Walking Tour: African American Military Heroes Learn about the lives of Tuskegee Airmen, members of the 369th Infantry Infantry Regiment (the “Harlem Hellfighters”), Medal of Honor recipients and more. Throughout U.S. history, African Americans have fought bravely for the United States and distinguished themselves in combat. This walking tour includes gravesites and memorials that honor the service of these heroic individuals. Length: 5 miles Starting point: Section 40 (0.4 miles from Welcome Center) Because this walking tour is quite long, we recommend completing it in smaller sections. Read More
Walking Tour: Freedman's Village The southern sections of Arlington National Cemetery contain the former site of Freedman’s Village — a community of formerly enslaved African Americans, established in 1863. Freedman’s Village evolved into a unique and thriving community, and it had a lasting legacy. Learn more and explore other nearby Civil War gravesites. Distance: ~.6 miles Exertion Level: Moderate Starting point: Section 3 (1.5 miles from Welcome Center) Read More
Walking Tours: The Civil War Thousands of Civil War service members are buried at Arlington National Cemetery — which itself originated during the Civil War. On this tour, you will explore some of their stories; learn why the U.S. Army first occupied the property in 1861; and discover the histories of enslavement and emancipation that this land also embodies. Distance: ~5 miles (full tour); ~2.5 miles (student tour)/li> Exertion Level: High Starting point: Section 27 (.5 miles from Welcome Center) Read More
Lifelong Learners: Freedman’s Village at Arlington Freedman’s Village was a community of formerly enslaved African Americans established on the former Arlington estate in 1863. Through historical photos and personal accounts, learn about life in the village and the circumstances surrounding its eventual closure. Read More
Lifelong Learners: The Freedpeople of Section 27 In Section 27 of Arlington National Cemetery, thousands of headstones inscribed with “citizen” or “civilian” mark the resting places of free or formerly enslaved African Americans who died in and around Washington, D.C. from 1863 to 1867. Read about who these people were and how they came to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and then explore a burial record for this section. Read More
Lesson Plan: The Freedpeople of Section 27 Although Arlington National Cemetery is a military cemetery, it contains a section where thousands of African American civilians were buried between 1864 and 1867. Through a class lecture and exploration of a Section 27 burial record, students explore what life may have been like for free African Americans during the years surrounding the Civil War. Students will write a short obituary for one of the African American civilians on the burial record. Elementary School: 1 class period, 45-60 minutes total Middle School: 1-2 class periods, 70-90 minutes total High School: 1-2 class periods, 70-90 minutes total Read More
Lesson Plan: Reconstruction Timeline This timeline activity about the history of Reconstruction (1865-1877) can be used as an introduction, a review or at any time throughout a Reconstruction unit. Timeline cards can be printed and ordered to give students an overview of important events during the Reconstruction era. For students who will be visiting Arlington National Cemetery, an optional set of Freedman’s Village timeline cards can also be printed and used. One class period, 15-30 minutes Read More
Lesson Plan: United States Colored Troops, Civil War The United States Colored Troops (official U.S. Army name), or U.S.C.T., were Civil War regiments composed of African Americans. Although African Americans had fought in the military since the Revolutionary War, the formation of the U.S.C.T. was the first time that the U.S. Army had actively recruited them. Their service opened the door for future generations of African Americans in the military. Students learn about the U.S.C.T. and explore their significance in historical and cultural context. Resources include a PowerPoint slide deck and handout. One class period, 15-20 minutes total Read More
Lesson Plan: The Civil War In this lesson designed for high school students, primary sources written by individuals connected to Arlington National Cemetery prompt analysis of different perspectives on the Civil War. Students will use short biographical sketches to figure out who wrote each primary source and then participate in a class discussion.
Recommended Reading: African American History at ANC Explore recommended secondary sources on the history of African Americans and Arlington National Cemetery, from the Civil War through the civil rights movement.
Walking Tour: African American Trailblazers This walking tour celebrates the achievements of African American men and women in the U.S. military who made historic contributions to American society Length: 5 miles Starting point: Section 33 (0.5 miles from Welcome Center) Because this walking tour is quite long, we recommend completing it in smaller sections. Read More