Morningside Heights in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
General Grant Memorial
General Grant National Memorial, New York
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
General Grant Memorial, popularly known as “Grant’s Tomb,” is the largest mausoleum in America. Its monumental size reflects the public admiration for Ulysses S. Grant --- Union general during the Civil War, and 18th President of the United States.
After President Benjamin Harrison laid the cornerstone in 1892, it took six years to build the 150-foot-high memorial, using 8,000 tons of granite. Huge crowds attended the dedication in 1897 to honor the man they credited with winning the Civil War, ending slavery, and reuniting the nation.
“I have given the subject of arming the Negro my hearty support. This, with the emancipation of the Negro, is the heaviest blow yet given the Confederacy….They will make good soldiers and by taking them from the enemy weakens him in the same proportion they strengthen us.”
- Ulysses S. Grant, 1864
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #23 Benjamin Harrison series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.
Location. 40° 48.782′ N, 73° 57.775′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Morningside Heights. Marker is at the intersection of Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street, on the left when traveling north on Riverside Drive. Marker is directly east of Grant's Tomb, on Riverside Drive, just north of West 122nd Street. The marker is a few blocks from the 125th Street Metro Station. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10027, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Horace Porter (a few steps from this marker); Sakura Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Fred’k D. Grant (within shouting distance of this marker); Tomb of General U.S. Grant (within shouting distance of this marker); General Daniel Butterfield Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Sakura Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Japanese Lantern (about 400 feet away); New York Korean War Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this memorial. The center photograph on the marker shows "West Point cadets march past the General Grant Memorial during its dedication parade (right) on April 27, 1897 -- the 75th anniversary of Grant’s birth." A portrait of President Grant as a General during the Civil War covers the lower left of the marker. The upper right has a portrait of "Richard T. Greener, an associate of Grant and the first black graduate of Harvard, supervised the fund-raising campaign that collected $600,000 to build the memorial. The Harlem community has been actively involved with the memorial from its beginning." The lower right of the marker is a photo of U.S. Colored Troops from the Civil War.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This is a marker for the quarry where the granite for this memorial was obtained.
Also see . . .
1. General Grant National Memorial. National Park Service website. (Submitted on December 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Video Tour of the General Grant National Memorial. (Submitted on May 25, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,212 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on November 10, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on December 1, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on March 29, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on July 24, 2016, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on March 29, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6, 7. submitted on December 1, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on March 25, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 16. submitted on July 23, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.