File:Arlington National Cemetery - RFK Grave Site reflecting pool - 2011.jpg

Summary

Standing on Custis Walk, looking downhill and east at the grave of Robert F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, California, on June 6, 1968. An expansion to the John F. Kennedy grave site was dedicated in 1971 to accommodate Robert Kennedy's grave. Robert F. Kennedy's resting place is only about 50 feet (15 m) southwest from the terrace at the John F. Kennedy site. Robert Kennedy is buried on the upslope side of the walkway, his burial vault (hidden by the hill here) marked by a white cross and a slate headstone set flush with the earth. Opposite his grave is a granite plaza (seen here) designed by architect I. M. Pei and dedicated on December 6, 1971. A low granite wall similar to the one at the John F. Kennedy terrace contains quotations from famous Robert F. Kennedy speeches, and a small reflecting pool. As with his brother, Robert Kennedy's first grave was a temporary one, about 10 feet (3.0 m) upslope from its current location.

Custis Walk is one of the few concrete paths in Arlington National Cemetery. Originally, the area traversed by Custis Walk was a densely wooded area. In July 1861, a new road was cut through Arlington Woods north of the mansion to provide an escape route fopr Union troops in case the Confederacy attacked the Arlington estate. This road went down into the ravine north and north3east of the house and up the other side before curving northwest to meet the Washington and Alexandria Turnpike. (Portions of Sherman Avenue and Ord & Weitzel Drive follow the route of this road today.)

Electric trolley service to Arlington National Cemetery began in the 1890s. At the time, the eastern boundary of the cemetery was where Eisenhower Drive and Schley Drive are now. The main entrance to the cemetery was Sheridan Gate, located about 100 feet north of the current Main Gate. One of the trolley stations was where the Main Gate is now.

In 1893, Arlington officials constructed Custis Walk. This 3,000-foot-long pathway largely paralleled the old Civil War road (now Sherman Avenue) to the south until it reached the old turnpike and the Sheridan Gate. Benches were placed along the path to provide rest for pedestrians. The reason for building Custis Walk was to provide a path to Arlington House from the new trolley station.

There is a looping section of Custis Walk in front of the northeast corner of Arlington House. The lower section of the loop allows viewers to see the front of the Wright and Porter graves, but also to turn around and get "overhead" views of the two Kennedy graves. I was standing on this loop, facing southeast, when I took this image.

Licensing

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