Building a National Education Program from the Ground Up
A place of profound significance — without a structured way to teach it
Arlington National Cemetery holds profound historical and cultural significance, but it lacked structured educational experiences to help visitors and learners engage with that history.
The task was ambitious:
- Build an education program from scratch
- Serve a wide range of audiences, from elementary students to lifelong learners
- Create materials for both on-site visitors and at-home audiences
- Position ANC as a trusted, national leader in education, comparable to major cultural institutions
A scalable, multi-format program built to reach audiences on-site, online, and in classrooms nationwide
From the beginning, the program was built around a clear vision: to honor service, support remembrance, and invite personal exploration of American history and the service and sacrifice of our nation's veterans.
K–12 Lesson Plans
Lessons use the stories of individuals buried at Arlington National Cemetery to explore larger themes and skills related to social studies, literacy, critical thinking, and STEM. All lessons are aligned to national curriculum standards.
Explore lesson plans by “Theme” on the Education Program website →
Walking Tours & On-Site Learning
Self-guided walking tours offer visitors a deeper way to experience ANC. Built on extensive historical research, these tours bring to life thousands of stories of service, honor, and sacrifice, helping visitors move beyond a few familiar landmarks to discover the breadth and depth of history across the cemetery.
Digital Access & Platforms
To expand access beyond the physical site, we translated program content into digital formats and continue to evolve these platforms. Walking tours are available through a digital platform, lesson plans are being integrated into Canvas Commons for classroom use nationwide, and a 360-degree virtual visit of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier allows audiences anywhere to engage meaningfully with one of ANC's most significant sites.
Teacher Engagement & Events
We support ongoing engagement through teacher professional development workshops and education events, both in-person and virtual — helping educators effectively use the materials and extend the reach of the program into classrooms across the country.
