Ulysses S. Grant Home
Encyclopedia
The Ulysses S. Grant Home in Galena
, Illinois
is the former home of Ulysses S. Grant
, the Civil War
General and later 18th President of the United States
. The home was given to Grant by residents of Galena as thanks for his war service in 1865, and has been maintained as a memorial to Grant since 1904. The home was constructed in 1859 - 1860 and designed by William Dennison. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark
on December 19, 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
upon its inception in 1966.
rented a brick home, which today is privately owned and not open to tours. In 1861, Grant left Galena to fight in the Civil War.
A year prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1860 city clerk Alexander J. Jackson had the house built on Bouthillier Street. At the conclusion of the Civil War, a group of local Republican
s, led by Thomas B. Hughlett, pooled their money and purchased the home for $2,500 (equal to $ today) in June 1865. Two months later this group of men presented the house to the Grant family, upon their return to Galena. Grant lived at the house until his election as President in 1868. He and his family were so fond of some of the furnishings that they took them with them to Washington
. Grant continued to make occasional visits to the area, staying at his house while in town. His final visit took place in 1880.
Following Grant's death, his children donated the house to the city of Galena in 1904 on the condition that it be maintained as a memorial to Grant. The city, finding that maintaining the home was too costly, transferred ownership of the house to the state of Illinois in 1931.
In 1911 a storm damaged a portion of the Grant Home. While most of the house suffered little damage, the portion of the house containing the kitchen was seriously damaged; as a result, most of the items in the kitchen were not actually owned by the Grants while they lived in the house. In 1955 an extensive renovation of the house was done, restoring the appearance to that of the house in 1868 when it appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
es, and projecting eaves
.
Julia Grant
was placed on the grounds of the Grant Home and dedicated in 2006. A statue of U.S. Grant stands in Galena's Grant Park, which is visible from the grounds.
. The Grant House was designated a National Historic Landmark
on December 19, 1960. On October 15, 1966 the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
, shortly after that program's creation. The Grant House also lies within the Galena Historic District
, designated in 1969, the district has more than 1,000 contributing properties.
operates the Grant Home as a historic house museum with rooms furnished to represent a mid-1860s appearance. Many of the furnishings belonged to the Grant family. Tours are given by interpreters dressed in period costumes. Information is given about Grant's activities during the Civil War up through his presidency. An adjacent building houses exhibits about Grant and the history of the home.
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
is the former home of Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
General and later 18th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. The home was given to Grant by residents of Galena as thanks for his war service in 1865, and has been maintained as a memorial to Grant since 1904. The home was constructed in 1859 - 1860 and designed by William Dennison. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on December 19, 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
upon its inception in 1966.
History
In the years leading up to the Civil War, Grant and his family lived in Galena, with Grant working at a store owned by his father and managed by his brothers. Grant and his wife JuliaJulia Grant
Julia Boggs Dent-Grant , was the wife of the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, and was First Lady of the United States from 1869 to 1877.-Background:...
rented a brick home, which today is privately owned and not open to tours. In 1861, Grant left Galena to fight in the Civil War.
A year prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1860 city clerk Alexander J. Jackson had the house built on Bouthillier Street. At the conclusion of the Civil War, a group of local Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
s, led by Thomas B. Hughlett, pooled their money and purchased the home for $2,500 (equal to $ today) in June 1865. Two months later this group of men presented the house to the Grant family, upon their return to Galena. Grant lived at the house until his election as President in 1868. He and his family were so fond of some of the furnishings that they took them with them to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Grant continued to make occasional visits to the area, staying at his house while in town. His final visit took place in 1880.
Following Grant's death, his children donated the house to the city of Galena in 1904 on the condition that it be maintained as a memorial to Grant. The city, finding that maintaining the home was too costly, transferred ownership of the house to the state of Illinois in 1931.
In 1911 a storm damaged a portion of the Grant Home. While most of the house suffered little damage, the portion of the house containing the kitchen was seriously damaged; as a result, most of the items in the kitchen were not actually owned by the Grants while they lived in the house. In 1955 an extensive renovation of the house was done, restoring the appearance to that of the house in 1868 when it appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
Architecture
The house was designed in the Italianate style by William Dennison. Typical of buildings done in that style, the home featured well defined rectangular shapes, a roof with a low pitch, balustraded balconies extending out over covered porchPorch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
es, and projecting eaves
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
.
Julia Grant statue
A statue of First LadyFirst Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Julia Grant
Julia Grant
Julia Boggs Dent-Grant , was the wife of the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, and was First Lady of the United States from 1869 to 1877.-Background:...
was placed on the grounds of the Grant Home and dedicated in 2006. A statue of U.S. Grant stands in Galena's Grant Park, which is visible from the grounds.
Historic significance
Located on Bouthillier Street, the house is owned by the state of Illinois and managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation AgencyIllinois Historic Preservation Agency
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....
. The Grant House was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on December 19, 1960. On October 15, 1966 the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, shortly after that program's creation. The Grant House also lies within the Galena Historic District
Galena Historic District
The Galena Historic District is a historic district located in the city of Galena, Illinois, USA. The historic district encompasses 85 percent of the city of Galena and includes more than 1,000 properties. The downtown area consists of three successive tiers made up of Main, Bench and Prospect...
, designated in 1969, the district has more than 1,000 contributing properties.
U.S. Grant Home State Historic Site
The Illinois Historic Preservation AgencyIllinois Historic Preservation Agency
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....
operates the Grant Home as a historic house museum with rooms furnished to represent a mid-1860s appearance. Many of the furnishings belonged to the Grant family. Tours are given by interpreters dressed in period costumes. Information is given about Grant's activities during the Civil War up through his presidency. An adjacent building houses exhibits about Grant and the history of the home.
External links
- U.S. Grant Home
- Property Information Report: Ulysses S. Grant House, Illinois Historic Preservation AgencyIllinois Historic Preservation AgencyThe Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....