Lee Mansion National Memorial

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V I Lee Mansion National Memorial

In this Mansion, which became his home when he married Mary Custis, Robert E. Lee wrote his resignation from the United States Army in April 1861, to join the cause of Virginia 'and the South. • The Lee Mansion National Memorial , Early History or Arlington House, as it was formerly known, distinctive through its associations George Washington Parke Custis, builder with the families of Custis, Washington, of Arlington House, was the grandson of and Lee, stands within the Nation's most Martha Washington and the foster son of famous cemetery on the Virginia side of George Washington. When Martha Dan- the Potomac opposite Washington. This dridge Custis became the wife of Col. house of the foster son of the First Presi- George Washington she was a widow with dent was for years the treasury of both the two children, Martha Parke Custis and Washington heirlooms and the Washing- John Parke Custis. Martha Parke Custis ton tradition. Here Robert E. Lee, a died in her teens without having been young lieutenant in the U. S. Army, and married, but John Parke Custis married Mary Custis, the great-granddaughter of Eleanor Calvert of Maryland in 1774, and Martha Washington, were married and upon his death at the close of the Revolu- reared a family. Here, also, Col. Robert E. tionary War left four children. The death Lee, torn between devotion to his country of John Parke Custis was a shock, not only and to his native State, made his fateful to his mother, Mrs. Washington, but to decision, the substance of which he had General Washington as well, as he is re- written to his son a few months before: "It ported to have remarked to the grieving is the principle I contend for . .. But I mother at the deathbed, "I adopt the two can anticipate no greater calamity for the youngest children as my own." Their country than a dissolution of the Union ... names were Eleanor Parke Custis (Nellie) and George Washington Parke Custis. StilI, a Union that can only be maintained They were reared at Mount Vernon and by swords and bayonets . . . has no charm are often referred to as the "Children of for me. I shall mourn for my country and Mount Vernon." for the welfare and progress of mankind. In 1802, the year his grandmother, Mrs. If the Union is dissolved . . . I shall re- . Washington, died, George Washington turn to my native State ... and save in Parke Custis began building Arlington defence will draw my sword on none." House on the estate of 1,100 acres which Today Arlington House, furnished with his father had purchased from the Alex- appointments of its early period, preserves ander family in 1778. He named the for posterity the atmosphere of gracious estate "Arlington" and the home "Arlington living, typical of a romantic age of Ameri- House" in honor of the ancestral home- can history. stead of the Custis family on the Eastern by a wide central hall. A large formal Mount Vernon. The view from the por- seven Lee children were born here. .By drawing room with two fine marble fire- tico he pronounced unrivaled, entreating the will of George Washington Parke Cus- places lies south of this hall, while to the Mrs. Custis never to sacrifice any of the tis, who died in 1857, the estate of Arling- north of it can be seen the family dining fine trees. General Lafayette returned ton was bequeathed to his daughter for room and family parlor separated by a again to Arlington House in 1825 as the her lifetime, and afterward to his eldest north and south partition broken by three ·guest of the Custises for several weeks. grandson and namesake, George Washing- graceful arches. The second story is also ton Custis Lee. divided by a central hall on either side of Lt. Robert E. Lee's Marriage Never a thrifty farmer and an easygoing which there are two bedrooms and accom- master, requiring little of his slaves, Mr. On June 30, 1831, Mary Ann Randolph panying dressing rooms. A small room Custis' death found the Arlington planta- Custis, only child of the Custis family at used as a linen closet is at the end of this tion sadly run down. Robert E. Lee as Arlington, became the wife. of Robert E. hall. The third floor was used only for executor felt that his presence at Arling- Lee, a young lieutenant in the U. S. Army, storage purposes and remained an unfin- ton was necessary if he was to give proper just 2 years out of West Point. The cere- ished attic. The grand portico facing the attention to the estate. He, therefore, ob- mony took place under a floral bell hung Potomac, with its eight massive Doric col- tained extended leave and settled down to in the archway between the family dining umns, was modeled after the Temple of room and parlor. The wedding party re- the life of a farmer. Three years elapsed Theseus at Athens. At the rear, two out- mained at Arlington in festivity and merri- before he rejoined his regiment. During houses used as servants' quarters, smoke- Portrait of Robert E. Lee, about 1850 ment until July 5, when the groom's fellow this period, the traditions of Arlington house, workroom, and summer kitchen (G. Louvrie) officers, their leaves ending, were forced to House were maintained. Situated on the form a courtyard. say good-by. Some of the bridesmaids main-traveled road from the South, Arling- ton was a favorite stopping place for rela- Shore of Virginia. The house was to re- lingered until the end of the week. General Lafayette Visits Arlington tives and friends. Its hospitable doors ceive the legacy of his grandmother- One of the most pleasant incidents in the furniture and pictures, plate and china Mrs. Lee Inherits Arlington were always open to such guests. history of Arlington House was the visit in from Mount Vernon, and more precious 1824 of General Lafayette, whose rever- Much of Mrs. Lee's married life was still, personal effects of Washington. Two The Lees Leave Arlington ence for the memory of Washington spent at the home of her girlhood, some- years later, at the age of 23, he was mar- matched that of his host. It is related that times with her husband, sometimes await- Following the news of the secession of ried to Mary Lee Fitzhugh of Chatham. on entering he commented on the iron lan- ing his return from the Mexican War, or Virginia, news which he had hoped never It is believed that Mr. Custis designed tern in the hall, which he remembered at other distant tours of duty. Six of the to hear, Colonel Lee, on April 20, 1861, and supervised the original building and that its remodeling about 1820 was under the direction of the architect, George Had- field. The foundation stone and timber came from the estate. The bricks with which the house was built were burned from native clay by slaves.

Arlington The extent of the front of the Mansion, with its two wings, is 140 feet. The wings are identical, except that in the north wing the space corresponding to the state dining room in the south wing was divided into small rooms for the temporary accommo- dation of Mr. and Mrs. Custis while the house was being built and was never changed. The central portion is divided

16-52238-1 resigned his commission in the U. S. Army. restoration of Arlington House to the con- Monday morning, April 22, at the request dition in which it existed prior to the War of the Governor of Virginia, he departed Between the States and to procure for it, for Richmond. Mrs. Lee remained at when possible, furniture known to have Arlington engaged in the work of disman- -been in the Mansion, replicas of that furni- tling her home and sending family posses- ture, or other pieces of a style suitable to sions to a place of safety. She had not the first half of the nineteenth century. completed this task, when, on May 24, the Some of the historical originals have been seizure of lands between Washington and returned, and for those that could not be Alexandria by Federal troops caused her obtained similar period pieces and a few to abandon everything. The remaining copies have been substituted. In r933 family possessions were later taken from Arlington House was transferred from the Arlington and locked up in the old Patent War Department to the Department of the ,l Office in Washington, but not before many Interior. things, including some of the Mount Ver- non heirlooms, had been carried away. Visitor Service and Facilities Lee Mansion National Memorial is lo- The United States Acquires Arlington cated in Arlington National Cemetery. Situated on the line of fortifications Bus service is available via Arlington guarding Washington, Arlington estate .Memorial Bridge to the main cemetery soon became an armed camp, and, after gates. Automobiles use the same approach the First Battle of Bull Run in July r86r, but may drive the short distance through was used as a field hospital. In r864, at a the cemetery to parking facilities near the tax sale, the United States acquired title to Mansion. Visiting hours are as follows: Arlington for $26,800. Upon the death of October through March, 9 a. m. to 4: 30 Mrs. Lee in r873-General Lee having p. m.; April through September, 9 a. m. died in 187o-Custis Lee took steps to re- to 6 p. m. A fee of 10 cents, plus tax, for cover his property, as under the will of his admission is charged visitors over r6 years grandfather, George Washington Parke of age, with the exception of high school Custis, he became entitled to Arlington. groups, which are admitted free through 'His case was carried to the United States r8 years of age. Supreme Court, where a decision favorable to Mr. Lee was obtained. He then con- Administration sented to give the United States a clear Lee Mansion National Memorial is ad- title to the property for $r 50,000, and Con- ministered by the National Capital Parks gress in 1883 appropriated the necessary for the National Park Service, United funds. States Department of the Interior. Other national memorials administered by the Lee Mansion overlooks the city of Washington Arlington House Restored National Capital Parks are: The Lincoln For years after the war, the Mansion Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memo- stood an empty shell-an office for the rial, the Washington Monument, the Lin- UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR superintendent of the cemetery and a place coln Museum, and the House Where J. A. Krug, Secretary for his tools. By act of Congress, ap- Lincoln Died. Communications should be NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, Newton B. Drury, Director proved March 4, r925, the Secretary of addressed to the Superintendent, National War was empowered to undertake the Capital Parks, Washington 25, D. C.

16-52238-L u . S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE