Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

Arlington House stands watch over the nation's 250,000 heroes interred nearby. It was the home of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee until he resigned from the U.S. Army. This house commemorates Lee's determined effort to bring peace to a war-torn land after the Civil War ended.

The beautiful mansion sits on one of the highest points surrounding Washington, D.C. On a clear day, you can see much of the capital from here. Greek columns welcome you like you're entering a temple in The Pantheon. It was originally meant to be a memorial to George Washington, built by his grandson. Washington already has plenty of those.

Inside the gorgeous home are artifacts related to the lives of Washington and Lee. Photographs and paintings document how the two families converged to make the mansion a reality. Perhaps one of the most interesting rooms is the children's playroom. Try not to become a kid again by picking up the vintage dolls and riding in the kid-sized carriage.

The house offers a view into the life of a man torn between two worlds. As a colonel in the army, he swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the United States as a whole. However, he resigned his commission to defend his home state of Virginia. He wrote, "Save in the defense of my native state shall I ever again draw my sword." Lee wrote his fateful letter in this house on April 20, 1861.

What would have happened if Lee decided against resigning? The Civil War might have ended a lot faster. This mansion is well worth a stop on your tour of Arlington National Cemetery.