Arlington National Cemetery Tour (Self Guided), Washington D.C.

The Women in Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA), commonly known as the Women's Memorial, is a significant national monument established by the U.S. federal government to honor women who have served alongside the United States Armed Forces since the American Revolution up to the present day.

Situated at the western terminus of Memorial Avenue, at the primary entrance to Arlington National Cemetery known as the Memorial Gate, this structure was originally named the Hemicycle and was constructed in 1932. In 1988, it was designated as the location for WIMSA, which was formally inaugurated in 1997.

The memorial seamlessly combines Neoclassical and Modern architectural styles. It preserves the Hemicycle's original structure and adds a highly regarded skylight on its terrace. This skylight serves not only as a tribute to servicewomen but also as a connection to the memorial below. The memorial also houses a visitor center that features rotating special exhibits.

While women were not officially integrated into the U.S. military until the 20th century, WIMSA pays homage to all women who have displayed unwavering patriotism and courage, becoming an indispensable part of America's national identity. It ensures that their contributions to the country are forever etched in our memory.

The on-site Education Center offers a historical perspective on the women who have defended America throughout its history, encompassing those who served in various capacities in the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as their predecessors during earlier times of crisis. Photographs of female veterans from their service years alongside their current lives provide a powerful source of inspiration. This memorial stands as a symbol of the nation's gratitude.

The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame is a memorial dedicated to the memory of the slain United States President John F. Kennedy. It's located at his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. This memorial, which stands as a permanent tribute, replaced a temporary grave and an everlasting flame that were used during Kennedy's state funeral on November 25, 1963, just three days after his tragic assassination.

The design of this site was crafted by the architect John Carl Warnecke, who was a close friend of Kennedy. The official consecration of the permanent John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame gravesite took place on March 15, 1967, when it was opened to the public.

The construction involved using twenty tons of steel for the terrace and pouring 280 tons of concrete to create the grave vaults and the site for the eternal flame. The inscriptions on the wall, chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy with the assistance of Kennedy's speechwriter Ted Sorensen, were selected by November 1965. These inscriptions were taken from Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961. The quotations were engraved onto seven granite blocks using Roman majuscule lettering.

Immediately following Kennedy's burial, the gravesite and the Eternal Flame became a place of pilgrimage, drawing approximately 50,000 visitors per day. In its first three years, more than 16 million people paid their respects at this sacred site.

Kennedy’s two sons, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, as well as Jacqueline herself, are also buried in the same plot alongside the president.

Arlington House, formerly known as the Custis-Lee Mansion, is a Greek revival-style residence with a rich historical background. It once served as the home of the renowned Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee before the Civil War. Throughout its history, this house had various roles, including being a plantation estate where 63 slaves lived, serving as a military headquarters, and becoming a community for emancipated slaves. However, in 1864, the federal government took control of it to establish Arlington National Cemetery as a burial ground for Civil War soldiers. This action was partly aimed at preventing General Lee from ever returning to his former home.

Perched on a hill overlooking the cemetery, Arlington House was later restored and designated as a national memorial in honor of General Lee. While the United States Department of the Army manages Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington House falls under the administration of the National Park Service, a division of the United States Department of the Interior.

The Robert E. Lee Memorial is open for public tours daily. Aside from offering breathtaking views of the Potomac River and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., especially enchanting during April when cherry trees are in full bloom, there are numerous compelling reasons to visit this historic site within Arlington National Cemetery. This house commemorates General Lee for specific accomplishments, including his efforts in promoting peace and national reunification after the Civil War. More broadly, it serves as a place for reflection and study of some of the most challenging aspects of American history, such as military service, sacrifice, citizenship, duty, loyalty, slavery, and freedom.

Openining Hours:
Monday - Sunday: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, also known as the Tomb of the Unknowns, serves as a memorial to American military personnel who bravely fought and lost their lives in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. These individuals remain unidentified.

Constructed in 1921, this tomb is a prominent monument situated on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. It comprises a large white sarcophagus containing the remains of these unidentified soldiers. Notably, the "Unknown" from World War I was honored with the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and various other prestigious foreign service awards. Similarly, the American "Unknowns" interred here were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. Presidents who attended their funerals.

The tomb is under constant vigilance, with Tomb Guard sentinels from the distinguished 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment standing watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Changing of the Guard ceremony is a solemn and intricate ritual. During this ceremony, a sentinel seamlessly takes over guard duty from their predecessor, involving a special march and salute. This ceremony occurs hourly from October to March and every half-hour from April to September.

Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery replaced an older wooden amphitheater in 1913. It now serves as an open-air venue with an amphitheater, exhibition hall, and chapel. It's located amidst various monuments and landscape elements, like the USS Maine Mast Memorial to the west, the Spanish–American War Memorial to the south, and a formal Italian-style garden to the east.

On October 13, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson laid the cornerstone for a new amphitheater, which held a copper box with 15 significant items, such as the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bible, American flag, coins, stamps, Congressional directory, DC telephone book, President Wilson's photo, and Arlington National Cemetery mementos.

The amphitheater itself was predominantly constructed using Imperial Danby marble sourced from Vermont and Botticino stone imported from Italy. It was officially dedicated on May 15, 1920, and underwent several renovations throughout the years, including those in 1956, 1974, 1995–1996, and 2012.

This venue hosts regular memorial services, including those on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. These events often feature the President or Vice President. Since 1931, it's been the site of the popular annual Easter sunrise service, initially organized by the Knights Templar and attended by President Herbert Hoover. Additionally, many military organizations hold annual memorial services here, with nearly 5,000 attendees each year.

Memorial Amphitheater hosts state funerals for distinguished Americans, including General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, and Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. It's also the resting place for an unknown Vietnam War soldier (1984), 30 unidentified 9/11 Pentagon attack victims (2002), and the last WWI American veteran (2011).

The Victims of the Terrorist Attack on the Pentagon Memorial serves as a tribute to the 184 individuals who lost their lives on American Airlines Flight 77 and within the Pentagon building on September 11, 2001, when it was targeted by al-Qaeda terrorists.

This memorial site is located at Arlington National Cemetery and includes a 4.5-foot (1.4-meter) tall granite marker in the shape of a pentagon. On the upper part of this marker, the words "Victims of Terrorist Attack on the Pentagon September 11, 2001" are engraved. Five aluminum plaques, painted black, bear the names of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack. Each plaque corresponds to one side of the marker. Notably, the names of those who were on Flight 77 are marked with a diamond symbol in front of their name, while individuals for whom no remains could be identified are indicated with a star symbol in front of their name. The memorial also features a pentagonal base extending approximately 5 inches (13 cm) outward and downward from the main body of the monument.

The memorial site occupies an area of 1.93 acres (0.78 hectares) and was designed by John C. Metzler, Jr., the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery. It was commissioned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on September 12, 2002.