Nobody!

I learned this today on my adventure uptown to get my monthly National Park stamp, at General Grant National Memorial, aka Grant's Tomb. This is where Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia Dent Grant, are entombed. Not buried, ENTOMBED. By the time you walk out of there, you know that.

After an exciting uptown subway adventure - if you ever go to NYC, there are TWO levels to the Columbus Circle subway station, and the 1 and 9 trains come in at the UPPER one - I walked through Columbia University (one of the ones on my list, if I could get in - it's a beautiful campus) to the memorial. It's the largest masoleum in North America, at 189 feet. You could fit the SoL, sans pedistal, in there, and she'd still have room to keep from setting the ceiling on fire with her torch.

It was a great adventure. Now, I've seen two presidential burial places - Grant's and Washington's at Mount Vernon. It's interesting to visit these. At GGNM, I took a few minutes alone at the Crypt level to pay my respects to him.

I also had a wonderful conversation with the elderly gentleman staffing the desk for about a half hour. Great guy, and we talked about some very interesting things.

Oh yeah, this is the Picture Gallery...the photos!

Here's the Flickr link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seagirtlight/sets/72157594150221249/

Enjoy!

Interesting pictures, Greg. Looks like you had a nice day. Like the first picture looking down the walk and thru the tree. What is that all over the tomb? Flower petals? (old eyes just can't tell)

Greg, it's like deja vu when I see your NYC photos - The Cloisters, Roosevelt Island, Grant's Tomb. I love it and NYC!! I've got to go back. I particularly liked the shot of the mural and yellow windows and the one of the dome through the trees. On my last visit, my NYC daughter and I went to The Cloisters, Jeffrey's Hook and Grant's Tomb on my birthday - just loved it!

I read about Grants Tomb, but did not realize how big it is. Interesting the sign says General Grant and not President Grant. Also is that one of my hero's Robert E. Lee in the last picture?

Dave,

I'm going to hazard a guess and say you are both right and wrong about the petals.

I'd say they look like those "poppies" that the American Legion sells for donations- especially near holidays like Memorial Day.

Dennis

I think this tomb stuff is a military thing? (therefore General/Emperor?) When we visited Napolean's tomb in Paris, there was a tomb in one wing for Commander Foch(20th Century).
This looks familar to Napolean's w/o all the gold. lol

Eric, if I recall correctly, there is a lot of military history in this beautiful place and General Robert E. Lee is a big part of it.

Greg you will have to get up to Hyde Park where you can see FDR's burial place. Eleanor's there too. On my first visit I also went to the nearby Vanderbilt Mansion. My tour guide there (Nat. Park Svc. employee) told me that he had helped dig her grave. Kinda neat, huh?

I went there a few years ago, but I just realised/remembered that I'd seen where he's buried. Didn't really notice it back then, somehow. So now I've seen three burial places: Washington, Grant, and FDR.

I went to the Vanderbilt Mansion, too, a few years ago...that was pretty cool. I have to get back up there one day to hit Val-Kill, Elinor's house up there. Last NPS unit left in HP...we've never made it, though.

Now I have to get a photo of the grave, too. Wow, I'm becoming all into this.