Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

I like history. I don't always remember much of it, but I enjoy it. That's why I was surprised when I realized I had never been to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Grant was the 18th president of the United States and a instumental in the North winning the Civil War.

Brenton was doing a baseball camp this week near the Historic Site, so Hailey, Ethan and I headed to the Historic Site for a morning. I figured Hailey would be up for the trip. She loves museums, even museums I don't love (which means most kids wouldn't either).  And she remembers what she learns. A couple weeks ago she started a conversation with her young cousins with, "Have you heard the story about the 16 year old girl who was pregnant?" (AAHHHH!) "Her name was Sacajawea." Thank you Lewis and Clark Expansion Museum. Luckily, when she filled in Brenton about our trip to the Grant Historic Site it didn't include any awkward details.

The Site is rather small, but peaceful. We watched a movie, toured the White Heaven House, and checked out the small museum in the stable Grant had built.

This is White Heaven. It was the actually the home of his wife's, Julia Dent, family. Interestingly, Julia's father owned slaves who worked this property and considered himself a true southern gentlemen. Now that would be some in-law tension. The Grant's courted here, lived here off and on, and later bought the property.

The Museum in the stable includes this buggy.

The museum also had dress ups from different countries in honor of the Grant's 2-year tour around the world after his presidency.

Hailey's favorite part was becoming a Jr. Park Ranger (Yes, the site is part of the National Park Service). She completed activities in a booklet while we toured the site. She enjoyed the whole thing and is convinced Brenton would have loved it too. Ethan, well, I'm not sure he'll let me take him back.

Grant's Farm

Grant's Farm is one of our staple St. Louis adventures. We usually go with friends, family or playgroup a couple of  times a year. Last week we went there for playgroup. The kids love the tram ride and all the animals. I love that it's smaller than the zoo. I like the tram ride, the horses...okay, pretty much everything, just like the kids. However, I don't like when we go there with a million groups on field trips, which we did this time. The kids didn't notice though.

Here's the boys by the tram (exiting instead of entering, but that's a minor detail).

Grant's Farm was home to the Busch family, but also includes land formerly owned by Ulysses S. Grant. The Ulysses S. Grant Historical Site is right next to it. I realized during this visit that I've never been there nor thought of going there. It's now on the Bucket List. Here's a picture of a house Grant built taken from the tram ride.

The tram ride gives you a little history and winds through an area with various animals from all over the world. I could have reached out and touched the bison it was so close.

The main part of the farm includes animals, shows, goat feeding and more. My kids love feeding the goats! Even when the kids were younger and afraid of the goats, they insisted on feeding them. Personally, I'm still kind of afraid of the goats. They are aggressive! Hence, four goats are trying to eat from Ethan's bottle.

After watching an animal show and seeing more animals (I did take pictures, but how many pictures with the backs of children or people we don't know can we really look at?), we end up in the German-inspired farmstead with a courtyard, stable, carriage house and concession area.

Here we get to check out old wagons and buggies owned by the Busch family. Though this one looks like it is of a more oriental style, so who knows where it came from. The kid's cute though.

 

 Leaving the main venue on the tram (you even get to ride it twice).

 After returning to the parking lot, we always follow the horse shoe tracks to see the Budweiser Clysdales.

 

 Even if we choose to have our picture taken by the fake one.