Tomb of the Unknown Solider

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery's most iconic memorial, stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. The neoclassical, white marble sarcophagus depicts three carved Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor.

The Tomb sarcophagus stands above the grave of the Unknown Soldier of World War I. To the west are the crypts for an Unknown Soldier from World War II and the Korean War. A white marble slab flush with the plaza marks each crypt.

Thousands come from all over the globe to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

The Changing of the Guard is an elaborate ritual that happens every hour on the hour October 1 to March 31 and every half hour from April 1 to September 30. Visitors are welcome to watch the ceremony, but must stand and remain silent. On the next page, there are some little known facts about the Guards that keep post of the Memorial.

The Memorial is located in a newly created, four-acre public park adjacent to the National Mall, across the street from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.