Ulysses S. Grant Memorial — Attraction in Washington

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is a large equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, located in Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. It was designed by Henry Merwin Shrady and dedicated in 1902.

The statue is made of bronze and stands 17 feet (5.2 m) tall. It depicts Grant on horseback, wearing his military uniform and hat. The statue is surrounded by a semicircular colonnade of 36 columns, representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of Grant's presidency.

The memorial was funded by private donations and was the first major equestrian statue to be erected in Washington, D.C. It was controversial at the time of its dedication, with some critics arguing that it was too large and imposing. However, the memorial has since become a popular tourist destination and a respected landmark.

Here are some of the things you can see at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial:

The equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant. The semicircular colonnade of 36 columns. The inscription on the base of the statue, which reads: "Ulysses S. Grant, General of the Armies of the United States." The...

We came here from Vietnam and after passing through California. With a Spirit flight of more than 5 hours, a Marc train, after landing in Baltimore, we were immediately at Washington Union Station, a first-class train station with its majestic antiquity and vastness. In front of Washington Union Station is the Capital building, the heart of America. We could have used the city bus with sightseeing tours, but we decided to walk. I could have walked very difficult but it became easy with the wheelchair that my wife helped. After exploring the Capitol house, we arrived at this place. The grandeur and perspectives in a large complex with parks, government buildings, museums, and monuments were unbelievable. The monuments were impressive, authentic, and intensely inspiring. They honor history and create a breakthrough, and pride, showing the bravery and desire to win in the nation's struggles. Impressively, all our tours are completely free.

Thank you to the heart of America, and thank you to our predecessors for your thoughtful enthusiasm and for spreading the community with dedication...

Intense statue - unlike so many in DC where we see an individual in thoughtful repose, this statue features a General Grant, flanked by lions and sitting on top of infantry images, looking toward Lincoln and seemingly guarding the Capitol building. Grant does seem calm, but apparently this was his thing during a fight and was well known for it. The intense part are the flanking battle scenes. On the South side, the artillery seeks to turn but one of the horses is reacting to a broken rein while a pennant bearer seeks to control the horse. The soldiers on the carriage are cold and you can see the stress on their faces. The cannon is mired in mud and the ground is broken and strewn with obstacles like a discarded rifle. On the North side, the cavalry is charging and they are under fire. One of the horses has been hit and has dumped his rider, who is about to get trampled. An interesting side note is that the face of the dumped rider is that of the artist who died just two weeks before the grand unveiling of this work. Don’t...