U.S. Grant Birthplace
1551 State Route 232Point Pleasant , OH 45153
419-497-0492 | https://www.usgrantbirthplace.org
The Early Life of Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant’s Birthplace honors the eighteenth President of the United States by showcasing the story of his early childhood and displaying original artifacts that highlight Grant’s military career and presidency.
Hiram Ulysses Grant was born on April 27, 1822, in a one-bedroom home that now sits in Point Pleasant along the Ohio River. Grant lived here for the first year of his life before his family moved to Georgetown in 1823, where his father operated a tannery. Ohio was Grant’s home until he was 14, and it was here that he worked for his father and attended school. In 1839 Grant began his military career at West Point, graduating four years later and beginning his service with the 4th US Infantry near St. Louis. It was at West Point where his name was mistakenly changed from Hiram Ulysses to Ulysses S. Grant.
During the Mexican-American War Grant served as a junior officer, and learned skills that would help him later in his military career. He rejoined his family in Missouri in 1848. Four years later, Grant was assigned to the west coast but resigned from the military in 1854. During his time away from service he worked odd jobs to make ends meet. In 1860 he was appointed Colonel of the 7th District Regiment, and later Brigadier General of volunteers by President Lincoln. Grant excelled as a leader and moved up the ranks with each new appointment, eventually making a name for himself as a Union General during the Civil War. His skills and accomplishments led him to be appointed again in 1864 as Supreme Commander of the armies of the Union.
Grant was elected as the 18th President of the United States in 1868 and served two terms. His first home in Point Pleasant became a means of preserving Grant’s heritage, and the structure was toured across the US by railway flat, showcased for a short time at the state fairgrounds in Columbus, and eventually reconstructed again in Point Pleasant, where it remains today.
Notes for Travelers
U.S. Grant’s Birthplace is now a museum that honors the early life and later accomplishments of President Ulysses S. Grant. The original one-room cottage is decorated to look as it might have when the Grant’s lived there, showcasing nineteenth century furniture and artifacts, including some of Grant’s personal items. Later additions to the original structure display artifacts that tell the story of his military and presidential service. Guided tours of the home are offered during operation hours and upon request. After visiting the museum, the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Bridge is a short walk away and features a plaque dedicated to Grant. The bridge was originally constructed in 1927 and renovated in the 1980s.