Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Guardian of a Nation's Heritage

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Guardian of a Nation's Heritage Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013

1. Guardian of a Nation's Heritage Marker

Inscription.
Selina Gray, her husband, and their eight children lived in the room to your right. She was Mrs. Lee's personal maid and later the head housekeeper. Her parents had been Mt. Vernon slaves, so she grew up steeped in the lore of George Washington.

In May of 1861 on the eve of the Civil War, Mrs. Lee abandoned her home. She left the household keys with Mrs. Gray, entrusting her with the “Washington Treasury,” cherished heirlooms that once belonged to George and Martha Washington (Mrs. Lee's great grandmother.) By assuming stewardship of these revered artifacts, Mrs. Gray became, in a broad sense, the guardian of the heritage of the young nation.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1861.

Location. 38° 52.859′ N, 77° 4.377′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. Marker can be reached from Sherman Drive, 0.2 miles south of Lincoln Drive, on the left when traveling south. The marker is in front of the old slave quarters behind Arlington House in Arlington Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Sherman Drive, Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Long Haul (here, next to this marker); The Gray Family (a few steps from this marker); A Place of Division and Reunification (a few steps from this marker); Cherish these forest trees… (within shouting distance of this marker); Kingdom of my childhood (within shouting distance of this marker); Tree Ring Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); Division and Reunification (within shouting distance of this marker); Garden to Graves (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Also see . . . Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. National Park Service (Submitted on December 1, 2013.)

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013

2. Guardian of a Nation's Heritage Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 574 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.