Ulysses S. Grant Home

The Ulysses S. Grant Home is a brick house on a hilltop in Galena, Illinois, built in the Renaissance Revival style. The facade shows rectangular forms, balconies with balustrades, and a low-pitched roof with projecting eaves.

Republicans from Galena presented the house to General Grant in 1865 after the Civil War ended, in recognition of his military achievements. He later used it as a base for his successful presidential campaign in 1868.

The rooms are arranged with furniture and objects from the 1860s, offering a glimpse into the domestic life of a prosperous American family after the Civil War. Visitors see spaces set up as they might have appeared during the Grant family's time, with heirlooms and everyday items from that era.

The site operates as a museum with guided tours that explain the life and times of the Grant family. The hilltop location requires climbing some steps to reach the entrance.

The house was a gift from Galena citizens who pooled their resources to honor the returning general after the war. Grant himself lived there for only a few years before moving to Washington.

Location: Illinois

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.41806,-90.43139

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31