What famous landmark used to be Mrs. Robert E. Lee's rose garden?

dave_fl

Arlington National Cemetery Apr 08 00, 9:08 PM

zbeckabee

After his father-in-law died in 1857, Lee returned to Arlington to join his family and to serve as executor of the estate. Under the terms of her father's will, Mary Anna Custis Lee was given the right to inhabit and control the house for the rest of her life. Custis' will also stipulated that upon Mary Anna's death, full title would pass to her eldest son, George Washington Custis Lee. Contrary to popular belief, Robert E. Lee never owned the Arlington estate. Lee did serve as custodian of the property, which had fallen into disrepair by the time he returned to execute his father-in-law's will. By 1859, Lee had returned the property and its holdings to profitability and good order. Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary Anna, lived at Arlington House until 1861, when Virginia ratified an alliance with the Confederacy and seceded from the Union. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee#Marriage_and_family Jan 19 08, 3:33 PM