Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, across the Potomac from Washington, DC, began during the American Civil War. The land belonged to the family of Mary Custis Lee, wife of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, and was taken by the Union government. Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs, who wanted to make it impossible for the Lees to return, ordered soldiers to be buried on the grounds, and the first military burial took place in May 1864. The cemetery grew to become the national burial ground of the United States, with several hundred thousand graves. It contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the grave of President John F. Kennedy.
Before and after
- from 10 March 1864 to 22 May 1864Red River campaign
- from 14 April 1864 to 1 January 1866Chincha Islands War
- 20 April 1864Pasteurization
- 21 April 1864Birth of Max Weber
- 13 May 1864Construction of Arlington National Cemetery
- 5 June 1864Publication of Ons Heemecht
- from 9 June 1864 to 25 March 1865Siege of Petersburg
- 11 June 1864Birth of Richard Strauss
- 12 July 1864Construction of Heineken International
More in Art, literature & culture
- 10 August 1793Construction of Louvre Museum
- 1863Origins of Baháʼí Faith
- 17 November 1869Construction of Suez Canal
- 1886Statue of Liberty
- 31 March 1889Construction of Eiffel Tower
- 1894Radio
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.