Ever wondered about the view from Arlington House? This magnificent Greek Revival mansion sits atop a hill. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of Washington DC. Arlington House the Robert E Lee Memorial is far more than just a pretty building. It’s a living testament to a pivotal period in American history.
Built between 1803 and 1818 by George Washington Parke Custis it was a memorial to his namesake George Washington. Custis’s father John Parke Custis had purchased the land in 1778. He named it Mount Washington. After Martha Washington’s death Custis renamed it Arlington. The mansion’s design echoes elements of Mount Vernon. This was George Washington’s home. It reflects Custis’s deep admiration for his step-great-grandfather.
The story of Arlington House the Robert E Lee Memorial is intertwined with the Lee family. Custis’s daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis married Robert E Lee. Six of their seven children were born within its walls. They lived here while Lee served in the US Army. It was within these very rooms that Lee made the momentous decision to resign his commission. This was after being offered command of the US Army. He chose instead to lead the Army of Northern Virginia for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
The Civil War irrevocably altered the fate of Arlington House. The Union Army seized it in 1861. It used the mansion as headquarters. They buried Civil War soldiers in the garden. In a poignant act of post-war reconciliation 2111 unknown soldiers from both sides were interred together near the mansion. The government confiscated Arlington Estate claiming unpaid property taxes. Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee had sent an agent to pay. The agent was refused. A Supreme Court decision later ruled this confiscation unlawful. The property was returned to the Lee family. Custis Lee then sold it back to the US government. The graves remained undisturbed.
The Arlington House the Robert E Lee Memorial has witnessed profound transformations. It has endured war and political upheaval. It stands as a poignant symbol of both conflict and reconciliation. Today it’s preserved by the National Park Service. It serves as a reminder of a complex past. The flag flies at half-staff here during funerals. This is a solemn tribute to the fallen. This is a testament to the enduring legacy of Arlington National Cemetery.