The Arlington Estate Through the Decades

Today, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 400,000 of our bravest men and women, but the history of this hallowed ground is not quite as honorable as those who will spend their eternal rest there.

This timeline traces the history of the 1,100 acres of land that make up our National Cemetery and how that history is intertwined with that of one of the most infamous generals of the Civil War.

1802-01-01 00:00:00

The Family Homestead

George Washington Parke Custis and his slaves spent 16 years building the Arlington House, the family home on the 1,100 acre Arlington Heights estate

1831-06-30 00:00:00

Robert E. Lee Joins the Custis Family

Robert E. Lee marries Mary Custis, the great-great granddaughter of Martha Washington and only daughter of George Washington Parke Custis. This union would secure his future home - the Arlington Estate.

1857-10-10 00:00:00

Death of George Washington Parke Custis

George Washington Parke Custis dies leaving his entire estate to his daughter with Robert E. Lee as the executor. He stipulated that upon her death the estate in its entirety would pass to his oldest grandson, George Washington Custis Lee and his future heirs.

1860-11-07 00:00:00

Election Day 1860

Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States.

1860-12-20 00:00:00

The First Secession

As a direct result of the election of Lincoln (a known critic of slavery) the legislature of South Carolina votes to become the first state to secede from the Union.

1861-01-09 00:00:00

The Growing Confederacy

Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas also voted to secede from the Union.

1861-02-02 00:00:00

THE CSA

Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America. (CSA)

1861-04-12 00:00:00

The War Begins

Fort Sumter was bombarded by Confederate troops. The fort was the first to be taken by the Confederacy.

1861-04-17 00:00:00

The Commonwealth Joins the Confederacy

Virginia seceded from the Union.

1861-04-20 00:00:00

The Union Loses a Colonel

Robert E. Lee resigns his commission as a Colonel in the United States army in order to fight for his home state of Virginia. He penned his letter of resignation while sitting at his desk in the Arlington House.

Event

The United States Regains Ownership of the National Cemetery

31st March 1883

George Washington Custis Lee signs the deed conveying the land to the United States government.

The United States Pays Up

3rd March 1883

The United States Government purchases the Arlington Estate Property for $150,000.

Lee Regains Arlington

4th December 1882

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of George Washington Custis Lee in the matter of rightful ownership of the Arlington Estate.

Circuit Courts

24th Jan 1879 - 30th Jan 1879

The case is taken to the Supreme Court .

The Case Will Be Upheld

16th July 1877

The case was removed from the state court and brought before the United States Circuit Court at the behest of the defendants who were represented by...

Lee Takes His Case to Court

1st April 1877

George Washington Custis Lee brought a lawsuit before the Circuit Court of Alexandria County, VA. He sought to eject those who had claimed his...

Lee Takes the Matter to Congress

1st April 1874

George Washington Custis Lee (Son of General and Mrs. Lee) takes the case to Congress asking the government recognize his claim to the Arlington...

Heiress of Arlington Dies

1st November 1873

Mrs. Mary Anna Custis Lee, rightful heiress to the Arlington Estate, dies before regaining ownership of her family home.

Death of a General

1st October 1870

Robert E. Lee dies and is buried at Washington and Lee University where he had served as President following the war.

The End of the War

9th April 1865

General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Grant of the Union at the Appomattox Courthouse, officially ending the Civil War.

The First Veterans Buried at Arlington

18th June 1864

President Lincoln orders for Union soldiers and sailors to be buried at Arlington Heights on the property that was confiscated from the Lee family at...

Collections and Confiscation

6th February 1863

Union legislature passes “An Act of Collection of Direct Taxes in the Insurrectionary Districts within the United States” by which the government...

Union Confiscation Act Passed

17th July 1862

Union Confiscation Act is passed by President Lincoln. The law would allow for the confiscation of property that belonged to known “rebels” or those...

General Lee

31st May 1862

Robert E. Lee takes charge as General of the largest Confederate field army, the Army of Northern Virginia.

Union Confiscation Laws Proposed

2nd December 1861

Union bill regarding confiscation of “Rebel” property first introduced to the 37th Congress.

Confederate Confiscation Laws

30th August 1861

CSA legislature passes a law regarding the confiscation of property belonging to those who adheared to the Union cause.

The Union Takes Arlington

24th May 1861

General Winfeild Scott orders Union forces to cross the Potomac and possess the 1,100 acre Custis/Lee estate.

Drawing Lines in the Sand

21st May 1861

CSA legislature passes a law that forbade the payment of debts that were due to any Northern individual or corporation.

The Union Loses a Colonel

20th April 1861

Robert E. Lee resigns his commission as a Colonel in the United States army in order to fight for his home state of Virginia. He penned his letter of...

The Commonwealth Joins the Confederacy

17th April 1861

Virginia seceded from the Union.

The War Begins

12th Apr 1861 - 13th Apr 1861

Fort Sumter was bombarded by Confederate troops. The fort was the first to be taken by the Confederacy.

THE CSA

2nd February 1861

Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America. (CSA)

The Growing Confederacy

9th Jan 1861 - 1st Feb 1861

Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas also voted to secede from the Union.

The First Secession

20th December 1860

As a direct result of the election of Lincoln (a known critic of slavery) the legislature of South Carolina votes to become the first state to secede...

Election Day 1860

7th November 1860

Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States.

Death of George Washington Parke Custis

10th October 1857

George Washington Parke Custis dies leaving his entire estate to his daughter with Robert E. Lee as the executor. He stipulated that upon her death...

Robert E. Lee Joins the Custis Family

30th June 1831

Robert E. Lee marries Mary Custis, the great-great granddaughter of Martha Washington and only daughter of George Washington Parke Custis. This union...

The Family Homestead

1st January 1802

George Washington Parke Custis and his slaves spent 16 years building the Arlington House, the family home on the 1,100 acre Arlington Heights estate

The Arlington Estate Through the Decades

Today, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 400,000 of our bravest men and women, but the history of this hallowed ground is not quite as honorable as those who will spend their eternal rest there.

1802-01-01 00:00:00

The Family Homestead

1831-06-30 00:00:00

Robert E. Lee Joins the Custis Family

1857-10-10 00:00:00

Death of George Washington Parke Custis

1860-11-07 00:00:00

Election Day 1860

1860-12-20 00:00:00

The First Secession

1861-01-09 00:00:00

The Growing Confederacy

1861-02-02 00:00:00

THE CSA

1861-04-12 00:00:00

The War Begins

1861-04-17 00:00:00

The Commonwealth Joins the Confederacy

1861-04-20 00:00:00

The Union Loses a Colonel

The Arlington Estate Through the Decades

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