Ulysses S. Grant: A National Figure and His Legacy

The shifting story of Ulysses S. Grant’s remaining battle, and the definitive account of the nationwide memorial honoring him as one in every of America’s most enduring heroes

Ulysses S. Grant, the victorious general in the Civil War and the eighteenth president of the United States, finds his final resting place in a monumental neoclassical tomb set in the vibrant heart of the nation. This grand mausoleum is the largest of any president's or individual's resting place in America. Since its inception, this monument has not only honored Grant and his significance to a grateful nation upon his untimely passing just two decades after the Civil War, but also mirrored his legacy in the public consciousness and the state of New York City and the Union.

Embark on a captivating journey with presidential historian Louis L. Picone as he delves into the remarkable life story of Grant. Starting with Grant's final battle against cancer, Picone explores how Grant, facing his mortality, raced to complete his memoirs to secure his family's financial future. Just days before his passing, his memoirs, published by Mark Twain, quickly became a bestseller. Through a collection of period photographs, Picone vividly depicts the nation's reaction to Grant's death and the subsequent events that followed: the fierce competition to host Grant's remains, the origin and design of his memorial, the lengthy and challenging process of funding and constructing it over twelve years, and its enduring significance throughout the nation's history.

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