Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site facts for kids
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White Haven; Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
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 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Grantwood Village, Missouri |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1795 |
| Built by | Long, William Lindsay |
| Website | Ulsses S. Grant National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003205 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 4, 1979 |
| Designated NHL | June 23, 1986 |
The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is a special place in Grantwood Village, Missouri, near St. Louis. It covers about 9.65 acres (3.9 hectares). This site honors the life of Ulysses S. Grant, who was a famous general and later the 18th President of the United States.
The site is also known as White Haven. It includes five old buildings. One of these is the childhood home of Julia Dent Grant, who became Ulysses' wife. White Haven was once a large farm, about 850 acres (344 hectares). Enslaved people were forced to work on this farm. Grant managed their forced labor from 1854 to 1859.
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History of White Haven
After Ulysses Grant married Julia, he was stationed in different places with the army. Julia often traveled with him. In 1850, she returned to White Haven for the birth of their first child, Fred. In 1852, Ulysses was sent west. Julia could not go with him because she was expecting their second child. She stayed with her parents at White Haven.
Grant's army pay was not enough to support his family far away. He tried different ways to earn more money. After two years apart, Grant felt sad and lonely. He decided to leave the army in 1854. He then returned to White Haven to be with his family.
Grant helped manage the White Haven farm for his father-in-law, Colonel Dent. He worked alongside the enslaved people owned by Julia's father. Two more children were born here: Ellen in 1855 and Jesse in 1858. In 1857, there was a financial crisis. Bad weather also ruined many farmers' crops. Because of this, Ulysses worked for a short time in St. Louis. He worked in real estate and as an engineer. In 1860, Ulysses, Julia, and their four children moved to Galena, Illinois. There, Ulysses worked with his brothers selling leather goods.
Slavery at White Haven Farm
Many people are surprised to learn that enslaved people lived and worked at White Haven. This was a common practice on farms in the 1800s. The National Park Service explains that enslaved people were forced to do most of the work. They farmed and maintained the large 850-acre property. From 1854 to 1859, Grant lived here with his family. He managed the farm for his father-in-law, Colonel Dent. His experience here may have shaped his views. Later, he became a general for the Union Army. He helped win the war that ended slavery. He then became President of the United States.
Life for Enslaved People
In Missouri, most farm owners had only a few enslaved people. Owning ten or more was considered a sign of wealth. In some parts of the state, large farms grew one main crop. These farms relied heavily on forced labor. On other farms, like White Haven, many different crops were grown. Owners often worked with the enslaved people to get the most from the land.
In the city of St. Louis, there were fewer enslaved people. Sometimes, enslaved people were "hired out" by their owners. This meant they worked for others for a wage. Sometimes, they could keep a small part of this wage. This allowed some to gain a bit of freedom or even buy their own freedom.
Early Farm Residents and Slavery
All the early owners of the White Haven farm used enslaved people. When Theodore and Anne Lucas Hunt bought the home in 1818, there were cabins on the property. These were likely for the five enslaved people the Hunts bought. Their forced labor was very important for the farm. The Hunts sold the farm to Frederick Dent in 1820. Colonel Dent named the property "White Haven." He saw himself as a Southern gentleman who relied on enslaved people for farmwork. By the 1850s, 18 people were enslaved at White Haven.
Growing Up Enslaved
In 1830, half of the people enslaved by Dent were under ten years old. Children like Henrietta, Sue, Ann, and Jeff played with the Dent children. Julia Dent remembered them fishing, climbing trees, and picking strawberries together. However, the enslaved children also had chores. They fed chickens and cows. As the white children went to school, the enslaved children learned their assigned tasks. Julia noticed that as the enslaved girls grew older, they started wearing "white aprons." These aprons showed that they were now doing more serious forced labor, moving from play to work.
Household Chores
Enslaved adults did many chores inside the Dent family home. Kitty and Rose cared for Julia and her sister Emma. Mary Robinson was the family cook. Julia praised her cooking, describing "beautiful snowy cake," "delicious Maryland biscuit," and "exquisite custards." An enslaved man named "Old Bob" had to keep the fires burning in the house's seven fireplaces. Julia thought Bob was sometimes careless. If the embers died out, he had to walk a mile to a neighbor's house to get fire. This "carelessness" sometimes gave Bob and other enslaved people a chance to get away from their owners' watch.
Working on the Farm
Forced labor was used a lot for farming and keeping up the 850-acre plantation. Colonel Dent had good farm machines. Enslaved people used these to plow, plant, and harvest wheat, oats, potatoes, and corn. They also cared for the fruit trees and gardens. They picked fruits and vegetables for everyone living on the farm. When Grant managed the farm, he worked alongside Dan, an enslaved man given to Julia at birth. Grant, Dan, and other enslaved people cut down trees. They took firewood by wagon to sell in St. Louis. More than 75 horses, cattle, and pigs needed daily care. Enslaved people also maintained the grounds and helped with remodeling projects on the main house and other buildings.
Personal Lives of Enslaved People
Enslaved people found time to socialize even with their many chores. Corn shuckings were a time for them to gather. They would eat, drink, sing, and visit, sometimes with enslaved people from nearby farms. Taking part in religious activities, alone or in groups, also gave them a sense of strength. Julia remembered "Old Bob" going into the meadow to pray and sing. It is not known if Colonel Dent allowed the people he enslaved to attend church services.
Freedom for Enslaved People
In 1885, Mary Robinson, the family cook, was interviewed. She said that Grant "always said he wanted to give his wife's slaves their freedom as soon as he was able." In 1859, Grant freed William Jones. He is the only person Grant is known to have enslaved himself. During the American Civil War, some enslaved people at White Haven simply left. This happened on many farms in both Union and Confederate states. In January 1865, Missouri officially ended slavery. This freed any enslaved people still living at White Haven.
Grant wrote: "I Ulysses S. Grant... do hereby manumit, emancipate and set free from Slavery my Negro man William, sometimes called William Jones... forever."
After the Grants Left
In 1881, the Grants gave White Haven to William Henry Vanderbilt. This was to repay a loan Vanderbilt had given Grant. Later, a part of the farm was bought by Adolphus Busch. He developed his Grant's Farm property there. In 1913, Albert Wenzlick, a real estate developer, saved the area around the main house. He prevented it from becoming a Grant-themed amusement park. Wenzlick and his son took care of the house until 1979. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
In 1989, White Haven became part of the National Park Service. It is now one of over 400 sites managed by this agency. The current superintendent is M. Tucker Blythe.
