Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

Arlington House is a manor house in Arlington County, Virginia, standing on a hilltop above the Potomac River and Washington DC. The building shows Greek Revival design with large white columns at the front and several rooms inside that are open to visitors.

George Washington Parke Custis built the house between 1803 and 1818 as a memorial to his step-grandfather, President George Washington. Later the estate became the home of his daughter Mary Anna and her husband Robert E. Lee, until the Civil War began.

The building bears the name of General Robert E. Lee, who lived here after marrying Mary Anna Custis. Visitors today can walk through the rooms and see furniture, paintings, and personal belongings that show how families lived in the early 19th century.

The National Park Service manages the estate and offers guided tours that are free of charge. The best views of Washington come from the lawn in front of the house, where you can also see the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol.

The estate was originally meant to display memorabilia of George Washington that Custis had inherited. After the Civil War, the government used the land for a cemetery, which today is known as Arlington National Cemetery and sits right next to the house.

Location: Arlington County

Inception: 1803

Architects: George Hadfield

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

Operator: United States National Park Service

Address: Sherman Drive

Website: https://nps.gov/arho

GPS coordinates: 38.88117,-77.07265

Latest update: December 16, 2025 04:11