The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, 162 years ago, when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Within two days, U.S forces surrendered the fortification. This event is often cited as the official start of the nation’s most divisive and bloody conflict. Arlington National Cemetery’s (ANC) connections to the Civil War are incredibly rich and complex.
On the anniversary of this event, the ANC History Office will be offering a public walking tour around Sections 1 and 2 of the cemetery. The group will meet at the Tanner Amphitheater, near the Arlington House tram stop, at 11:30 am on Wednesday, April 12. The tour will last for approximately 90 minutes. This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
This walking tour will explore how the Civil War led to ANC’s creation and how the cemetery eventually developed into the nation’s most sacred shrine in the years following the war. Participants will learn about the diverse Americans who served in the war and the enduring impact of this conflict on ANC.