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Secondary sourceSculpture1919–1922 (dedicated 1922)

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

Henry Shrady · 1919–1922 (dedicated 1922)

A massive equestrian monument to Grant at the foot of Capitol Hill, dedicated in 1922 and surrounded by dramatic Civil War battle sculptures.

This huge memorial honors Grant as Civil War general, reflecting his reputation before later historical reassessment.

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Bronze equestrian statue of a man in a long coat and wide-brimmed hat on a horse, mounted on a pale green-stained stone pedestal. A bronze relief panel on the pedestal shows soldiers marching with rifles. Bare trees and a blue sky are behind.
Henry Shrady, Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, 1902–1922. Union Square, Washington, D.C.

About this source

What it is

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a large monument by sculptor Henry Shrady and architect Edward Pearce Casey. Its central bronze equestrian statue shows Grant on his horse Cincinnati, flanked by dramatic groups of cavalry and artillery soldiers in battle. It sits at the base of Capitol Hill, facing the Lincoln Memorial.

Why it matters

Built between 1902 and its dedication in 1922, this was one of the largest bronze monuments ever made in the United States at the time. It reflects how highly Grant was regarded as a Civil War general in the early 20th century, before later historical debates reshaped how Americans viewed his legacy. The calm figure of Grant amid chaotic battle scenes was meant to highlight his famous coolness under fire.

Look closer

  • Why do you think the sculptor placed Grant's calm figure among such violent battle scenes?
  • What does the location of this memorial, facing the Lincoln Memorial, suggest about how the two men were linked in public memory?
  • Monuments reflect the values of the time they were built. What might this one tell us about attitudes in the early 1900s?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ulysses S Grant on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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