Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Garden Sustains
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
This garden fed the Custis and Lee families, their many guests, the enslaved house workers, and even the Federal Army. It provided for the family from early spring to late fall.
The harvest included fruits and vegetables such as berries, potatoes, broccoli, artichokes, turnips, and tomatoes. Prize carrots, beets, cabbage and squash were displayed at local agricultural exhibitions. The garden also provided herbs for medicinal purposes, along with currant, blackberry, and fox grapes for wine.
"…there is pleasure in a dish of asparagus just from the earth, white, tender, sweet…There is joy in young peas that know no pause between the gathering and the table, green, sweet, and buttery. And what emotion of delight green corn…inspire[ed]."
Elizabeth Randolph Calvert (Cousin of Mary Lee)
[Captions:]
After the Lees left Arlington in 1861, and throughout the Civil War, this garden fed the occupying Union soldiers and later the families of officers stationed at Arlington House.
The enslaved workers raised chickens, milked cows, churned butter, smoked hams, maintained an ice house and canned produce to sustain the household through the winter.
Old and treasured family recipes depended upon the success of the garden. Mrs. Custis, and in turn Mrs. Lee, used a cookbook handed down by Martha Washington. A great-grandaughter of Robert E. Lee compiled this book from those recipes.
Robert E. Lee teased his daughter Mildred in a letter about her "exploding" ketchup, made from garden tomatoes.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the National Cemeteries series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 38° 52.892′ N, 77° 4.363′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. Marker can be reached from Sherman Drive. The marker is directly north of Arlington House, on the border of the vegetable garden area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Growing Season (a few steps from this marker); Dependence on Slave Labor (a few steps from this marker); Piecing the Past Together (a few steps from this marker); Paying Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Evolving Vision (within shouting distance of this marker); Arlington Estate, 1860 (within shouting distance of this marker); Pierre Charles L’Enfant (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Randolph (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
More about this marker. This marker replaces an earlier marker entitled "Kitchen Garden", 71606.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 398 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.