The Ulysses S. Grant Home in Galena, Illinois is the former home of Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War general and later the 18th president of the United States. The home was designed by William Dennison[3] and constructed in 1859 - 1860.[2] The home was given to Grant by residents of Galena in 1865 as thanks for his war service, and has been maintained as a memorial to Grant since 1904.

Ulysses S. Grant Home
Ulysses S. Grant Home is located in Illinois
Ulysses S. Grant Home
Ulysses S. Grant Home is located in the United States
Ulysses S. Grant Home
Map
Interactive map showing the Grant House’s location
Location511 Bouthillier St., Galena, Illinois
Coordinates42°25′5″N 90°25′53″W / 42.41806°N 90.43139°W / 42.41806; -90.43139
Built1859-60[2]
ArchitectWilliam Dennison[3]
Architectural styleItalianate
Part ofGalena Historic District (ID69000056)
NRHP reference No.66000322[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHLDecember 19, 1960
Designated CPOctober 18, 1969

History

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The house was originally built as the residence of Alexander J. Jackson. It was then purchased by a group of prominent local Republicans (including Elihu B. Washburne), whereupon it was presented to Grant. Grant and his family lived there during his 1868 presidential campaign and again for a few periods during his presidency and retirement. He last visited the home in 1880.[4]

Architecture

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The house was designed in the Italianate style by William Dennison. Typical of buildings done in that style, the home featured well defined rectangular shapes, a roof with a low pitch, balustraded balconies extending out over covered porches, and projecting eaves.[3]

Historic recognition

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Located on Bouthillier Street, the U.S. Grant Home State Historic Site is owned by the state of Illinois and managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency[2] as a historic house museum with rooms furnished to represent a mid-1860s appearance. Many of the furnishings belonged to the Grant family. Information is given about Grant's activities during the Civil War up through his presidency. An adjacent building houses exhibits about Grant and the history of the home.

The Grant Home was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960, and added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, upon that program's inception.[1][5] The Grant House also lies within the Galena Historic District, designated in 1969. The district has more than 1,000 contributing properties.[6]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Grant Home, State Historic Sites, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
  3. ^ a b c Grant Home, Galena State Historic Sites. Retrieved 9 February 2007.
  4. ^ "site". dnrhistoric.illinois.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Ulysses S. Grant Home Archived 2012-02-07 at the Wayback Machine, NHL Database, National Historic Landmarks Program. Retrieved 9 February 2007.
  6. ^ Kriviskey, Bruce M. "Historic District of the City of Galena, Illinois", (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, April 11, 1969, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, accessed April 27, 2008.
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