Arlington National Cemetery opened in 1864, becoming a major site of Memorial Day remembrance.
The cemetery was established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, the former home of Robert E. Lee and his family. The first military burial took place on May 13, 1864, and the grounds soon became one of the nation’s most important military cemeteries.
Arlington’s prominence grew because it lies across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., and contains the graves of service members from many American wars. Its annual Memorial Day events include ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other memorial sites.
Arlington is not the nation’s only military cemetery, and it is not the location of every national Memorial Day observance. Its symbolic importance comes from its history, its proximity to the capital, and the many notable memorials and graves within its grounds.