Arlington Cemetery (Metrorail)

Arlington Cemetery (Metrorail)
Name	Arlington Cemetery
Type	Washington Metro station
Address	Memorial Drive at Arlington National Cemetery
Borough	Arlington County, Virginia
Country	United States
Owned	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Lines	Blue Line
Platforms	1 island platform
Structure	Below-grade/open cut
Parking	None
Bicycle	Racks
Opened	March 28, 1976
Code	K02

Arlington Cemetery (Metrorail) is a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority rapid transit station on the Blue Line serving the Arlington National Cemetery area in Arlington County, Virginia. The station provides direct access to national memorials, interchanges with roadways such as George Washington Memorial Parkway and is one of the system's deeper below-grade platforms, connecting visitors to sites like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. Opened during the 1970s expansion of Washington Metro, it remains a key access point for tourists, veterans, and officials traveling between Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Location and layout

The station lies adjacent to the Arlington National Cemetery boundary near Memorial Drive and Southgate Road, between the Potomac River and Arlington Ridge. Its single island platform sits below the surface in an open cut parallel to DAAR and provides entrances on both north and south sides; one entrance faces the cemetery grounds and the other faces Columbia Pike and the Arlington National Cemetery Administration Building. Track alignment connects toward Rosslyn station to the northeast and Pentagon station to the south, integrating with the broader Blue Line alignment that serves Franconia–Springfield station and Largo Town Center station.

History and construction

Planning for the station occurred during the 1968 Washington Metro plan and the station opened on March 28, 1976 during an early phase of Metro expansion that also extended service to Rosslyn and Pentagon City. Construction involved coordination with the United States Department of the Army because of proximity to Arlington House and required archaeological and landscape considerations tied to the cemetery's historic status overseen by the National Park Service. Funding and oversight included the National Capital Transportation Agency and later the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), reflecting interjurisdictional agreements with Arlington County and the District of Columbia.

Station design and architecture

Architecturally, the station follows the Washington Metro aesthetic developed by Harry Weese and features concrete vaulting and brutalist elements similar to stations at Metro Center and Dupont Circle, while its open-cut form contrasts with the vaulted underground stations like Smithsonian station. Materials include cast-in-place concrete and terrazzo flooring comparable to finishes at Pentagon station and Rosslyn station. Lighting and signage conform to system standards set by WMATA and the station incorporates commemorative sightlines toward memorials such as the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Marine Corps War Memorial.

Services and operations

Arlington Cemetery station is served exclusively by the Blue Line with peak and off-peak frequency determined by WMATA scheduling that coordinates with operations at hub stations including Gallery Place–Chinatown and L'Enfant Plaza. Trains operate toward Franconia–Springfield station and toward New Carrollton via shared track segments with the Orange Line and Silver Line in central trunk sections. Fare control uses the SmarTrip system implemented systemwide; customer support aligns with WMATA policies and coordination with Arlington County Police Department for transit policing.

Accessibility and connections

The station provides elevators and escalators compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 standards, enabling access for visitors to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center. Bus connections include routes operated by Metrobus and linkages to Arlington Transit (ART) services that serve Clarendon and Ballston–MU. Bicycle racks and pedestrian paths connect to the Mount Vernon Trail and the station supports National Park Service wayfinding for tourists traveling between Lincoln Memorial and Pentagon Memorial.

Incidents and security

Given its proximity to significant federal sites, the station has been subject to heightened security coordination with the United States Secret Service, Department of Defense, and Arlington County Police Department, particularly during events at Arlington National Cemetery such as Presidential funerals and national commemorations like Memorial Day ceremonies. Past operational incidents have been handled under WMATA protocols involving the National Transportation Safety Board when applicable and emergency response coordination with Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, Arlington County.

Cultural significance and nearby attractions

The station serves as an access point to a concentration of national landmarks including the Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, Marine Corps War Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, and proximity to Pentagon Memorial and the National Mall. It supports visitation for ceremonies by organizations such as the United States Army and the American Legion, and is frequently used by tourists visiting nearby museums on the National Mall including the Smithsonian Institution museums and memorials associated with events like Veterans Day observances.

Category:Washington Metro stations in Virginia Category:Blue Line (Washington Metro) stations