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[[image:Arlingtonhouse.jpg|300px|thumb|The Arlington House]]

[[image:Arlingtonhouse.jpg|300px|thumb|The Arlington House]]

The '''Arlington House''', the mansion at [[Arlington National Cemetary]], was originally built by George Washington Parke Custis, who was [[George Washington]]'s adopted grandson. It was built to serve as a monument to his grandfather.  Ownership of the mansion was later passed on to [[Confederate]] General [[Robert E. Lee]] via marriage.  The property had fallen upon hard times and disrepair when Lee returned from the [[Mexican American War]] to oversee the property. However, just before the outbreak of the [[Civil War | War between the States]], Lee had returned the property to good repair and profitability. The Arlington House stands atop a crest of [[Virginia]] hillside rising above the [[Potomac River]] where it overlooks [[Washington, D.C.]]

The '''Arlington House''', the mansion at [[Arlington National Cemetery]], was originally built by George Washington Parke Custis, who was [[George Washington]]'s adopted grandson. It was built to serve as a monument to his grandfather.  Ownership of the mansion was later passed on to [[Confederate]] General [[Robert E. Lee]] via marriage.  The property had fallen upon hard times and disrepair when Lee returned from the [[Mexican American War]] to oversee the property. However, just before the outbreak of the [[Civil War | War between the States]], Lee had returned the property to good repair and profitability. The Arlington House stands atop a crest of [[Virginia]] hillside rising above the [[Potomac River]] where it overlooks [[Washington, D.C.]]

After [[Virginia]] ratified secession, Union troops crossed the Potomac and, under Brig. Gen. [[Irvin McDowell]], took up positions around Arlington. During the occupation the Union founded several military installations at and around the mansion. These are survived today by parks in the surrounding community as well as Fort Myer. <ref>http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html</ref>

After [[Virginia]] ratified secession, Union troops crossed the Potomac and, under Brig. Gen. [[Irvin McDowell]], took up positions around Arlington. During the occupation the Union founded several military installations at and around the mansion. These are survived today by parks in the surrounding community as well as Fort Myer. <ref>http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html</ref>