Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Garden to Graves
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
1. Garden to Graves Marker
The dead from three years of Civil War filled all burial spaces in the area. In 1864, President Lincoln charged General Montgomery Meigs with locating a site for a new national cemetery. Arlington's high elevation and aesthetic beauty made it ideal, the Lee's abandoned their home by May of 1861.
Lee and Meigs had much in common: both graduated from West Point; Meigs worked under Lee in 1834 in St. Louis. Meigs had even visited Arlington House on several occasions; he could not forgive Lee for joining the Confederacy.
On June 15, 1864, General Meigs ordered that 200 acres surrounding the mansion be set aside as a cemetery. He personally supervised the burial and placing of headstones of 22 soldiers in Mrs. Lee's flower garden.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1861.
Location. 38° 52.848′ N, 77° 4.36′ 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
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Kingdom of my childhood (here, next to this marker); A Place of Division and Reunification (a few steps from this marker); Trophy of War (a few steps from this marker); The Gray Family (a few steps from this marker); Guardian of a Nation's Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); Platforms of Power (within shouting distance of this marker); Long Haul (within shouting distance of this marker); Pierre Charles L’Enfant (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Also see . . . Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. National Park Service (Submitted on December 11, 2013.)
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
2. Garden to Graves Marker
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, March 15, 2016
3. Garden to Graves Marker
The marker is roughly in the center right in this view. The marker to the left, near the planter, is currently blank but previously was the "Arlington House, 1864" marker. To the right is the marker, "The Kingdom of My Childhood."
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
4. Graves at Arlington
By the end of June 1864 over 2,600 soldiers had been buried on the grounds of the estate. By the end of the Civil War 17,000 graves surrounded Arlington. This illustration portrays the idea of these graves surrounding the house however the only graves near the house then are those in front of you.Close-up of image on marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 756 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on March 15, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4. submitted on December 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
