2006-08-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

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Civil War Photo in Arlington

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National Archives and Records Administration
Washington, DC 20408

2006-07-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

Arlington, Virginia

Arlington County is a city and county located in the State Commonwealth of Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Washington DC. Originally part of DC until July 9, 1846.

Arlington County was part of the original 10-mile square created as the District of Columbia during 1781.

The portion of the District created from territory ceded by Virginia was termed Alexandria County of the District of Columbia. It included the present Arlington County plus part of what is now Alexandria .

Arlington House, the home of the general Robeert E. Lee which later, and after the Civil War became the basis of Arlington National Cementery.

Notes on Arlington House: ( credit Chamber of Commerce )

In 1804 Custis had married Mary Lee Fitzhugh. Their only child to survive infancy was Mary Anna Randolph Custis, born in 1808. Young Robert E. Lee, whose mother was a cousin of Mrs. Custis, frequently visited Arlington. Two years after graduating from West Point, Lieutenant Lee married Mary Custis at Arlington on June 30, 1831. For 30 years, Arlington House was home to the Lees. They spent much of their married life traveling between U.S. Army duty stations and Arlington, where six of their seven children were born. They shared this home with Mary's parents, the Custis family.

When George Washington Parke Custis died in 1857, he left the Arlington estate to Mrs. Lee for her lifetime and afterwards to the Lees' eldest son, George Washington Custis Lee.

Included is The Tomb of the Unknowns / Soldier and, stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, DC.

The Pentagon in Arlington County is the headquarters of the US Deparetment of Defense. Built during the early years of WWII, it is still thought of as one of the most efficient office buildings in the world. Despite 17.5 miles (28 km) of corridors it takes a maximum of seven minutes to walk between any two points in the building.

Arlington History and Today

Civil War Photo in Arlington