1989 GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUSTIS TOUR
I’ll never forget my first visit to Arlington National Cemetery in 1989, where the first thing anyone sees is a house on top of a hill.
Southern Belles in hoop skirts passing by the pillars of the portico beckoned me to take the steps up the hill.
Arriving at the top, we joined a ranger led tour, since it is property of the National Park Service.
Of course, the first thing we learned is that Arlington House was built by George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington!
Throughout the tour the ranger pointed out all the beloved George Washington artificts throughout the house!
GEORGE WASHINGTON CONNECTION
Before there was ever a cemetery, this land was owned by the Custis family, passing down from Martha’s first husband, Daniel Parke Custis.
Upon his death the land passed to their son, John Parke Custis, who died after the Battle of Yorktown during the American Revolution.
After John’s death, his wife accepted George and Martha Washington’s offer to help raise two of the four children: Nelly and George Washington Parke Custis.
Both George Washington Parke Custis and his sister adored their step-grandfather and cherished their years of childhood at Mount Vernon so wholeheartedly, that they memorialized him in their own homes in adulthood.
Within weeks of Custis inheriting his father’s property in 1802, his grandmother passed away.
CUSTIS OFFERED TO BUY MOUNT VERNON
When Bushrod Washington inherited Mount Vernon, George Washington Parke Custis offered to buy it from him, but Bushrod refused.
As a result, Custis moved into Mount Washington, an 80-year-old house with four rooms on 11-acres of land atop a hill overlooking the new federal city, between which the Potomac River rippled.
Originally calling the land Mount Washington, Custis eventually changed the name to Arlington, named after a Custis family plantation.
BUILDING A MEMORIAL IN ARLINGTON
With deep admiration for his step-grandfather, Custis purposely built his house as a memorial to George Washington.
Receiving some Washington artifacts from Mount Vernon from his grandmother’s will, Custis purchased other George Washington treasures from Bushrod Washington, who sold his great-uncle’s property to financially stay afloat.
Throughout his new house Custis displayed the artifacts.
Purchasing Washington’s marquee tent from the American Revolution at auction, Custis, then often displayed it on the grounds for others to see.
In 1804, Custis married a lady from Chatham Manor in Fredericksburg.
DAUGHTER MARRIES ROBERT E. LEE
Their daughter, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, married a distant cousin, Robert E. Lee at Arlington House in 1831.
Lee’s father was Henry Lee III aka Light Horse Harry Lee who famously said at George Washington’s funeral in 1799: first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
Custis decreed in his will that only a Custis would own Arlington House, so his daughter, Mary, inherited the home since she was his only surviving child.
Meanwhile, Mary continued her father’s tradition of painting memorials to George Washington.
While busy with one of those paintings, she was alerted to the nearing of Union forces soon after the start of the Civil War, so she joined family at another property.
2008 GEORGE WASHINGTON TOUR
When we last visited in 2008, the house was closed for reconstruction, but we were able to tour a nearby building of all the Washington artifacts Custis collected, which was fascinating.
2016 BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR
Although that is sadly no longer available, we did get to do a self-tour the house.
While I explained a lot of history to the family, the docents who stood in each room said I knew my history and were even surprised when I recognized the Lafayette bust!
After discussing all the history, the docent invited us to a Behind the Scenes tour, which took us to the other floors of the house.
In the gardens are the graves of the first burials of Arlington National Cemetery.
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
COMMENTS FROM MY OLD BLOG
The Quintessential Clothes Pen – November 6, 2016 at 10:45 AM – Lots of new information to me in this post. For example, I did not know that Arlington was Lee’s home. The circles that history makes are so interesting! It is lovely that your family also enjoys your adventures.
Best,
Quinn
