Tomb of the Unknowns - Arlington National Cemetery Historic District - Arlington, VA
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 52.586 W 077° 04.333
18S E 320242 N 4305104
This sarcophagus, now known as "Tomb of the Unknowns", since WWII and Korean Unknown remains were added; but the Memorial does not have an official name, never has. #53 on the NRHP List.
Waymark Code: WMW1PX
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 06/28/2017
Views: 4
County of memorial: Arlington County
location of memorial: Arlington Cemetery Rd., behind the Memorial Ampitheater, Arlington Cemetery, Arlington
"Tomb of the Unknowns (#53 on sketch map)
The east plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater became the site of a distinguished burial in 1921, an unknown soldier who
had died in battle during World War I. The site for the burial was the plaza on the east side of the amphitheater on a high hill
with a wide view toward Washington, D.C. Although the large, marble sarcophagus memorial was not completed until 1928,
the remains of an American soldier "known but to God" were returned in 1921 from a military graveyard in France to
Washington, D.C. The body lay in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for two days and on November 11 , 1921, a procession
headed by President Warren G. Harding led the casket to the ANC. In a design competition in 1928, the modest but elegant
tomb design by Thomas Hudson Jones, a New York sculptor, was selected, and the memorial was built in 1931. The
approaches were designed by New York architect Lorimer Rich.
"The interment of the Unknown Soldier resulted in ever-increasing visitation to the cemetery. Americans were drawn to the
symbolism of the burial, which for many elicited an emotional connection to this and all soldiers. American casualties from
the 19-month-long World War I were over 300,000; in comparison, the four-month Spanish American War had resulted in
about 4,000 casualties. As more Americans were touched by World War I, the ANC became a place where average
Americans could come to pay their respects to those who had fought on foreign shores. The memorial has become one of
the most visited sites in the cemetery.
"In 1956, unknown soldiers from World War II and the Korean War were interred at the site. The memorial is generally
known as the Tomb of the Unknowns although it has not been formally named. Since 1937, it has been under the
constant protection of the Honor Guard of the 3rd Infantry Regiment (the "Old Guard"). The Commission of Fine Arts
played a key role in the realignment of roadways and pedestrian pathways created to assist visitors in reaching the
memorial. Present access to the Tomb is generally from Roosevelt Drive to the east or Memorial Drive to the west." ~ NRHP Nomination Form