Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is located just off of Gravois Road in southwest St. Louis, Missouri.  Established in 1990, it preserves a small part of the over 800 acre White Haven farm.  Grant first visited the childhood home of his West Point roommate in 1843 while stationed at Jefferson Barracks.  He later lived on the farm from 1854 to 1859 after marrying his roommate's sister, Julia Dent.  Only the main house and a few outbuildings are preserved on the remaining 10 acre tract.   The visitor center houses a bookstore, theater, information desk and theater.  We visited in July 2014.  Guided tours of White Haven are conducted every half-hour during operating hours.  Our ranger guide was very knowledgeable, informative and humorous.  She noted that Grant was a very complex man.  He was opposed to slavery, but married into a slave-holding family.  He despaired of the carnage of war, yet was called a butcher.  He failed at many business ventures, but never despaired.

Visitor Center

The main house at White Haven is painted an historic shade of green

Front of the house

Because Grant's furnishings were destroyed in a fire at another house
on the farm, only a few representative items are on display

As can be seen in the mirror, the rooms flow from one to another without a hallway

Portions of the house were built by 1810

Grant's office

The winter kitchen in the basement houses exhibits relating how the slaves worked and lived

The summer kitchen is located just behind White Haven

The summer kitchen is located near the house

The laundry room is located at the other end of the building

The chicken house was moved from another location on the farm

The spring house is in its original location

White Haven from the spring house

Two rangers chat near the back porch

Back side of the visitor center

The stable has been converted into a museum

A carriage similar to on the Grants may have owned

A variety of saddles is on display

Numerous exhibits portray the Grant family through their letters and artifacts

There is no fee to visit the Ulysses S. Grant national Historic Site.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/ulsg/index.htm.