Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Cherish these forest trees…
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
— George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Cherish these forest trees…
Marquis de Lafayette
Towering groves of oak and chestnut treats once shaded the grounds of Arlington House. A dark, leafy backdrop made the pale-colored bricks pop in contrast. The Custis family admired the natural beauty of the forest, but war and burials transformed the landscape. Only 12 original acres of mature forest, known as Arlington Woods, survive today.
…Recollect, my dear, how much easier it is to cut a tree down than to make one grow.
Marquis de Lafayette to Mary Custis, amid the cool breeze of the Arlington House portico, 1824
[Captions:]
An acorn appears at the top of the Lee family crest, which declares in Latin, "Not Heedless of the Future."
After the Union Army's occupation of Arlington House, the forest was cleared to improve sight lines on the hill.
Union soldiers camped in the woods around Arlington House.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Horticulture & Forestry • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tree Ring Timeline (here, next to this marker); Long Haul (within shouting distance of this marker); Guardian of a Nation's Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); Division and Reunification (within shouting distance of this marker); Hallowed Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gray Family (within shouting distance of this marker); A Place of Division and Reunification (within shouting distance of this marker); Piecing the Past Together (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Additional keywords. Cherish these forest trees…
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
