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Grant's Tomb
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| On
Riverside Drive at West
122nd Street,
stands the tomb of Ulysses
Simpson Grant. A hero of the Civil War, Grant was considered to be
chiefly responsible for the defeat of the Confederacy. Later in 1868,
Grant became President of the United States, and was held in great
esteem by the American public during his eight year presidency. He died
on July 23rd 1885 in Mount McGregor, New York, of throat cancer. He was
laid to rest in New York on August 8th. |
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| Officially
known as the General Grant National Memorial. The monument was dedicated
on April 27, 1897 and is the largest tomb in North America. The tomb was
built using
8,000
tons of granite, Massachusetts marble was used for the floors, and
Italian marble for the railings and trimmings, Grant's Tomb sits
high above
the
Hudson River in the midst of an attractive park. At one time it was one
of the most popular attractions in New York City. |
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Look up and you will
see above the distant top of its dome. There are basically four rooms.
In addition to views of the dome and the tombs, the main room contains
statues which depict Grant's childhood, service to the military,
presidency, and his death. Small exhibits on either side of this room
also provide information about Grant's career and tell the story of the
monument's construction. |
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 Inside
the tomb, high on a wall is a mural depicting General Grant accepting
the surrender from Robert E. Lee.
By March
1865, Lee had left Richmond and was attempting to go to North Carolina
to assist General Johnston against Sherman, but Lee met up with Grant at
Appomattox Court House, and Lee, realizing the cause was now over,
surrendered his now starving and tattered army, which by now totalled
less than 28,000 men. |
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Go to
the circular railings in the middle of the room and look down to see the
tomb
of Ulysses S. Grant on the left and the tomb of his wife, Julia Dent
Grant on the right. The tombs are looked over by busts of Grant's
closest friends, including General Sheridan, and General Sherman. |
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New
York City Guide
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