The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, DC is a memorial honoring Civil War General and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant. Located prominently at the base of Capital Hill, the monument's statue is westward facing towards the Lincoln Memorial in honor of Grant's president during the time he was at war. The Grant Memorial hosts the largest equestrian statue in the United States and the second largest in the world, measuring in at 17 feet 2 inches and sitting atop of a 22 foot high pedestal.
The memorial shows Grant on his horse in Cincinnati surrounded by Union Artillery and Calvary Groups. People often notice Grant's calm facial expression despite being surrounded by opposing forces on both sides. This was characteristic of Grant, who was known for being very calm during battle. Four short pedestals surround the tall one each adorned with bronze lions. These are symbols of the flags Grant protected, the American flag and the flags of the Army.
In 1903 government leaders chose a small-time sculptor from New York to construct what was then the most expensive federally funded art project ever to be started by Congress. Sculptor Henry Merwin Shrady began a his 20 year project on constructing on the Grant memorial in 1909, adding piece by piece until the memorial was complete. The Artillery group was added in 1912 followed by the Calvary Group in 1916, and finally by the bronze statue of Grant in 1920. Overworked and worn out, Shrady died only two weeks before the monument was dedicated in 1922.
This all-day tour will take you to some of the area's most popular monuments and museums, such as National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian Institute, the Capitol Building, the FBI Building, and the Library of Congress among various other stops along the tour.
We also offer a detail of most tour stops, drive bys and visits with our Tour Connections page.
