The General Grant National Memorial, commonly known as Grant’s Tomb, is the final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia, in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Current hours are a simple Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, year-round, with no midday closure; this is shorter and simpler than the seasonal hours and lunchtime closure some other guides still describe.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm in summer; until 4pm September to late May; closed Monday and Tuesday |
| Ticket prices | Free; no entrance fee |
| Address | Riverside Drive & West 122nd Street, New York, NY 10027 |
| Nearest transport/parking | Subway 1 train to 125th Street; limited street parking nearby |
| Typical time needed | 30–45 minutes |
The General Grant National Memorial opening hours
The mausoleum, visitor center, and overlook pavilion at the General Grant National Memorial are all open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm in summer. There’s an earlier closing time of 4pm from September to late May. The site is closed Monday and Tuesday.
The entire site closes for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, even if one of these falls on a day it’s normally open. Conversely, it stays open for other federal holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day, even when they fall on a Monday or Tuesday.
5 great New York City experiences to book
- 🕊️ Make sure you get into the 9/11 Memorial Museum by booking tickets in advance.
- 🗽 Take a boat cruise out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- ⛴️ Learn about NYC’s top buildings on an architecture-themed 1920s-style yacht cruise around Manhattan.
- 🌳 Take a pedicab tour around Central Park – and spot the hidden secrets on the way.
- 🍜 Taste the local flavours of New York on a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour.
The General Grant National Memorial ticket prices
There is no entrance fee for the General Grant National Memorial. The site doesn’t sell any National Park Service passes, since none are required here.
Free ranger-led programs inside the mausoleum run on weekends during the summer; outside these times, the mausoleum and visitor center are self-guided.
Opening hours and fee information were checked on the official General Grant National Memorial pages and last updated in July 2026.
How to get to the General Grant National Memorial
The General Grant National Memorial is at the northern end of Riverside Park, at Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighbourhood.
By subway, take the 1 train to 125th Street, exit onto Broadway, and head south to Tiemann Place; follow it a couple of blocks into Riverside Park, then head south toward the tall steeple of Riverside Church. By car from the north, take the George Washington Bridge, I-95, or I-87 to the Riverside Drive exit and follow it south to 122nd Street; from the south, take the Henry Hudson Parkway to the 95th Street exit and follow Riverside Drive north.
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Parking at the General Grant National Memorial
Limited street parking is available nearby, along with a handful of parking garages in the surrounding streets. Given the site’s location in central Manhattan, most visitors find public transit more convenient than driving.
How long to spend at the General Grant National Memorial
Seeing the mausoleum itself takes most visitors around five minutes, since it holds only the two sarcophagi and a lower crypt with bronze busts of Union generals, rather than a full exhibition.
Visitors adding the visitor center’s 22-minute film and exhibits should plan for 30 to 45 minutes in total.
Accessibility at the General Grant National Memorial
The visitor center is wheelchair accessible, reached by a ramp that begins just north of the overlook pavilion on the southbound side of Riverside Drive.
The mausoleum itself is not wheelchair accessible. Visitors must climb 25 paved exterior steps to reach the entrance, and a further 20 marble steps lead down to the lower crypt.
Inside the General Grant National Memorial: what to see
The mausoleum holds the red granite sarcophagi of Grant and his wife Julia, visible from the entrance level.
The lower crypt, reached by 20 marble steps, displays bronze busts of Union generals who served under Grant, including William T. Sherman.
The visitor center has exhibits on Grant’s life, a bookstore, and a 22-minute film shown on request.
The dome rises 150 feet above the plaza, making the mausoleum the largest in North America.
Because the mausoleum has little artificial lighting, its interior looks different depending on the weather outside, so a bright day gives the clearest view of the sarcophagi and busts.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit midweek for a quieter experience than weekends. |
| Crowds | The site is small, so even modest crowds can make the mausoleum feel busy; early afternoon is usually calmer. |
| Layout | Start at the visitor center for context before walking up to the mausoleum entrance. |
| Entry process | No tickets are needed; simply walk in during opening hours. |
| On-site logistics | Visit on a bright day if possible, since the mausoleum has little artificial lighting inside. |
Frequently asked questions about the General Grant National Memorial
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the General Grant National Memorial free to visit? | Yes, there’s no entrance fee for the mausoleum or visitor center. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, self-guided visits don’t need a booking; group ranger tours should be arranged ahead. |
| Is the General Grant National Memorial open on Mondays? | No, it’s closed Monday and Tuesday, except on certain federal holidays. |
| Is the General Grant National Memorial wheelchair accessible? | The visitor center is accessible by ramp, but the mausoleum involves stairs throughout. |
| Who is buried at the General Grant National Memorial? | Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia are both entombed there. |
Things to do near the General Grant National Memorial
Riverside Church, a landmark with a tall Gothic Revival tower, is directly adjacent.
Riverside Park, a long stretch of parkland along the Hudson River, surrounds the memorial.
Columbia University, with its landmark Morningside Heights campus, is a short walk away.
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, one of the largest cathedrals in the world, is a short walk away.
The Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Alexander Hamilton’s restored home, is about a 15-minute walk away.
What to visit tomorrow
The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, FDR’s family estate, is about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill), also in Hyde Park, is about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, Theodore Roosevelt’s home, is about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Kinderhook, the eighth president’s estate, is about 2 hours away.
Federal Hall National Memorial in Lower Manhattan, the site of George Washington’s inauguration, is about 40 minutes away.
More New York City travel
Other New York City travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Top of the Rock observation deck and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
- Visit the Fraunces Tavern Museum and the Charging Bull Sculpture in Lower Manhattan.
- Manhattan Museum guides: American Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Mathematics and Intrepid Museum.
- Guides to NYC’s wildlife attractions: Queens Zoo, New York Aquarium and Prospect Park Zoo.
- Guides to state parks in New York City: Roberto Clemente State Park.
