President Ulysses S. Grant State Historical Site, Galena, Illinois, May 19, 2013

Awoke this morning to find a fairly steady rain here in Galena, Illinois. Since the Ulysses S. Grant home is only about a half mile away and doesn't open until 9:00 A. M.  there is time for a good hot breakfast here at the Best Western Motel.

Plaque About Galena, Illinois And General Grant

In 1860 Grant and his family moved to Galena, Illinois where he hoped to reverse his financial misfortunes by working in a leather store owned by his father. A year later he left to rejoin the U. S. Army as a colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In 1865 he returned to Galena as a General and was welcomed as a hero and was presented with a fully furnished home. The family did not get to enjoy the home very long because he was called to serve the United States as president. After serving a second term as president he returned to Galena for a short time before taking off on a world tour. In 1879 they returned from the world tour to another lavish welcome home celebration. They then moved to New York City where they settled into their permanent residency. The house stayed in the Grant family until 1904 when the children gave it to the city of Galena with the stipulation that it was to remain only as a memorial to the late General Ulysses S. Grant and be used for no other purpose. In 1931, Galena deeded the house to the State of Illinois and except for some modernizations it has not changed.

Election Of 1868 And 1872 With Ulysses S. Grant Winning

Plaque Designating Grant Home As A National Historic Landmark

Grant Home Information Sign

Grant Home As Seen From Side Lawn. Entrance Is By The U. S. Flag

Grant Home. The Kitchen Area And Exit Is On The Right Side.

Large Lilac Bushes. They were numerous through out this area in full bloom and beautiful

Just Inside Entrance. One Of  3 Tour Guides Is Starting Presentation

Dining Area / Study Area

Dining Room

Entrance Fixture For Umbrellas.

Steep Spiral Staircase  

Entertaining Guests And Two Kinds Of China

Grant Family

Grant Family Members

The Peace Makers Identified Below

Information About The Peace Makers Pictured Above

Living Room

Ulysses S. Grant

Surrender At Appomattox

Surrender At Appomattox

Mrs. Julia Grant

The Grant Family Painting

Frederick " Fred " Dent Grant

Bed Room

Ellen " Nellie" Grant Sartoris Jones ( Daughter Of  Ulysses S. Grant )

Nellie's Bedroom. Note Dolls On The Bed And  Stove In Corner.

Nellie's Bed Room

Ulysses " Simpson " Grant And Julia Dent Grant

Bed Room. Note Heating Stove.

Dressing Room

The Dressing Room

Jesse Root Grant

Jessie Root Grant's Bed Room

Ulysses S. " Buck " Grant, Jr.

Bed Room. Note Slop Jar Under Foot Of Bed.

More Of Above Bed Room. Again Note Heating Stove

Dining Area/ Study Area

Kitchen

Pantry

Kitchen Tools. Note Apple Peeler On Right

Statue Of Julia Dent Grant

Information About Julia Dent Grant  And Her Statue

Julia Dent Grant

History Of Julia Dent Grant Statue

Map Of Galena, Illinois

Galena, Illinois In The Distance

The Old General Store

Inside The Old General Store

Inside The Old General Store

Inside The Old General Store

Inside The Old General Store Drinking Area

Inside The Old General Store Drinking Area

I Think This Guy Has Had Too Much. See The Round Picture Next To The Stove Pipe Advertising Prince Albert Tobacco. On The Shelf Are Kerosene Lanterns And Carbide Lights. Cow Bells On Shelf Under Window.

Rat And Mouse Traps And Rat Poison  For Sale Along With Hercules Blasting Caps For Use With Explosives. The Long Box Looks Like An Old Wood Plane.

Watkins Germicide Dip Disinfectant. Watkins Made And Sold All Kinds Of Spices, Soaps, Tonics And Just About Anything You Could Find In A Drug Store And They Are Still In Business But On A Much Smaller Scale

Tools For Putting Shoes On Horses And Duck Decoys

Old Log Cabin Described Below

Description Of Old Log Cabin

Hill Side Landscaped With Hosta Plants At The Grant Home

Hostas As Seen From The Old Log Cabin

I had a very enjoyable tour through Ulysses S. Grants home. It is time to head for Eureka, Illinois to see the Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College so you will hear from me next from there.

Remember God Loves You And So Do I.

Grandpa Bill