Ulysses and Julia began their life together after their wedding in 1848.  They already had faced trials of uncertainty & separation that came with the Mexican War (1846 to 1848) and Grant’s career as a soldier (until his resignation from the army in 1854).  The years of struggle for financial security and his eventual triumph as commander-in-chief of the Union Army in 1865 followed.  Beginning in 1869, they spent 8 years in the White House together during the tumultuous Reconstruction period, afterwards travelling the world greeted by crowds, dignitaries, kings, queens and emperors.  Upon their return, they settled into a comfortable life centered on their children, grandchildren and their Manhattan townhouse. Whatever, their circumstances, they were warmed by the joy of a happy family life and their faith in each other.

Help us celebrate Grandparents’ Day by joining living historians Steve Trimm and Melissa Trombley-Prosch as they interpret the life of Grant Cottage’s favorite grandparent couple through anecdotes and stories in the setting of one of their last visits to Saratoga Springs in 1882.


The suggested donation for Grant Cottage Porch Programs is $5 per person. Our events are supported with funding from the New York State Park and Trail Partnership Program (NYSPTPP) and New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. The NYSPTPP is administered by Parks & Trails New York, in partnership with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.