Into the Land of Grant
- Darryl R. Smith
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: a few seconds ago
A chilly November morning, fog rolling off the nearby Ohio River and Big Indian Creek, passersby on their commute to work, and a small park and white frame house - the birthplace site of one Hiram Ulysses Grant. This Ohio History Connection property, managed locally by Historic New Richmond, is not often visited, having limited visiting hours during warm weather months, and none during the colder months. One might think that the birthplace of a United States president, and one who held one of the highest military ranks ever bestowed, would have more "pizzazz." Grant himself spent very little time in Point Pleasant, Ohio, the family having moved twenty miles west to Georgetown when Grant was but a toddler. Maybe this is why the birthplace site does not have the reverence or development that other presidential birthplaces receive - even the Historic New Richmond website seems to have disappeared. And to be honest, the focus of the site is more on Grant's parents since Hiram himself spent but a brief part of his life here. But even Grant's home in Georgetown, with nearby school and tannery, also OHC properties and locally managed by the Ulysses S. Grant Homestead Association, do not have that "ummpf" that fellow Ohio presidents Harding, Hayes, Taft, or McKinley have within the Buckeye State. Even the "Land of Grant" driving tour signs show no respect, appearing faded and worn and barely legible.
Some of you may know, unlike a more well-known Civil War Smith, I am not a "Grant guy" and have never been accused of being a card-carrying member of his fan club. Oh, to be certain the man was determined, bulldogged to the point of stubbornness, and had an ability to adjust as the war progressed, unlike several of his peers. Grant has many stories told about him that we know are not true (drinking during the Civil War being one of the more egregious falsehoods). I respect his ability to face adversity, even defeat, and salvage situations that others would have found unable to overcome. He learned from his mistakes - but he also did not hesitate to cast aspersions towards others - just ask Lew Wallace or Rosey. So, like every other figure from the war (except maybe Bishop Polk - that guy was bad), Grant had his positive traits and his good days, but also showed a human element of pettiness and overconfidence early in the war. Perhaps this is well-reflected then in the lack of respect that his birthplace and boyhood home receives - they are not National Park Service properties, there are no massive rotundas or marble monuments to indicate significance - just a couple of sites situated east of Cincinnati that do not receive the visitation they probably deserve. This lack of respect for Grant started with his name snafu during his days at the United States Military Academy and seems to continue to this day, at least when it comes to his days of youth.
What Grant does have is a memorial bridge in Point Pleasant, which might be more appropriate - a pragmatic memorial for the pragmatic Grant. But like our more recent understanding of Grant's imperfect humanity, the original bridge was found to be structurally deficient and replaced for a cost of nearly $800,000 in 1985 - equivalent to 2.4 million dollars in 2025. The bridge is used by hundreds on their drives to and from work, yet very few probably realize the significance of the site and the nearby home. I doubt if they know that they are on the U. S. Grant Memorial Highway as designated by Ohio Revised Code Section 5533.46 - there are no markers indicating as such.
The birthplace site has ample parking (although the lot is messy and not welcoming - a good cleanup would invite folks to the site) and a large park-like setting with massive shade trees. It would be a great spot for living historians to have a monthly encampment - a thirty to forty minute drive from downtown Cincinnati along a road used by weekend tourists making their way to or from the ferry at Augusta, Kentucky. Also, Clermont County has a Freedom Trail driving tour with dozens of Underground Railroad related sites, including homes of the Fee Family - a name those who have visited Camp Nelson National Monument or attended Berea College might recognize. Tourists could spend a long Saturday or even an overnight visiting the land of Grant. While the village of Point Pleasant does not offer much - a biker bar and "General Grant's Military & Historic Antiques" are the two "attractions, there are other towns on the Land of Grant Trail that provide dining and lodging choices.
Make it a point to visit the Land of Grant!