A president's mausoleum and a child's grave
Grant’s Tomb, officially known as the General Grant National Memorial, is the final resting place of courageous Civil War general and beloved U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The largest mausoleum in North America, it’s an impressive structure that’s definitely worth visiting if you can manage to get there during its limited window of operating hours. If not, you can still stroll around the outside of the mausoleum, which is impressive in itself.
Just steps away is a much smaller monument: the Amiable Child Memorial. Dedicated to the memory of a child who died in 1797, the memorial has stood on or near this spot for centuries (though the original marker has been replaced with a newer one). Historians speculate that the child met his death by falling from the cliffs along the nearby Hudson River, but no one knows for sure, and just exactly who the child was is still a subject of debate. As the area around it has undergone significant changes, the Memorial has remained as a testament to the potency of private grief and the tragedy of a childhood cut short. Today, it’s one of the few private graves on public land within New York City.
Visiting ideas
When it’s open, the Visitor Center is definitely the best place to start your tour, as it gives great information about Grant and the building of his tomb. Unfortunately, last time I checked, the Visitor Center had been closed since 2020. So assuming you don’t get to see the Visitor Center, I’d recommend starting at the Amiable Child Memorial, then walking across the street to Grant’s Tomb. (Be sure to check the hours before you go.) There’s a sign you can read at the Amiable Child Memorial, then you can walk around Grant’s Tomb and, hopefully, go inside.
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The Amiable Child Memorial can be tricky to find if you don’t know where to look (as can the Visitor Center). Facing the front of Grant’s Tomb, go to your left-hand side and cross the street to where the pavilion is. From there you should see signs to the Visitor Center, which is sort of hidden underneath the pavilion. Keep walking past the pavilion (away from Grant’s Tomb) to reach the Amiable Child. This one is always open, though there is a gate around the Memorial itself to protect it from vandalism. After this, turn around. There is absolutely nothing to see beyond the Amiable Child Memorial, so head back to Grant’s Tomb and take a look inside.
In brief
Rating & Visiting info
4: Def worth a visit
The main level of the mausoleum is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, with limited hours listed here. Currently, you can’t go down and walk around the lower part where Grant is actually buried (though you could pre-COVID). The Visitor Center has been closed since 2020, and unfortunately, that's where the bathrooms are.
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​While the Amiable Child Memorial is always accessible, Grant’s Tomb has weird hours, so check the website beforehand to make sure it will be open when you plan to visit.
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Early or mid-April, when all the cherry trees on the plaza and in Sakura Park (right across the street) are in bloom, is a great time to visit. It almost looks like D.C.
Founding & Famous people
Grant’s Tomb was completed in 1897, the Amiable Child Monument in 1797 (the current monument dates to 1967)
Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th president who led the Union armies to victory in the Civil War, is buried in the mausoleum.
Location & Nearby sites
Harlem / Morningside Heights
Take the 1 to 116th St and walk to 122nd St (6 blocks north), then to Riverside Dr (2 blocks west). Or you can take the M11 bus to Amsterdam Ave and W 118th St; or the M104, M4, or M5 bus to 122nd St and Broadway. Both monuments are located in Riverside Park, near the intersection of Riverside Dr and W 122nd St.
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Nearby sites include Riverside Church, Sakura Park, and Columbia University, all lovely and well worth a visit. There are plenty of nice restaurants in the area, my favorite is The Elysian Fields, which is a Greek restaurant about a 12-minute walk from the mausoleum.
