Grant's Home Galena IL

Kathy the history sleuth

First Sergeant
Joined
Dec 12, 2020
Take a walk with me through General Grant's home in Galena IL. The home was given to Grant by the people of Galena in 1865 to thank him for his war service, and has been maintained as a memorial to him since 1905. Much of the furniture is original. The china in the dining room was from the White House, and was used at their daughter Nellie's wedding.
I enjoyed seeing the lifestyle of the Grant's close up and learning a little about their children. The docent told me that about 150 descendants are still living.
The home has no running water, and the family would bathe using the same water. Their bathtub is off the kitchen.

For information about the home:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant_Home

IMG_20210828_144538307_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_144544342_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_144554869_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_144601611_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_144837730_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145122620_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145126980_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145132766_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145143665_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145207434.jpg
 
Here are some additional photos of the back of the house and the exterior and a statue of Julia Dent Grant which is outside. The common bathtub, which was pointed out by the docent, is in the room behind the stove.
https://libguides.css.edu/usgrant/home/family
The link above has information about each of his children. The photos are hard to read, and I found it interesting to read about them. They were all given a good education and a great chance at life.

IMG_20210828_145828643_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145906637_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_145948283_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_150513976_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_150610985_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_150640733_PORTRAIT.jpg


IMG_20210828_150655971_PORTRAIT.jpg
 
His father Jesse's leather tannery store where Grant worked as a clerk before the war when he desperately needed employment was located at 145 Main Street. At the time he moved there, Galena was a bustling commercial and lead mining town of 14,000 people and it was the principal trading center for settlers heading west until the railroads bypassed it. Merchants, gamblers and lawyers congregated at the 200-room DeSoto Hotel. Source: Page 96 Chapter 3 Resignation Grant by Jean Edward Smith
 
Here are some additional photos of the back of the house and the exterior and a statue of Julia Dent Grant which is outside. The common bathtub, which was pointed out by the docent, is in the room behind the stove.
https://libguides.css.edu/usgrant/home/family
The link above has information about each of his children. The photos are hard to read, and I found it interesting to read about them. They were all given a good education and a great chance at life.

View attachment 412399

View attachment 412400

View attachment 412401

View attachment 412402

View attachment 412403

View attachment 412404

View attachment 412405
Thanks for the enjoyable tour of the household
 
Great post! @Kathy the history sleuth I think this is my first time seeing inside the Grant home. Appreciate the information and links. Anything to do with Grant fascinates me.
Thanks, I loved Ron Chernow's book. It's cool to have Grant within driving distance of where I live.
I found out about his son's scandalous marriage in reading my links this morning. Other people that love historical scandal like me might enjoy it. What's funny is it would hardly be a scandal today.

https://libguides.css.edu/ld.php?content_id=4708276
 
His father Jesse's leather tannery store where Grant worked as a clerk before the war when he desperately needed employment was located at 145 Main Street. At the time he moved there, Galena was a bustling commercial and lead mining town of 14,000 people and it was the principal trading center for settlers heading west until the railroads bypassed it. Merchants, gamblers and lawyers congregated at the 200-room DeSoto Hotel. Source: Page 96 Chapter 3 Resignation Grant by Jean Edward Smith
Thanks for this. It looks like I have a good reason to go back to Galena when it's not so crazy. And hot. The place was mobbed yesterday.
 
I didn't have time yesterday to try to go there. I was helping the 17th Hospital at the reenactment. That bust is up on the hill by Julia. I wondered who it was.
Thanks for this.
The bust near Julia is of Gen Ely Parker ( I asked at the house)
Washburne’s is downtown.
The Washburne house was only open on Fridays when I was there in July.

082C5D93-06F3-4033-9593-CC9AD8F60C7B.jpeg
 
Several years ago I visited Galena which IMO is one of the loveliest towns! It boasts 9 ACW generals, including General Grant:
Augustus L. Chetlain, John O. Duer, U.S. Grant, Jasper Maltby, Ely S. Parker, John A. Rawlins, William R. Rowley, John C. Smith and John E. Smith. Five are buried in Galena (Chetlain, Maltby, Rowley and both Smiths). General Parker was Seneca and General J.E. Smith was Swiss. General Rawlins later was Secretary of War and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. I was very impressed!

My hosts told me that Galena was extremely important and that, at one time, it was expected to be the hub of railroads (when Chicago was chose instead, Galena declined). Lucky Galena!
 
Several years ago I visited Galena which IMO is one of the loveliest towns! It boasts 9 ACW generals, including General Grant:
Augustus L. Chetlain, John O. Duer, U.S. Grant, Jasper Maltby, Ely S. Parker, John A. Rawlins, William R. Rowley, John C. Smith and John E. Smith. Five are buried in Galena (Chetlain, Maltby, Rowley and both Smiths). General Parker was Seneca and General J.E. Smith was Swiss. General Rawlins later was Secretary of War and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. I was very impressed!

My hosts told me that Galena was extremely important and that, at one time, it was expected to be the hub of railroads (when Chicago was chose instead, Galena declined). Lucky Galena!
I will certainly have to go back! It is beautiful. And I missed so much!
 
I was there with the Confederate Artillery! A VERY hot weekend! :smile:
Yes, it sure was. I'll post the photos I took. The reenactor groups I talked to were very nice. I bought my grandson a tile (locating device) and a dog tag. He was running around with the kids and took it off. Someone knew it was us at the medical tent and was nice enough to bring it over.
 
Back
Top