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 | |
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, March 15, 2016
1. A Garden Sustains Marker
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
this page online
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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
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); Division and Unification (a few steps from this marker); Paying Tribute
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, March 15, 2016
2. A Garden Sustains Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Kitchen Garden (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. This marker replaces an earlier marker entitled "Kitchen Garden", 71606.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, March 15, 2016
3. Nearby Arlington House map
This nearby site map is on the Custis Walk to the east of the marker that leads from Arlington House down to the graves of Oliver Wendell Holmes and President John F. Kennedy.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 524 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
