Grant Cottage State Historic Site facts for kids
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Ulysses S. Grant Cottage Historic Site
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Grant Cottage in 2009
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1000 Mt. McGregor Rd, Wilton/Gansevoort, NY Moreau, New York |
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| Area | 43 acres (17 ha) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Built by | McGregor, Duncan |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000557 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 18, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | January 13, 2021 |
The Grant Cottage State Historic Site is a special house located on Mount McGregor in Moreau, New York. This cottage is famous because it is where Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, spent the last six weeks of his life. He passed away here from throat cancer on July 23, 1885.
After Grant's death, the cottage was preserved as a memorial to him. It became a New York State Historic Site in 1957 and was later named a National Historic Landmark in 2021. This means it is recognized as one of the most important historic places in the United States.
Contents
A President's Final Mission
Ulysses S. Grant was not only a president but also a famous general from the American Civil War. Near the end of his life, he faced serious money problems. To make sure his family would be cared for after he was gone, Grant decided to write a book about his life. This type of book is called a memoir.
His friend, the famous author Mark Twain, helped him get started. Twain gave Grant money in advance to help him write the book. Even though he was very sick, Grant worked hard and finished writing just three days before he died.
The book was a huge success. It earned his family almost $450,000, which was a very large amount of money back then. This saved his wife, Julia Grant, from a life of poverty.
Visiting the Cottage Today
The Grant Cottage is a historic house museum, which means it's kept almost exactly as it was when Grant lived there. When you visit, you can see the original furniture and items from 1885.
What Can You See Inside?
- The Parlor: The bed where Grant died is in the parlor. You can also see the clock on the mantelpiece. Grant's oldest son, Frederick Dent Grant, stopped the clock at 8:08 a.m., the moment his father passed away.
- Funeral Flowers: Some of the original dried flower arrangements from Grant's funeral are still on display.
- A Special View: Outside, a marker shows the spot where Grant sat to look at the valley for the last time. A fence was put around it because early visitors would chip off pieces of the rock as souvenirs.
The site also has a visitor center and a gift shop. It is managed by a group called The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage and is open for tours during certain seasons.
History of the Area
The cottage was once part of a large Victorian hotel and resort, but the hotel burned down in 1897. Over the years, the land around the cottage was used for many different things. It was the site of a health center for tuberculosis patients, a rest camp for veterans, and a state prison called the Mount McGregor Correctional Facility.
The prison closed in 2014. After that, the historic site was expanded to 43 acres, giving visitors more space to explore the historic grounds.
See also
- List of residences of presidents of the United States
- General Grant National Memorial (Grant's Tomb)
- Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, near St. Louis
- Ulysses S. Grant Home, Galena, Illinois
- Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, Starkville, Mississippi
- Grant Boyhood Home, Georgetown, Ohio
- Grant Birthplace, Point Pleasant, Ohio
- List of New York State Historic Sites
