Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Symbol of Union
George Washington Memorial Parkway
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
"Before us is the broad and beautiful river, separating two of the original thirteen States, which a late President [Andrew Jackson]... desired to span with arches of ever-enduring granite, symbolical of the firmly established union of the North and the South." — Secretary of State Daniel Webster, 1851
Although a bridge at this location had been proposed since the time of Andrew Jackson in the 1830s, it was not until 1932 that Arlington Memorial Bridge was completed.
Arlington Memorial Bridge is more than just a bridge — 'Memorial' is its middle name. The bridge was envisioned as both a physical and symbolic bridge between the northern and southern factions that fought so bitterly during the American Civil War.
The Potomac River divided the Northern states and Southern states during that bloody struggle between 1861 and 1865. The bridge exhibits the strength of the American Union — joining the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. It stands as a memorial to the final triumph of the idea of a permanent and complete Union.
Erected 2019 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts
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Location. 38° 53.11′ N, 77° 3.71′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Arlington National Cemetery. Marker is on Memorial Avenue, 0.1 miles east of Richmond Highway (Virginia Route 110), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arlington VA 22202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Symbol of Reconciliation (here, next to this marker in District of Columbia); Avenue of Heroes (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bridge to Peace (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Bridge to Peace (about 600 feet away); The Hiker (about 700 feet away); Seabees ~ Can Do (approx. 0.2 miles away); 4th Infantry (Ivy) Division (approx. 0.2 miles away); An Engineering Marvel (approx. 0.2 miles away in District of Columbia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 236 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 4, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
