Friday, June 19, 2015

U.S. National Memorial: General Grant National Memorial - NY, NY

General Grant National Memorial
NY, NY

N 40° 48.796 W 073° 57.789



Short  Description: 

The General Grant National Memorial, commonly referred to as Grant's Tomb, is not a tomb. It is the largest mausoleum in North America. It's located at Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street in New York City.

Long Description:

Ulysses S. Grant was a Civil War hero how was instrumental in the defeat of the Confederacy and later became the 18th President of the United States. He died in New York City of throat cancer on July 23, 1885 at age 63.

Before his death the Grant Monument Association was formed to raise funds for constructing a monument in his name. Ninety thousand donors raised $600,000. Mayor William Grace chose the present site in Riverside park on the upper west side of Manhattan.

New York architect John Duncan created the original Neoclassical design for the monument. His elaborate plan, however was scaled back due to a shortage of funds. The impressive dome of the memorial, supported by a colonnade of ionic columns, survived the cutbacks.



On April 17, 1897 Grants remains were transferred to the present memorial and placed in a red granite sarcophagus. The mausoleum was dedicated on April 27, 1897, Grant's 75th birthday. Grant's wife, Julia Dent Grant, died in 1902, five years later. She was placed in a matching sarcophagus and beside her husband.



General Grant National Memorial visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The mausoleum is open to visitors, Wednesday through Sunday:

10:00 AM-11:00 AM
12:00 PM-1:00 PM
2:00 PM-3:00 PM
4:00 PM-5:00 PM

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