Grant Cottage State Historic Site

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Address
1000 Mt McGregor Rd
Wilton, NY 12831

Saratoga/Capital District Region

Latitude 43.201328

Longitude -73.745285

Directions

General Information: (518) 584-4353

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Friends Group Photo Gallery Weather

It was in Joseph W. Drexel's Adirondack cottage that General Ulysses S. Grant died of throat cancer on July 23, 1885. President Grant arrived at the cottage on June 16, 1885, with a large entourage of family, friends, servants, and physicians in order to complete his memoirs. He died just four days after his final proofreading.

Today, the cottage and its furnishings remain essentially the same as during the Grant family's stay for six weeks in 1885. Guests to the cottage may visit the spacious porch, tour the cottage's four rooms, and view floral arrangements that remain from Grant's August 4th funeral.

There is also a short path to the Eastern Outlook, which commands a spectacular view of the Hudson Valley, from the Adirondacks in the north, the Green Mountains of Vermont to the east, and the Catskills to the south. Grant Cottage State Historic site was established in 1957 and is owned by the State of New York. It is operated by The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage.

In 2021, Grant Cottage State Historic Site was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Please check out the Friend's website for details.

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2294 Wilton, NY 12831

Hours of Operation

2024 Season / 9:30 am - 4 pm

April 27 - May 26: Friday - Sunday
*Open on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day

May 29 - July 14: Wednesday - Sunday

July 16 - September 1: Tuesday - Sunday
*Open Monday, September 2nd Labor Day

September 3 - October 27: Wednesday - Sunday
*Open Monday, October 14th Indigenous Peoples Day

Additional information available on www.grantcottage.org

Fees & Rates

Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.

Admission (Tours of the Cottage)
Entrance to the Cottage is by guided tour only. Be advised that Tours may fill and reserving your Tour prior to your visit is highly recommended. Tours start every 30 minutes with the last Tour of the day at 3:30p.m. Please arrive early, 15 minutes prior to the start time of your Tour.

Adults: $12
Seniors (62 & up): $9
Ages 17 & under: $5
Children under 6: FREE
Veterans & Active Military: FREE w/ I.D.
Private Tours: $100 (Available outside normal business hours by appointment)
The Lifetime Liberty Pass
'The Lifetime Liberty Pass permits residents of New York State who are Veterans or Gold Star Parents, Spouses, or Siblings, free or discounted use of state parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities.'

Grant Cottage welcomes school groups of all ages from May through October. Contact us today to learn about the many programs and activities our site is ready to offer your kids. Enjoy historical fun and the beautiful outdoors at a National Historic and Literary Landmark.

We participate in New York State Parks' Connect Kids to Parks Field Trip Grant Program (Connect Kids), a field trip refund grant program. Click here for information on this program.

*Teachers & Chaperones are FREE*

Want Grant Cottage to come to you? Click here to learn more.

For more information about this opportunity contact: colette@grantcottage.org

Wed 19 Jun

Saratoga Soul Brandtville Blues
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Grant Cottage State Historic Site

Author Carol Daggs presents her book Saratoga Soul Brandtville Blues, a visual narrative on the Daggs Family story in the upstate Saratoga Springs, New York neighborhood of Brandtville. Along with the delightful collection of historic photographs, Daggs' decidedly abecedarian approach recounts an African-American family experience through telling a narrative. This is the first program in our 2024 Grant Cottage Literary Landmark Author Series.

Thu 25 Jul

Ulysses & Julia Grant: Dancing on the Edge of the Gilded Age
Thursday, July 25, 2024 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Grant Cottage State Historic Site

In honor of Remembrance Day (Tues. 7/23) Grant's great-great grandson Ulysses Dietz will take us on a journey through time to gain insight into Ulysses and Julia's great love, and life on the cusp of a pivotal era of change in America's history.

Thu 08 Aug

Grant’s Funeral: History of Burke’s Funeral Home
Thursday, August 8, 2024 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Grant Cottage State Historic Site

Carol Godette will discuss Victorian-era mourning and funeral customs; how William Burke's involvement in the embalming of President Ulysses S Grant led him to open his own funeral home; and the rich history of Burke's role as one of four operating funeral homes in Saratoga Springs.

Thu 22 Aug

Civil War Music on the Mountain by Dan Berggren
Thursday, August 22, 2024 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Grant Cottage State Historic Site

Musician Dan Berggren will be playing Civil War Era music at Grant Cottage, on Mt. McGregor. Dan Berggren's roots are firmly in the Adirondacks where he was raised but his music has branched out across many borders. The award-winning musician and educator grew up on the land farmed by his mother's family for generations and has worked in the woods with forest rangers and survey crews. Hearing stories and songs from local friends and neighbors, Dan has developed a style that captures the spirit of the mountains.

Sat 21 Sep

Native American Gardening
Saturday, September 21, 2024 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Grant Cottage State Historic Site

Join us to celebrate the U.N.'s International Day of Peace by learning about the relationship between people and the gardens of Earth, seed preservation, Native diets and meals, natural pest control, and the importance of the Circle of Life. Our presenter is storyteller and author Joseph (Joe) Bruchac of Greenfield Center, N.Y. The program is based on his book, Native American Gardening. The book was co-authored with Michael J. Caduto and shares stories, projects, and recipes for families. Joe's poems, articles, and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, and he is the author of more than 170 books for adults and children. Much of his writing is drawn from his connection to the Adirondack Mountain foothills town where he grew up and his Abenaki ancestry. This is the second program in our 2024 Grant Cottage Literary Landmark Author Series. A book signing will follow the program.

View all events for Grant Cottage State Historic Site

Amenities Information

Amenities
Gift Shop (Accessible)
Picnic Area (Accessible)
Tours (Accessible)

Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation