeling for a rematch. In front of a crowd of 70,000, which would be known as “the fight of the century,” Louis defeated Schmeling in the first round and became a national hero.

In December 1941, shortly after the United States entered World War II, Louis enlisted in the Army. He served in a segregated unit and fought 96 exhibition matches before more than two million troops. He also donated more than $100,000 to Army and Navy relief efforts.

British Field Marshal Sir John Dill is the highest-ranking foreign military officer buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Dill served in the South African War and World War I, and commanded British forces in Palestine during the interwar years. After the United States entered World War II in December 1941, he accompanied British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to Washington, D.C., where he remained as a representative for the combined British and American chiefs of staff.

Through the influence of his close friend Gen. George C. Marshall (buried in Section 7), Dill was buried at Arlington through a Congressional joint resolution approved by Roosevelt in December 1944.

The site, at the intersection of two major cemetery roads (Roosevelt and Grant Drives), was selected for maximum visibility. The monument was unveiled by Marshall and dedicated by President Harry Truman on Nov. 1, 1950. At the ceremony, Truman described Dill as "a great man" who served "both our countries in the common struggle for a free and decent world."

Thank you for visiting Arlington National Cemetery! We hope that your experience was meaningful and memorable.

To learn more about the cemetery and those laid to rest here, explore our Education Program: https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil.

To keep you better informed about Arlington National Cemetery, we are pleased to announce an email subscription service called GovDelivery. Sign up here for email updates on the cemetery’s latest news and information. This includes weather announcements, road closures, free tours, event information and more. Upon signing up, you will receive emails from us through anc@public.govdelivery.com.

Please add this email to your contacts to ensure these updates do not go into your junk email folder. Note that you cannot reply directly to this email address. You may opt-out anytime if you do not wish to receive these emails anymore.