The General Grant National Memorial, aka Grant's Tomb, was decked out in Memorial Day finery this weekend.
The Overlook Pavillion, across Riverside Drive from the memorial, was re-opened just a couple of weeks ago. It was opened as a comfort station for visitors a century ago but had long been in a decrepit state. Long ago I took a peek inside the door marked as the men's room. Judging from the smell, even though the building was closed it was still being used as a men's bathroom. The first floor now houses a modest visitor's center and gift shop.
Sorry for the angle on that second photo; that was the only way I could fit most of it in.
Inside the memorial Ulysses and Julia were in their usual spot.
I didn't realize you could actually go inside the tomb. They've really kept the caskets nice and shiny. Their daughter, Nellie, is buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Her marker is a small stone upon which "wife" is engraved.
Posted by: Marie | 31 May 2011 at 12:03 AM
Yep, you can go into the tomb. It's much nicer now that they've gotten rid of the cheap-looking displays and moved the small gift shop to the new visitor's center.
Nellie's marker being engraved only as "wife" reminds me of an old graveyard in Delaware where widows were described as "relicts".
Posted by: Joe | 31 May 2011 at 10:44 PM