Custis-Lee Mansion: The Robert E. Lee Memorial, Virginia

This volume offers a concise yet vivid portrait of the Custis‑Lee Mansion, a striking Greek‑Revival house that has watched over the Potomac shoreline for more than a century. Crafted by the National Park Service, the guide weaves together architectural description, landscaping details, and the building’s evolution from a private estate to a national memorial, helping listeners picture the mansion’s dignified columns and tranquil gardens as they would appear today.

The narrative then follows the family that shaped the home, beginning with George Washington Parke Custis—raised at Mount Vernon under the mentorship of the first president—and his effort to turn a wooded farm into a genteel residence. It moves forward to the Civil War era, when the house became the home of General Robert E. Lee, exploring how his presence and the conflict left an indelible mark on the property. Together, the history and personal stories give a richer sense of why the mansion endures as a symbol of American heritage.