“It’s time once again to pay tribute to another President on ‘Hail to the Chief’.“
“So far, we’ve paid tribute to seventeen Presidents, but let’s not take number eighteen for Grant-ed.”
“That’s because this post is dedicated to the life of the cigar-loving hero of the American Civil War, Ulysses Simpson Grant.”
GRANT BIRTHPLACE – “Hiram Ulysses Grant was born April 27, 1822 in this two-room cabin located in Point Pleasant, Ohio. The young infant lived in this home for the first year of his life.”
“Point Pleasant is located along the Ohio River and is roughly 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati.”
“Grant’s father, Jesse, names his son Hiram after his father-in-law. He picked Ulysses as a middle name after drawing ballots out of a hat.”
“Hiram Ulysses Grant was born around 5:00am on April 27, 1822 in this room, which today is furnished with mostly period pieces.”
“I found it exhilarating to stand on the original wooden floor boards in the room where Grant was born.”
Grant used this trunk at West Point – his father’s initials (JRG) were not as affectionate as his: HUG!”
“I’m standing in the dining area of the two-room cottage.”
“Before we followed the Grant’s to Georgetown, Ohio, I posed on the spot where President Warren G. Harding celebrated Grant’s 100th birthday with a speech on April 27, 1922.”
“Harding’s speech focused on the virtues of Grant the Civil War general and Grant the man, rather than Grant the President. President Harding used the word “magnanimous,” or a variation thereof, at least seven times.”
GRANT BOYHOOD HOME – “This two-story cottage was built in 1823 in Georgetown, Ohio by Jesse Grant; Hiram lived here from age one until he left for the United States Military Academy at West Point in May 1839.”
“Jesse Grant began construction on this house in 1823 and finished in 1828. The original 1823 section of the home can be seen on the right, while Jesse completed the larger addition of the home, seen on the left, by 1828.”
“Grant learned to talk and walk in the home behind me. Growing up, he disliked his father’s tannery, which was located across the street.”
“Young Hiram walked through the door behind me many times; after all, he lived in this house longer than any other home during his lifetime. Let’s walk through that same door and see the interior of the Grant home.”
“The first room I visited was the Parlor, which was built in 1828. The frame pine door behind me was built by Jesse Grant – he added the stain to make the wood resemble cherry and walnut instead of pine.”
“I’m standing alongside a document box Ulysses S. Grant used after he was promoted to lieutenant general on March 3, 1864. The ebony necklace in the foreground was made in the late 1890s and belonged to Julia Dent Grant.”
“This sofa I’m standing on was upholstered with horsehair, and was in the house when Grant lived here.”
“I was shocked when the tour guide allowed me to stand on the Grant’s sofa, and not just once, but both times I’ve visited the home.”
“Now I’m in Grant’s kitchen, where Hannah cooked the family’s meals in the fireplace I’m standing on.”
“For a short time, this upstairs room was Hiram Grant’s bedroom. It later became the bedroom of Grant’s sisters, Rachel and Virginia. Hiram didn’t like this room because it had a great view of his father’s tannery across the street and young Grant despised that place.”
“I’m standing in the upstairs Master Bedroom of the home, which was decorated with a lot of period furnishings.”
“As a baby, little Hiram slept in this wooden crib. The rockers on the bottom had been replaced, but the rest of the crib was historically original.”
“The cradle I’m standing in belonged to Hannah Simpson Grant and came from the Simpson family.”
“I couldn’t believe I was allowed to stand in a 200-year-old cradle where young Ulysses S. Grant once slept.”
“There were a couple of authentic furnishings in the Master Bedroom – including the rocking chair to my far left. Jesse Grant made the chair for his wife, Hannah, and she used it to rock her children to sleep.”
“When we left the Master Bedroom, we took a shortcut through a hidden doorway where we found another bedroom. This room was where the Grant boys. Hiram, Samuel, and Orvil, all slept.”
“Hey, let me in – I’ve gotta “go” real bad!”
GRANT TANNERY – “Grant’s father built this tannery across the street from their house in Georgetown in 1823, and it served as the family’s livelihood for many years.”
“Young Hiram did not like the tannery – mainly because of his love for horses and the fact that the place smelled terrible. Grant’s disdain for the place helped steer him towards West Point and on to the Presidency.”
GRANT’S FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE – “Located on East Grant Avenue in Georgetown, Ohio, this building was where Hiram Grant first attended school at age five.”
“From my position in front of the former schoolhouse, it was easy to see Grant’s redbrick boyhood home about 200 yards down Grant Avenue.”
GRANT SCHOOLHOUSE – “From the age of six to 13, Hiram Grant attended classes at this schoolhouse – located a few blocks from his home in Georgetown, Ohio.”
“The entire classroom was filled with furnishings from the period when Hiram attended school. There was one piece, however, that was reputed to be original and where young Grant sat during class.”
“This wooden bench was believed to be where Hiram Grant sat during class. Not only was I standing in the butt prints of a President, but I wondered to myself how many times young Grant farted on that bench as well.”
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY – “Located along the Hudson River near West Point, New York, Ulysses S. Grant entered the academy in May 1839.At West Point, Cadet Grant excelled at math and horsemanship, setting a high-jump record on horseback.However, Grant struggled with his other subjects, such as French, English, military tactics, political science, geology, engineering, and geography.”
“During his time at West Point, Grant also accumulated a laundry list of demerits for missing church on Sunday, tardiness, and sloppy dress.Surprisingly, Grant graduated 21st of 39 cadets in the Class of 1843.”
“Ulysses S. Grant went on to become one of the most heralded generals in American history, even though he had the lowest IQ of any United States President.”
JULIA DENT – “Born and raised in St. Louis, Julia Dent, 22, married 26-year-old Ulysses S. Grant on August 22, 1848 at White Haven Plantation, which was her parent’s home. Since the Dent’s were slaveholders, Grant’s parents refused to attend the wedding, although they did come to accept Julia.”
“Built in 1847, this house was once occupied by Army lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia from April 1849 to May 1850.”
“The house was once located on East Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan; but was moved to the Michigan State Fairgrounds in 1958.”
“The Michigan State Fairgrounds closed in 2010 and the property had since been under lock and key. That made it very difficult for me to visit Grant’s house.”
“When I visited the Grant house on October 24, 2014, it was disturbing to see it in such bad condition. The exterior appeared to be falling apart and the interior was a garbage dump.”
“I heard that over the years, carnival workers lived here during the State Fair.”
“Although the interior of Grant’s house appeared to be ransacked, I thought this chair and sofa were pretty cool.”
HARDSCRABBLE – “This four-room, two-story cabin is located in Grantwood Village, Missouri and was built by Ulysses S. Grant beginning in 1854. It’s the only remaining structure that was hand-built by a President prior to assuming office.Ulysses and Julia moved into Hardscrabble in September 1856; but moved back to White Haven three months later.Unfortunately, this was as close to the home as I could get. It was located on the property owned by Anheuser-Busch.”
“This is an image of Hardscrabble before it was moved to its current location.”
“This was the original location of Hardscrabble; located about two miles from the Anheuser-Busch site.”
“The Grant’s were given this 80-acres of property as a wedding present from Julia’s father.”
“This dang flying bug would not leave me alone as I stood on the Hardscrabble marker. It didn’t help that the grass here was extremely long.”
WHITE HAVEN – “Located in Grantwood Village, Missouri, this was the Dent family home where Ulysses met his future wife Julia. The Grant’s lived here from 1854 to 1859.”
“While Ulysses and Julia lived here with the Dent’s, a total of 18 slaves worked at the home and property.”
“Having been raised in Ohio, Grant was uncomfortable with owning slaves, which caused conflict between he and the Dent’s.”
“Those conflicts boiled over just before the Civil War; causing the Grant’s to pack up and move to Galena, Illinois.”
“Unfortunately, this house did not contain any authentic furnishings that were used by the Grant’s. That’s why I’m standing in the fireplace.”
OLD STATE CAPITOL – “At the outbreak of the Civil War, Captain Ulysses S. Grant arrived at the Capitol with a company of recruits from Galena, Illinois. Within months, Grant was promoted to Brigadier General.”
“It was here, under a stairway in Springfield’s Old Capitol, that Ulysses Grant began his rise in the ranks of the United States Army.Working from this very spot, Grant orchestrated his recruiting and training of Illinois volunteers.”
SCOTT – GRANT HOUSE – “Ulysses S. Grant stayed at the Georgetown home of Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck for a short time near the end of the Civil War.”
“It is commonly believed, but undocumented, that Grant used this house as a Summer White House while President.”
GRANT’S HEADQUARTERS – “Located at City Point in Hopewell, Virginia, the two-room cabin served as General Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters for the last 10 months of the Civil War.”
“During his stay at this cabin, which today is about 10% authentic, Grant lived here with his wife Julia and youngest son Jesse.”
“This colorized image shows General Grant posing at the doorway of his headquarters, which was the same place I stood for a photograph.”
“I’m standing on the windowsill of Grant’s historic cabin. Although Lincoln spent nights on the side-wheel steamer River Queen, he met with Grant inside this cabin during the day.”
“During his visits to City Point and then Richmond, President Lincoln met with Grant at this cabin numerous times between March 24th and April 8, 1865.”
McLEAN HOUSE – “Located at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, the two-story house once owned by Wilmer McLean was built in 1848 and played host to Lee’s surrender to Grant on April 9, 1865.”
“Around mid-day on April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee walked up these steps I’m standing on and into this house to surrender to the waiting General Ulysses S. Grant.”
“In this room, General Lee sat at the marble topped table while Grant sat at the small wooden table during the surrender. Everything in this room is a reproduction.”
“This painting depicts the surrender of Confederate General Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant of the United States Army on April 9, 1865.”
“I’m standing next to the original tabletop where the surrender papers were signed to end the Civil War.”
“The brown pencil in front of me was used by Robert E. Lee when he signed the surrender papers to General Grant.”
“After about 90-minutes inside the McLean House, Robert E. Lee mounted his horse Traveller in the grassy area to my left and silently rode off to his defeated troops.”
“This illustration depicts the moment when General Robert E. Lee rode from the McLean House to meet with his defeated troops after surrendering to General Grant.”
“It’s likely General Grant would have had a similar view as he watched General Lee ride down the roadway towards the courthouse in the distance.”
GRANT HEADQUARTERS SITE – “Located a short distance from Appomattox Court House, this was the site of Grant’s headquarters during the final days of the Civil War.”
“After finishing his meeting with General Lee at the McLean House, Grant stopped here to send a message to Washington announcing the surrender.”
“This photo of General Grant was taken at his headquarters encampment at Appomattox Court House.”
“Amidst a small gathering of tents on this location, General Ulysses S. Grant spent his final night in the field here. The next morning, he left for Washington D.C.”
GRANT HOUSE – “Located in Burlington, New Jersey, the two-story home was built around 1856 and was used by General Ulysses S. Grant as a safe-haven for his family during the Civil War.After turning down an invitation by Abraham Lincoln to attend a play at Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant was headed to this New Jersey home when the President was shot.”
“On the morning of April 15, 1865, Grant stood on the second-story balcony and announced to the neighborhood that Lincoln had been assassinated.Shortly after that announcement, Grant boarded a train and headed back to Washington.”
U S GRANT HOME HISTORIC SITE – “Constructed in 1860 in Galena, Illinois; this brick home was given to Ulysses S. Grant by the citizens of Galena as thanks for his war service.”
“Ulysses and Julia moved into this house on August 18, 1865.”
“It’s time to walk through the front door and take a step back in time!”
“Grant loved the green armchair so much that he brought it to the White House with him.”
“I was stunned when the tour guide insisted that I stand in Grant’s favorite chair – the one he used in the White House.”
“Ulysses Grant slept here – in the second story Master Bedroom.”
“Grant lived here until his Presidential election in 1868; but only visited occasionally after that. He last visited his Galena home in 1880.”
WASHBURNE HOUSE STATE HISTORIC SITE – “Known as the Elihu B. Washburne House, this 1 ½-story brick home was built for the Congressman and his wife Adele in Galena, Illinois in 1844.”
“The Washburne House was located a short distance from where Ulysses S. Grant lived. General Grant was friends with Washburne and frequented his home on numerous occasions.”
“A portrait of Elihu Washburne hung over the fireplace in the Formal Parlor.”
“I was very excited when I was taken into the home’s Library. It was in this room, late in the evening of November 3, 1868, where General Ulysses S. Grant first learned he was elected as the 18th President of the United States.”
“In the 1868 Presidential election, Grant defeated Democratic candidate Horatio Seymour in the electoral vote 214 – 80. As I stood near Elihu Washburne’s bookcase, it was as though I could hear Grant’s jubilation after he received the election news.”
“As I stood in the formal dining room, I wondered how many times Ulysses Grant dined with the Washburne’s at that very table.”
UNITED STATES CAPITOL – “On March 4, 1869, and again four years later in 1873, Ulysses S. Grant stood on a platform on the East Portico of the Capitol and delivered his two inaugural addresses.On March 4, 1869, Andrew Johnson did not attend Grant’s Inauguration. He stated he and Grant refused to sit with each other in the same carriage.”
“That was the last time an outgoing President boycotted his successor’s Inauguration until January 20, 2021.”
THE WHITE HOUSE – “When Grant first walked through the entrance of the White House as President, our nation was still in the midst of uncertainty and unrest from the Civil War – not to mention a few of President Johnson’s shortcomings.”
“This newspaper illustration depicts the moment when President Grant arrived at the White House after his inauguration.”
“President Grant purchased this carriage during his first term in the White House and rode it to his second Inauguration in 1873.”
JULIA GRANT – “As First Lady, Julia Grant entertained lavishly. But the highlight for her in the White House was when daughter Nellie was married in the East Room on May 21, 1874.”
“When President Grant left the White House on March 4, 1877, he was only 55 years old. Out of a job for the first time in his adult life, he and Julia embarked on a world-wide tour.During his trip, he became the first U.S. President to visit Jerusalem and The Holy Land – and perhaps was the first to circumnavigate the entire globe.”
GRANT COTTAGE STATE HISTORIC SITE – “Located on a slope of Mount McGregor in Wilton, New York, this is the site where Ulysses S. Grant died at 8:08am July 23, 1885 at the age of 63.”
“Suffering from throat cancer, Grant spent the last six weeks of his life at this cottage finishing his memoirs.”
“I’ve been to the Grant Cottage three times. In 2017, the cottage was closed for the day. In 2020, I toured the interior with a broken right arm. When I returned in 2023, the cottage was closed for renovations.”
“Perhaps the last photograph ever taken of President Grant was when he was sitting in this spot reading a newspaper just a few days before his death.”
“President Grant was photographed as he read a newspaper on the porch of the cottage.”
“As I stood on a replica chair located where Grant once sat, I thought about his final days as he fought the pain of throat cancer.”
“My arm problem wasn’t painful; it was only embarrassing!”
“President Grant struggled against the clock to finish his memoirs before his time ran out.”
“During his final days on Earth, President Grant gathered his family on the porch where a final family portrait was captured.”
“Mark Twain, the famed publisher and author, offered an unheard-of seventy-five percent in royalties for Grant’s memoirs. The President finished his book just three days before his death and the $450,000 in royalties kept his widow Julia from destitution.”
“I’m standing at the spot where Ulysses S. Grant stood on July 20, 1885 and had his last look at the valley below.”
“As I stood near the marker, which had been fenced off to keep souvenir hunters from chipping the stone, I wondered what was going through Grant’s mind when he stood here. He died three days after taking his final look at the valley.”
“Grant’s family moved his bed into the living area of the cottage where he would be more comfortable.”
“Ulysses S. Grant died in this bed at the age of 63 at 8:08am on July 23, 1885. The President’s son, Frederick Dent Grant, stopped the clock on the fireplace mantel at that time and touched his father’s forehead for the last time.”
“The illustration depicts the final moments in the life of Ulysses S. Grant.”
“Once situated on the porch, this chair was moved to the living area for protection from the weather. It was the chair that Grant was photographed sitting in three days before his death.”
“Although they were a tad creepy, I’m standing alongside actual floral arrangements that were placed in this cottage after Grant’s death.”
NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL – “Located in Albany, New York, the Capitol Building was where President Grant’s body laid in state following his death on July 23, 1885.”
“I’m standing on the site inside the Capitol where Grant’s casket was positioned from 6:45pm on August 4, 1885 until 10 o’clock the next morning.”
“Over 80,000 mourners filed through the Capitol to pay their final respects to the hero of the Civil War.”
NEW YORK CITY HALL – “Built in downtown Manhattan in 1812, City Hall played host to Ulysses S. Grant when he laid in state in the Rotunda following a train ride from Albany.”
“Once inside City Hall, I posed in the Rotunda close to the area where Grant laid in state from 6am on August 7, 1885 to 1am on August 8th.”
“This newspaper illustration allowed readers from around the country to see President Grant as he lied in state in the New York City Hall.”
GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL MEMORIAL – “Located in Riverside Park in New York City, New York, this is the final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia. The General was interred here on April 17, 1897.Grant’s remains were placed in a temporary tomb in Riverside Park, where his coffin stayed for 12 years until this National Memorial was built.”
“This eagle statue came from the old New York City Post Office and came to Grant’s Tomb shortly after the post office’s demolition in 1938.”
“I’m standing in front of the red granite sarcophagi of Ulysses S. Grant. The lighting at this level was poor, which made photography difficult.”
“Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb? Technically, no one! Ulysses and Julia Grant are encased in these two sarcophagi and are above ground.”
“My photographer posed near the exterior of Grant’s Tomb on July 19, 2017, which was just four days shy of the 132nd anniversary of Grant’s death.”
“When Tom and I visited Grant’s Tomb in 2017, it marked the 27th Presidential gravesite the two of us had visited together since we began our quest in 2013.”
“I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this post dedicated to the legacy of Ulysses S. Grant – the true hero of the American Civil War. Please leave a comment and let me know what you thought of this tribute.”
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
