Ulysses S. Grant’s Home

When Grant returned to Galena as a victorious Civil War General, a group of prominent local Republicans presented this house to him as a gift of gratitude. Grant and his family occupied it during his 1868 bid for the presidency and briefly after his presidency and retirement. He was 46 years old when he was elected 18th president. He tried to run the government like a military operation with limited success. His administration was clouded with scandals which diminished his reputation but his early stand on Civil Rights is now beginning to be appreciated.

Galena, Illinois