Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

White Haven is a mansion in Grantwood Village, Missouri, showing 19th-century architecture as it was built and lived in, with a distinctive green exterior, several outbuildings, and garden spaces around the property. The house and its grounds give visitors a sense of what daily life looked like during that time.

The house was built in the mid-1800s and served as Ulysses S. Grant's home from 1854 to 1859, before he rose to commanding general of Union forces during the Civil War. After the war ended, Grant and his wife returned to update the property and chose the green color that still covers it today.

The estate shows how people from different backgrounds lived together in pre-Civil War Missouri, with preserved buildings that once housed enslaved workers, the Dent family, and the Grants. The way the structures sit on the land tells a story about the social order of that era that visitors can still see and understand today.

Guided tours of the mansion are offered regularly and let visitors explore the rooms inside, while a former stable building serves as a museum with more information about the site. The grounds are easy to walk through, and a nearby trail is good for cycling if you want to see more of the area.

The mansion keeps its Paris Green color, which Grant and his wife deliberately chose when they renovated after the war. This rare paint color from that era is rarely seen on other houses today, making the site visually distinctive.

Location: Grantwood Village

GPS coordinates: 38.55183,-90.35169

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:30