Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site U.S. Grant National Historic Site preserves and interprets White Haven, the St. Louis home of President Ulysses S. Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant.
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Ulysses S. Grant is known as the victorious Civil War general who saved the Union and the 18th President of the United States. Few people know about his rise to fame or his personal life. He first met Julia Dent, his future wife, at her family home, named White Haven. Today, that home commemorates their lives and loving partnership against the turbulent backdrop of the nineteenth century. The Nati

onal Park Service preserves and interprets White Haven and tells the story of Ulysses and Julia Grant, the events surrounding the Civil War and Reconstruction, and all the people -- free and enslaved -- who called White Haven home. Our 9.6-acre park includes the original 1816 home, three historic outbuildings, an interpretive museum housed in Grant's historic stable, and a modern visitor center featuring an introductory film. Comment Policy:
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Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is hosting a special exhibi...
06/08/2026

Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is hosting a special exhibit to commemorate Julia's life. "Julia Dent Grant: A 200-Year Legacy" explores Julia's life through artifacts that were meaningful to her including photos, items from her 1848 wedding to Ulysses S. Grant, and a collection of silver items. Throughout this summer we will highlight several artifacts on our social media, so be sure to check back weekly to learn more about this special exhibit!

This week's featured artifact from the special exhibit "Julia Dent Grant: A 200-Year Legacy" is a reproduction of Julia's 1848 wedding dress. Many women in the 1830s and 1840s wore dark colored wedding dresses that were red, brown, or purple. However, Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding ceremony in 1840. This color choice started a new fashion trend. Julia recalled that family friend Caroline O'Fallon designed and sewed her dress as a wedding gift. Julia and Ulysses S. Grant were married on August 22nd, 1848 at the Dent family city home in St. Louis. 170 years later in 2018, retired Park Guide Kris Sneeringer researched and created this reproduction of Julia's wedding dress.

Image: A white mannequin stands against a plain beige wall on a wooden floor, wearing a light-colored, off‑the‑shoulder dress with a fitted bodice and a full, flowing skirt. The dress features horizontal pleated detailing across the neckline and upper bodice.

Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, the museum at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will be home ...
06/02/2026

Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, the museum at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will be home to a special exhibit: Julia Dent Grant: A 200 Year Legacy. The exhibit will contain various artifacts pertaining to Julia's life here in St. Louis and her travels around the country and the world. The park will be highlighting several of these artifacts online this summer, so check back each week to see which artifact is featured!

This week's featured artifact from the special exhibit "Julia Dent Grant: A 200-Year Legacy" is a photo album compiled by Julia during the Grant's world tour. Featured is a photo of Queen Victoria, one of the many world leaders the Grants met over the course of their travels. On loan from the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, Mississippi State University.

Image description: An open antique photo album rests on a black cushion. The left page is blank except for handwritten notes, while the right page features an ornate, decorative title page with intricate gold and purple designs and the word “Album.” A black‑and‑white centimeter scale is placed in front of the album for size reference.

Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, the museum at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will be home ...
05/29/2026

Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, the museum at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will be home to a special exhibit: Julia Dent Grant: A 200 Year Legacy. The exhibit will contain various artifacts pertaining to Julia's life here in St. Louis and her travels around the country and the world. The park will be highlighting several of these artifacts online this summer, so check back each week to see which artifact is featured!

This week's featured artifact from the special exhibit "Julia Dent Grant: A 200-Year Legacy" is a daguerreotype photo of Julia and her two eldest children, Fred and Ulysses Jr. ("Buck"). This photo was taken in St. Louis in 1854, and is the earliest known photo of Julia with her two children. This artifact in on loan from the Ohio History Connection.

Image: A historical portrait shows a woman seated with two young children. The adult wears a dark dress with a white lace collar and sits centered in the frame. One child sits on or near her left knee, while the other sits on the adult’s lap in the foreground. The photograph is enclosed in an ornate, gold-toned frame typical of 19th‑century portrait cases.

Looking for a meaningful way to give back, meet people, and be part of something historic?Ulysses S. Grant National Hist...
04/29/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to give back, meet people, and be part of something historic?

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is looking for volunteers!

Each year, nearly 45,000 visitors come through the site—and volunteers are at the heart of making their experience welcoming, engaging, and memorable.

✨ Why volunteer?

Perfect for students building professional skills, retirees looking to stay active and social, or anyone who loves history and public service.

💼 What you’ll do:

• Welcome and orient visitors

• Answer phones and assist with questions

• Make announcements for tours and films

• Help with gift shop sales

• Keep the Visitor Center and Museum clean and inviting

No experience needed—just a friendly attitude, reliability, and a willingness to help!

🕒 Time commitment:
Most volunteers serve one 4-hour shift per week. Afternoon availability on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday is especially helpful.

📌 To apply:
Please provide 1–2 professional references (supervisors, teachers, professors, etc.). Apply online here: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000MLR6zYAH/visitor-services-volunteer

Come be part of sharing an incredible story and helping visitors connect with the legacy of President Grant. We’d love to have you on the team!

04/27/2026

Due to severe weather, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will be closed beginning at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 27, 2026. The park will reopen for normal hours on Tuesday April 28 at 9:00 AM.🌩️

Happy 204th Birthday to Ulysses S. Grant! 🎉Born in Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Grant, Ulysses was the eldest of six childre...
04/27/2026

Happy 204th Birthday to Ulysses S. Grant! 🎉

Born in Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Grant, Ulysses was the eldest of six children. At just 17, he began his studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1843.

While stationed with the Fourth Infantry at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, MO, he met his future wife, Julia Dent Grant, at her family home, White Haven. Together, they would raise four children and build a life rooted in family and resilience.

When the American Civil War began, Grant answered the call to serve. Starting as Colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he rose rapidly, becoming Commanding General of the United States Army in just over three years.

Elected President in 1868, Grant served two terms, leading the nation through Reconstruction and advancing civil rights during a pivotal era in American history.

Grant passed away in July 1885 after battling throat cancer, surrounded by his loved ones. More than two centuries after his birth, his legacy of leadership, perseverance, and commitment to the nation continues to inspire.

Image 1: Major General Ulysses S. Grant circa 1862-1864. A seated figure wearing a 19th‑century military uniform with double rows of metal buttons and rank insignia on the shoulder, posed against a plain backdrop. (Library of Congress)

Image 2: President Ulysses S. Grant, 1870. Photographed by Matthew Brady. A formal studio portrait showing a seated figure dressed in a dark suit, waistcoat, white shirt, and bow tie with a visible pocket watch chain. (Library of Congress)

White Haven was home to one of the most famous men of the 19th century, but it was also shaped by the lives of many rema...
03/05/2026

White Haven was home to one of the most famous men of the 19th century, but it was also shaped by the lives of many remarkable women who made or witnessed history in their own right. Join Park Guide Evan Meyer on March 21, 2026 at 10AM to explore The Women of White Haven, from Julia Dent Grant and her sisters to the enslaved women who quietly kept the home and farm running.

The program is free. Call 314-842-1867 ext. 230 for reservations.

Image: Ellen Wrenshall Dent, the mother of First Lady Julia Dent Grant. The image is a sepia-toned vintage portrait of an older woman wearing a light bonnet and high-collared dress with a brooch at her throat. She faces the camera with a calm, serious expression.

Join us on March 7th at 10 AM to learn more about Julia Dent Grant in her own words and through the words of the man who...
03/03/2026

Join us on March 7th at 10 AM to learn more about Julia Dent Grant in her own words and through the words of the man who loved her!

Using Julia's memoirs and the letters Ulysses S. Grant sent her beginning with their courtship, professor emerita of communication at Saint Louis University Diana B. Carlin will tell the narrative of Julia’s life as a daughter of the West, a soldier’s wife, a first lady, and an intrepid world traveler.

The program is free. Call 314-842-1867 ext. 230 for reservations.

How did political cartoons shape the public image of Ulysses S. Grant?Join us for a History Talk on Saturday, February 2...
02/03/2026

How did political cartoons shape the public image of Ulysses S. Grant?

Join us for a History Talk on Saturday, February 21 at 10 with Post Dispatch Weatherbird cartoonist, Dan Martin. Dan will focus on two of the era's most celebrated political cartoonists of the time, Thomas Nast (pro-Grant) and Joseph Keppler (anti-Grant) along with the surprising St. Louis connections of some of their biggest targets.

The program is free. Call 314-842-1867 ext. 230 for reservations.

Address

7400 Grant Road
St. Louis, MO
63123

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13148421867

Website

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