photo by gusto

Designed to become the nation’s capital, Arlington (population 189,453) evolved into a medley of high-rise buildings and urban sprawl, and is just a short commute to Washington, DC, across the Potomac River. The George Washington Memorial Parkway connects the capital to two rather important national landmarks: the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.

Located adjacent to the Memorial Bridge (built as a symbolic connection to link the South to the North), the cemetery spreads over 612 acres of green and tranquil grounds that were once the ancestral home of General Robert E. Lee’s wife, Mary Custis.

Though the war hero’s land was actually confiscated during the Union army’s occupation from May 1861 to September 1865, his home, Arlington House, was spared from destruction and today sits within the cemetery, gazing toward Washington. At the outbreak of war in April, 1861, Lee declined a commission with the Union army, returning to his native Virginia to take command of the Army of Virginia. In an act of malice, Union troops buried their dead in the fields surrounding Lee’s home so that he would never be able to feel comfortable at his estate. He died in Lexington in 1870, never to return to Arlington House.

Many original furnishings and the family portraits remain on display.

From Arlington House’s portico, row after row of plain, white headstones dot the gentle acres of grassy knolls. Since the first burial took place in May 1864, more than 220,000 soldiers have been buried here under simple markers.

Along with the grave of Washington DC’s architect, Pierre L’Enfant, visitors usually seek out the newly erected memorials—the Challenger Space Shuttle and Women in the Military Service, together with the Tomb of the Unknowns. Guarded by ramrod soldiers, the shrine commemorates the many nameless Americans who fought in World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. The most visited grave site is that of John F. Kennedy, in addition to the sites of his First Lady, Jacqueline, and Robert F. Kennedy.

Arlington National Cemetery has tourmobile excursions for a nominal fee from the visitor center.

North of the center is the grand 78-foot bronze statue of Iwo Jima, showing four Marines struggling to raise the American flag.

A stone’s throw from Arlington National Cemetery is the Pentagon, the largest single-structure office building in the world, which houses 20,000 Department of Defense employees. Near the Potomac, it has 17 miles of corridors and covers over 6 million square feet. This complex, completed halfway through World War II, was designed for easy access to all of its 17 buildings during any emergency. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, its public tour program has been scaled back and is now only available to educational and other select organisations.

South of Arlington is Manassas Battlefield National Park. The Battle of Bull Run, as the major conflict was originally named, took place here on July 21, 1861 at Henry Hill, signaling the first engagement of the Civil War. Though 20,000 Union troops outnumbered their opponent, the Confederate army led by General Thomas Jackson out-maneuvered the Union charge, thwarting their attempt to control the Virginia railroads on their march to Richmond. It was the Battle of Bull Run that earned the Confederate general his nickname, “Stonewall.” In August 1862, the Second Battle of Manassas was fought.

Prince William County is also home to the world’s largest outlet mall, as well as Quantico Marine Corps Base and Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum. The museum provides an excellent overview of life as a US Marine. The base still trains the nation’s combat forces.

Down a stretch is the legendary FBI Building, nestled in Quantico’s wooded terrain.

Arlington is accessible by car, or by plane, train, and bus from adjacentWashington DC.