The Friends of Grant Cottage are in the beginning stages of developing a Site Master Plan for the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site & National Historic Landmark it’s hoped will provide a roadmap for a comprehensive set of “improvements to enhance visitor engagement, accessibility and safety, and circulation while expanding the site infrastructure for increased visitation and grand events,” according to an email sent to supporters.
To complete this work, Friends of Grant Cottage were awarded a grant from Parks and Trails NY. The Site Master Plan is being guided by an advisory committee comprised of members of The Friends Board of Directors and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The LA Group, a major engineering consulting firm was awarded the contract to produce the Site Master Plan.
Among the plans goals are expanding exterior programming opportunities to accommodate events and tour groups; expanded parking; improving pedestrian accessibility and safety; interpretive and signage improvements; providing interpretation of former historic structures throughout site, potentially including the train platform, the eastern overlook, the Hotel Balmoral site staircase, train shed and covered walkway; developing outdoor gathering spaces; constructing an event pavilion; erecting a gazebo at the eastern overlook; and establishing a memorial garden.
A public strategic planning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 6:30 pm in the Gideon Putnam Room at the Saratoga District Regional Administration office, 19 Roosevelt Drive, in Saratoga Springs.
Grant Cottage is the final home of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War Commanding General of the U.S. Army and 18th President of the United States.
The site, located in Wilton, Saratoga County, NY, is currently closed for preservation construction, but will open Friday, May 26 and then Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday through Monday, 9:30 am – 4 pm; from June 1st until late June, Thursday through Sunday; and from late June into October from Wednesday through Sunday. The site will be open on both July 4th and Labor Day.
There is no admission fee to visit the site grounds, visitor center, or gift shop. Daily guided, one-hour “Hidden History Hiking Tours” leave on the hour from 10 am to 3 pm for a fee of $15 per person. Entry to the cottage is temporarily unavailable, including cottage tours.
For more information, visit the Grant Cottage website.
Photo of Grant Cottage and the draft Master Plan illustration provided.
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