ARLINGTON HOUSE Historic Structures Report Phase II

Arlington House exemplifies a historic property for which a final, definitive historic structure report may be an impossibility. Its legislation as a Robert E. Lee Memorial targets a period of its history not easy to isolate architecturally and for which significant documentation was dispersed and presumed lost following the Lees' departure in 1861. Subsequent "improvements" and "restoration" have destroyed evidence which the building fabric might otherwise reveal. Further investigations, structural reinforcement, mechanical and electrical improvements, or other work may be thought desirable in the future. There is always a possibility that lost documents will be found.

For these reasons, this report has been printed in loose-leaf format as the 1985 edition. It compiles the best available information at this date.

Paul Goeldner
Chief, Historic Resource Services
National Capital Region
National Park Service