1608
John Smith
Captain John Smith travels up the Potomac River to Arlington.
https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/16Thomas, Lord Fairfax
Thomas, the 6th Lord Fairfax inherits the land of the Northern Neck Proprietary which included Arlington. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/lord-fairfax
1719
1750
Ball-Sellers House
Farmer John Ball builds the Ball-Sellers House, which is currently the oldest structure in Arlington.
https://arlhist.org/ball-sellers-house/Residence Act
Congress approves a 100-square-mile area of land, including portions of present-day Arlington, to be used as the capital of the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residence_Act1790
1802
George Washington Parke Custis
George Washington Parke Custis, step-grandson of President George Washington, names his estate “Arlington.” https://www.nps.gov/arho/learn/historyculture/george-custis.htm
Robert E. Lee
Mary Anna Randolph Custis marries Robert E. Lee and they live on the Arlington estate.
https://www.nps.gov/arho/index.htm1831
1847
Alexandria County Retrocession
Alexandria County (Arlington) is retroceded to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/AAHT-3-Retrocession.pdfVirginia Secession Convention
Virginia holds a vote on secession from the Union. Despite this, Arlington remains under Union control for most of the Civil War. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/virginia-convention-of-1861/
1861
1864
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is created on the former location of Lee’s Arlington estate. The cemetery is the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of veterans and fallen military from every war that the United States fought. https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/History-of-Arlington-National-Cemetery
Alexandria Separated
The City of Alexandria is separated from Alexandria County.
1870
1918
Spanish Flu
The Spanish Flu pandemic hits Arlington. Due to a lack of sanitation, the disease became the worst pandemic in American history. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/192
Alexandria County Renamed
Alexandria County is officially renamed Arlington County.
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Topics/Welcome-Kit/History-of-Arlington1920
1943
The Pentagon
The Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, is completed.
https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/68AHS Founded
The Arlington Historical Society is founded. The organization mounted a successful campaign to save the Hume School and use it for a local museum.
1956
1974
Judith Brewers
Judith Brewer (nee Livers) becomes the first female battalion chief for Clarendon Station #4.
https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/152
WMATA Metro
WMATA opens the Metro system with multiple stops in Arlington despite protests from locals over the construction of I-66. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/238
1976
1983
Air Florida Flight 90 Crash
Air Florida Flight 90 crashes into the 14th Street Bridge. Icy conditions and inexperience were among the factors that resulted in the tragic accident. Out of the seventy-four passengers and five crew members on board, only four passengers and one crew member survived.
https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/164Jay Fisette
Jay Fisette wins a seat on the Arlington County Board becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to office in Virginia. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/158
1997
2001
9/11 attacks
A plane crashes into the side of the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/108
MedStar Capitals Iceplex
Keller Capitals Iceplex, now MedStar Capitals Iceplex, opens in Ballston. It is the only Washington professional sports team facility in Arlington as well as the highest ice rink above street level in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MedStar_Capitals
2006
2008
First Latina School Board Member
Winning election to the School Board in 2008 made Dr. Violand-Sánchez the first Latina to serve in local elected office in Arlington. https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/207
Amazon Headquarters
Amazon opens its second headquarters in Crystal City.
2023
