 Closeup of the statue | |
 Interactive map of Equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant | |
| Location | Fairmount Park,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°58′51″N75°11′52″W / 39.98083°N 75.19778°W /39.98083; -75.19778 |
| Designer | Daniel Chester French Edward Clark Potter Frank Miles Day & Brother (pedestal) |
| Builder | Bureau Brothers Foundry |
| Height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Beginning date | 1892[1] |
| Completion date | 1899[1] |
| Dedicated date | April 27, 1899 |
| Dedicated to | Ulysses S. Grant |
Theequestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant is a publicmonument inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,United States. Located inFairmount Park, the monument honorsUlysses S. Grant, who served as ageneral in theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War and later asPresident of the United States. The monument was designed byDaniel Chester French andEdward Clark Potter and consists of anequestrian statue atop apedestal. The statue wasdedicated in 1899.
The son ofJesse Root Grant andHannah Simpson Grant,[2]Ulysses S. Grant was born inPoint Pleasant,Ohio,United States on April 27, 1822.[3] In spring 1839, at the age of 17, Grant enrolled in theUnited States Military Academy inWest Point,New York,[4] graduating several years later in 1843.[5] Several years later, Grant saw action in theMexican–American War.[5] At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Grant, who by this time had pursued a civilian career, returned to military service in theUnion Army,[6] where he rose through the ranks as a commander, and in 1864 was promoted tolieutenant general.[7] Grant's military service culminated inLee's surrender on April 9, 1865,[8] which marked the start of theconclusion of the American Civil War. Following the war, Grant was electedPresident of the United States in the1868 United States presidential election,[9] a position he would hold until 1877.[10] Grant died several years after leaving office on July 23, 1885.[11]
Following Grant's death, theFairmount Park Art Association inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania began tofundraise for the creation of amonument honoring Grant in the city'sFairmount Park. By March 1886, the association had raised $12,153.56, which by 1893 had grown to $23,450.50. Additionally, thePhiladelphia City Council provided $9,000 in additional funding. Following this, the association accepted proposals from various American sculptors, ultimately selectingDaniel Chester French andEdward Clark Potter to design anequestrian statue of Grant, with French designing the sculpture of Grant and Potter designing the horse. They were officially commissioned on January 23, 1894.[12] Thestatue was cast by theBureau Brothers Foundry in Philadelphia,[13] with the statue'spedestal designed byFrank Miles Day & Brother.[14] The total cost for the construction of the monument was $32,675.35.[14]
By Fall 1897, the monument was completed and put in place in Fairmount Park, with tentative plans to unveil the monument on April 27, 1898 (Grant's birthday). However, the sinking of the USS Maine and the subsequent declaration of the Spanish–American War in 1898 caused the dedication ceremony to be delayed. Subsequently, the ceremony was rescheduled to October 27, 1898 (Military Day).[15] However, issues related to an associatedmilitary parade caused the ceremony to once more be rescheduled to April 27, 1899.[16] In Fall 1898, PresidentWilliam McKinley was invited to attend the ceremony, which he accepted.[14] Additional invitations were extended to members of the President'scabinet, severalmilitary officers, and members of Grant's family.[17] At 2:00 p.m. on the date of the ceremony, aprocession was held through the city to Fairmount Park, with President McKinley escorted by theFirst Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.[18] In addition to the previously listed guests, the procession included manyconsuls.[19] At 3:00 p.m., the procession ended and the guests took their places near the monument.[19]
With the guests in place at the monument, the First Battalion,Naval Force of Pennsylvania performed a21-gun salute for the President.[20] Following this,Philadelphia MayorSamuel Howell Ashbridge introducedBishopOzi William Whitaker of theEpiscopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, who gave aninvocation for the monument.[21] This prayer was followed by an address by Ashbridge,[22] after which the monument was officially presented to the city by John H. Converse, the president of the Fairmount Park Art Association.[23] As Converse's speech came to a close,Algernon Edward Sartoris and his sister Rosemary Sartoris (grandchildren of Ulysses S. Grant) moved to the top of a large platform next to the monument and removed thebunting that covered the statue. A 17-gun salute was performed by troops at the ceremony, which was followed by another 17-gun salute performed by theUSSRaleigh, which was anchored nearby in theDelaware River.[24] AnAmerican flag, which had been used by GeneralNelson A. Miles at his headquarters inPonce, Puerto Rico, was draped around the pedestal. It had been sent to be used in the ceremony by the National Society,Children of the American Revolution.[24]
Following the statue's unveiling, an additional speech was given and French and Potter were introduced to the crowd, to large applause.[25] Threewreaths were placed on the pedestal, presented by theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (which Grant had been a member of), Chinese ambassador to the United StatesWu Tingfang, and the Society ofDaughters of the Revolution.[25] Afterwards, another parade was held with President McKinley and other distinguished guests,[26] which was followed by a celebratory dinner held at theUnion League of Philadelphia.[27] The final part of the festivities related to the monument's dedication took place later that night at theAcademy of Music, where multiple orations were given regarding Grant and the statue.[28]
According to a publication issued by the Fairmount Park Art Association after the monument's unveiling, the statue depicts a moment when Grant is surveying abattlefield. Ulysses's sonFrederick Dent Grant assisted the sculptors in the design of Grant's hat andovercoat. The statue of the horse is modeled after General Grant, agelding descended from a horse owned by Grant.[13] The statue weighs approximately 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) and has a height of slightly over 15 feet (4.6 m). The granite pedestal for the statue is a pale pink and also has a height of slightly over 15 feet (4.6 m). The front of the pedestal features a bronze wreath surrounding the word "GRANT".[14]
The monument is located at the intersection of Fountain Green Drive and East Park River Drive inside the park.[14]
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