Tank G.
Yelp
This cemetery has been on my bucket list for years. It was established in 1864 and spans 640 acres. The place has a parking garage where there is no charge parking from 8AM to noon. After that it is $2/ hour. There is no fee to get into the cemetery, however there is a fee to take the trolley that has designated stops throughout the cemetery. The entire staff there is very friendly and helpful. In order to get into the cemetery, you must have a valid ID and clear a magnetometer. The cemetery is the final resting place for over 400,000 veterans.
I purchased the trolley tour, where you can hop off and back on, but felt that it was a waste. The trolley did not take off for an hour and once I was in the cemetery, subsequent trolleys were few and far between and /or packed.
The cemetery is well maintained, and beautiful. I do not know how they are able to do it. It gives you some of the best views of the downtown monuments, especially from the Arlington House, which overlooks the external flame and grave of JFK and Jackie Kennedy. Other points of interest within the cemetery include the Tomb of the Unknown Soilder, Women In Military Service For America Memorial, the Coast Guard Memorial, the Matthew A. Henson memorial, the graves of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Medger Evers, Joe Louis, President William Taft, Robert Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Thurgood Marshall, and William Rehnquist. There are also some statues along the street leading to the cemetery that include the Seabee Memorial, the hiker and. the 4th infantry monument.
I have a few recommendations before you visit. First, unless you have some mobility issues, I would forgo the trolley. It is a waste of time and you could probably get where you were going much faster by walking. Second, bring some water if you plan on being there a while. There is not any vending and the few water fountains around, i do not trust. Third, go in with a plan and lay out the sites you want to see before you get there. They have a few app that you can download that can help with that.
This is one of the most somber and sobering place. Please remember to be respectful during your visit. Make sure to check out the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soilder and the views from the Arlington House. I highly recommend visiting this place and paying your respects to the the hundred of thousands of US service members.