2021 marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. It is one of America's most iconic memorials and is visited every year by millions of visitors. This exhibit explores its history.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The tomb, a white neoclassic sarcophagus, sits on a hill in front of the Arlington Amphitheater. It is the final resting for America's unknown soldiers of war.
New Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1932-05) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209280006
Part I - Journey of the Unknown Soldier
A pictorial journey of World War I's Unknown Soldier from France to Arlington, VA.
Sgt. Edward F. Younger, U.S. Army
Sgt. Younger was chosen to select the Unknown World War I soldier by placing white roses on the casket at the city hall in Chalons-Sur-Marne on October 24, 1921.
Place de L 'Hotel DeVille, Chalons-Sur-Marne, France
The Unknown Soldier lied in state at the Place de L 'Hotel DeVille in Chalons-Sur-Marne, France and then was removed to begin its journey on October 24, 1921.
Le Havre, France
After leaving Chalons-Sur-Marne, the Unknown Soldier traveled by train to Le Havre, France arriving on October 25, 1921.
Streets of Le Havre
While in Le Havre, there were numerous ceremonies to honor the Unknown Soldier. Millions of French citizens lined up in the streets of Le Havre to watch the procession.
Cross of the Legion of Honor
After traveling through Le Havre, the Unknown Soldier arrived at the port to board the USS Olympia. Before boarding, the French Minister of Pensions decorated the Unknown Soldier with the Cross of the Legion of Honor.
Boarding the USS Olympia
Afterwards, soldiers carried the Unknown Soldier aboard the USS Olympia to begin the long journey across the ocean.
USS Olympia Departure
The USS Olympia departed the dock at Le Havre, France headed for Washington, DC. It arrived at the Navy Yard on November 9, 1921.
U.S.S. Olympia approaching the docks at the Navy Yard, Washington, DC (1921-11-11) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209279973
Unknown Soldier at U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC
After disembarking at the Navy Yard, the Unknown Soldier traveled to the U.S. Capitol to lie in state. President Warren G. Harding visited the Capitol to pay his respects.
Leaving the Capitol
After lying in state, the Unknown Soldier departs the U.S. Capitol to begin the procession down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Procession
The caisson traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue with several soldiers and prominent people marching along while observers stand on the sidewalks to pay their respects. Prominent people included President Harding and Gen. John J. Pershing.
President Harding and General Pershing in funeral parade (1921-11-11) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209279987
Arlington Amphitheater
Upon the Unknown Soldier's arrival at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, services were held at the Amphitheater. President Harding delivered the remarks.
President Harding delivering address in Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, VA (1921-11-11) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209279977
Interment
People gathered outside the Amphitheater to watch the interment of the Unknown Soldier in front of the theater.
The Unknown Soldier of the World War (1936) by Department of DefenseOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 24641
Part II: The Design
Original Tomb
During its early years, the Unknown Soldier's tomb was a white marble slab. Visitors and members of the military began visiting the tomb to pay their respects.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier taken during Pan American Journalists visit (1928) by Department of Commerce, Bureau of Public RoadsOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 135804921
Wreath placed by French Flyers on Tomb of Unknown Soldier (1930-09-08) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209279989
Princess America, Miss Alice Garry, Indian Girl of Spokane, Washington (1927-10) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: Photographs of American Military Activities, ca. 1918 - ca. 1981
Sarcophagus Design
Due to concerns of damages to the slab by visitors, the War Department decided to launch a design competition to create a sarcophagus and an approaching stairway to the tomb in 1928. It was completed in 1932.
The Approaches to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1930-12-15) by Office of the Chief of EngineersOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 109182716
View of front of Amphitheatre and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, showing new approach (1932-05) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209280000
Part III - The Old Guard
The Old Guard's role at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Old Guard
The Old Guard is the name coined for the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Soldiers volunteer and go through training to become Tomb Guards.
Duties
The guards walk 21 steps on a black mat behind the Tomb and faces east, north, and south of the Tomb and switches his weapon all in 21 seconds. This routine is repeated until the Changing of the Guard.
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the guard occurs every half hour from April 1st to September 30th and every hour from October 1st through March 31st.
Part IV - Wreath Laying Ceremonies
Wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier have long been a tradition to honor American military servicemen. These ceremonies occurred mostly on Memorial and Veterans Days where visitors, presidents, politicians, foreign dignitaries, etc. would participate in placing a wreath in front of the tomb and give speeches.
Wreath Laying Ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1930/1940) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209280032
Memorial Day Services, Memorial Amphitheatre, Arlington National Cemetery (1936-05-30) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 209280045
Toshio Nakayama (left), Japanese Minister of Defense (1993-05-03) by Department of DefenseOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 6681486
Secretary of the Navy James W. Webb Jr. participates in a wreath-laying ceremony (1987-05-30) by Department of DefenseOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 6429609
Gold Star Mothers
One particular group, the Gold Star Mothers, would make their annual pilgrimage to Arlington and participate in a wreath laying ceremony over the years.
Gold Star Mothers (1982-09-28) by Department of DefenseOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 6373366
Child Participation
Even children had the opportunity to place a wreath.
Part V - U.S. Presidents at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
During their terms, U.S. Presidents participated in wreath laying ceremonies and gave speeches on Memorial and Veterans Days.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1939-11-11) by Signal Corps, USAOriginal Source: Photographs of American Military Activities, ca. 1918 - ca. 1981
President Truman lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (1947-11-11) by Harry S. Truman Library (LP-HST)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 199679
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
On Memorial Day 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the ceremonies to honor the Unknown Soldiers from World War II and the Korean War in the Amphitheater.
Memorial Day Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery (1961) by John F. Kennedy Library (LP-JFK)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 6372843
President Gerald R. Ford at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1974-10-28) by Gerald R. Ford Library (LP-GRF)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 23869125
President Jimmy Carter lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1978-11-11) by Jimmy Carter Library (LP-JC)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 182328
President Ronald Reagan
On May 28, 1984, the Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War was interred at Arlington. President Reagan presided over the ceremony and presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to the Unknown Soldier in the Amphitheater. The Unknown Soldier was identified in May 1998 as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, a pilot who was shot down in 1972 and his remains were returned to his family.
President Bush observing Veteran's Day (1991-11-11) by George Bush Library (LP-GB)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 6728229
President Bill Clinton placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1993-11-11) by William J. Clinton Presidential Library (LP-WJC)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 5701126
President George W. Bush lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (2003-11-11) by Department of DefenseOriginal Source: National Archives Identifier: 6658687
President Barack Obama Participates in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (2012-11-11) by Barack Obama Presidential Library (LP-BHO)Original Source: National Archives Identifier: 176552676
Curator: Alexis Hill
Project Supervisors: Meg Ryan and William Wade
Special thanks to: Ashley Behringer, Kaitlyn Crain-Enriquez, Amy Edwards, Amber Forrester, and Dan Rooney
