Things To Do

Buildings and Tours

Self-guide yourself through the South Wing of Arlington House. While passing through Robert E. Lee’s office, the family parlors, and the center hall, you will view museum exhibits and period furniture and objects associated with Mr. and Mrs. Lee, George Washington, and George Washington Parke Custis.

The self-guided tour is restricted to the South Wing of the House only and is managed by placement of rails and a carpeted pathway. The space is monitored by security cameras and alarm systems. Do Not attempt to touch or get close to historic objects in the house. Look but do not touch.The North wing and upstairs portions of the house are not on the self-guided tour. Dependent on daily staffing, these areas may be open on a case by case basis.

No tickets or reservations required.

The National Park Service prohibits the following inside Arlington House, museum and North and South Slave Quarters.
  • Smoking;
  • Food and drink (except a small quantity of sealed food items);
  • Strollers;
  • Bags larger than 18 x 16 x 8 inches;
  • Animals (except service animals);
  • Glass;
  • Weapons;
  • Ammunition;
  • Mace or aerosols;
  • Explosives or highly flammable substances

No reservations needed for group tours.

Join a park ranger at Arlington House for a 20-30 minute history talk. Topics vary and include African American history, perspectives, and contemporary connections, the life and legacy of Robert E. Lee, how we remember history and what we memorialize, and more. Rangers talks provide an opportunity to dig deeper into Arlington House's history.

This talk is not a tour that guides you through the buildings at Arlington House. The buildings are open for you to explore at your own pace.

No reservations or tickets required.

Talks occur everyday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Groups meet behind Arlington House.

The Museum at Arlington House contains exhibits and artifacts about Robert E. Lee and his family. Included are original objects from the Lee and Custis families.

The two slave quarters are located on the North and South ends of Arlington House and help to tell the story of those enslaved at Arlington House.

All three buildings are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 

 
Fall Aerial of House and Bridge
View from Arlington House of Arlington Memorial Bridge and the National Mall.

NPS Photo

Other Nearby Sites


Arlington National Cemetery surrounds Arlington House, occupying more than half of the 1100 acres of land that was Arlington Plantation, home of George Washington Parke Custis and Robert E. Lee. Visit the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy and see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The National Mall is just across the Potomac River from Arlington House. The National Mall and Memorial Parks include the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the National World War II Memorial.

Arlington House is administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway and also includes the Netherlands Carillon and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (often called the Iwo Jima Memorial), both located just north of Arlington Cemetery. The parkways runs alongside the Potomac River from the American Legion Bridge on the beltway to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate.
 

Last updated: May 16, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
700 George Washington Memorial Parkway
c/o Turkey Run Park

McLean, VA 22101

Phone:

703 235-1530

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