Thursday, 13 May, 2021
Across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., lies historic Arlington, Virginia. Home to such important places as the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and several war and military memorials, Arlington is a must-see stop on any history aficionado’s tour of the capital. As one of the northernmost reaches of the confederacy, Arlington played an important part in the American Civil War, and you’ll find artifacts attesting to its rich history throughout the city.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
This nearly 90-acre piece of land in the Potomac River was converted from overgrown farmland into a living memorial to America’s 26th President, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. Though it looks like a wild landscape that developed naturally, Theodore Roosevelt Island was envisioned as a new forest to recreate the natural woods that once grew there. The new design was created by a firm of architects working with Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps to reshapre the island into what you see today.
The island has a long history. It was used as a training camp by the 1st United States Colored Infantry Regiment in 1863 and later housed formerly enslaved people. It was acquired by the Roosevelt Memorial Foundation in 1931, though it was not until the 1960s that funding was finally provided. The memorial was designed by Eric Gugler and comprises four stone monoliths with Roosevelt quotes, two metal fountains, and a 17-foot centerpiece statue of the former president by sculptor Paul Manship. To reach the island, you must cross a footbridge from Arlington, as no cars or bikes are allowed.
Once on the island, you will find three trails to explore, each named after the habitat they traverse, as well as the memorial plaza. The longest of the trails, at 1.5 miles long, is the Swamp Trail. This trail roughly circles the island, passing through swampy woods and a cattail marsh via gravel paths and boardwalks. The shortest trail is called the Woods Trail and passes through the memorial plaza. That one is just 1/3 of a mile long, while the remaining Upland Trail runs the length of the island and loops around the remains of the historic Mason mansion.
Arlington National Cemetery
Situated on land confiscated from Robert E. Lee’s wife by union troops during the Civil War, the Arlington National Cemetery was founded when 200 acres of the estate were reserved for a cemetery. The first burial was of Private William Christman on May 13, 1864. By the end of the Civil War, thousands of soldiers and former slaves lay buried here. Today, 400,000 military members and family lie at rest here, with more than 3,000 ceremonies and memorial services taking place each year.
The cemetery is open to visitors daily. Some of the attractions include the Memorial Arboretum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the John F. Kennedy gravesite. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sits atop a hill overlooking the Nation’s Capital. In 1921, one of America’s unknown WWI soldiers was symbolically laid to rest here, with more unknown service members added in later years. The tomb is watched over continuously by a group of sentinels know as the Old Guard. The guard is changed over throughout the day in a popular ceremony know as the Changing of the Guard.
As you walk through the cemetery, you’ll find monuments and memorials throughout. The Memorial Arboretum is spread throughout the cemetery in formal and informal landscapes. More than 9,600 trees and 300 varieties of native and exotic species stand as living testaments to the lives that have been lost. At 250 years old, some have been standing there since before the first burial. There are over 140 memorial trees planted to commemorate service members, battles, military units, presidents, and others. Thirty-six trees descended from historic trees have been dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
Dedicated to “the Marine dead of all wars and their comrades of other services who fell fighting beside them,” the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial stands on Arlington Ridge, where you can see the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building beyond. It was envisioned by sculptor Felix W. de Weldon and based on the iconic Pulitzer-winning photograph of the second raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press. The memorial was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a ceremony on the 179th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, November 10th, 1954.
The 32-foot tall figures stand atop a granite base. They are caught in motion, hoisting a 60-foot flagpole above a slope of rocks. The total monument reaches a height of 78 feet from the ground, with the flag flying every day of the year. Around the base is a gold band where you can read the names and dates of every Marine Corps principal engagement since the founding of the corps. The statue is truly monumental. The casting process alone took nearly three years of work by skilled artisans. Once the pieces were completed, they were transported to the Capital to be assembled.
The U.S. Marine Corps Sunset Parade is held on Tuesday evenings during the summer It is free and open to the public, so you can bring a chair and watch from the lawns as the one-hour event unfolds. The parade starts with a performance by “The Commandant’s Own” Drum and Bugle Corps, followed by a march-on of the participating units with flags and a demonstration drill by the U.S. Marine Silent Drill Platoon. Around 200 personnel will participate in the parade, including members of the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard and the Alpha Company of the longstanding 8th & I garrison, among others.
Arlington, Virginia, plays an important part in this country’s history as well as its present. A trip to D.C. would not be complete without a quick hop across the river to honor the fallen at the National Cemetery and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, as well as to appreciate the beauty of nature while honoring one of America’s favorite Presidents, avid outdoorsman Theodore Roosevelt. Have you been to any of the places on this list? Koons Woodbridge Hyundai wants to know which you’re most excited about returning to see again, so drop us a quick line with your thoughts.
*Image via Flickr by m01229
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