Archeology at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

There are many important archeological areas at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site.

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Protect Archeological Resources

The archeological heritage of Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site belongs to us all. If you see an artifact on the ground, leave it be. Removal of archeological resources from federal lands is against the law. If you can, contact us to send a note to the National Park Service about where and when you found the item. We appreciate your help in preserving and protecting America’s fragile archeological record. 

The Archeological Process

Have you ever found an object and wondered what it is, or where it came from? If you have, you’re not alone. Many people around the world make a career out of finding objects people have left behind and researching their purposes. This is the job of an archeologist. Their work is essential to learning about our collective past. Archeology enables historians and interpreters to explain the importance of a specific site and the people who used it.

The archeological process begins with finding a purpose behind your investigation. Archeologists must ask questions and do research before they head into the field. Consultation with local organizations is a great way to learn more about a site. Questions will then become part of a research design. This design will find the best methods to answer the questions posed.

Other steps in the archeological process include obtaining a permit and background research. All investigations in the national parks must have a permit to search for artifacts. Background research includes looking at primary sources such as maps or public records to learn more about your area of interest. After the completion of these steps, you can begin to do fieldwork.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) helps archaeologists look below the surface without having to dig up soil.

Brett Trottier, United States Geological Survey

In the field, archeologists use a variety of methods to discover artifacts. These include visually scanning the ground, using ground penetrating radar (GPR), and excavation (as a last resort). If excavation occurs, you can find
artifacts, ecofacts, or soil samples. Artifacts are any object made by people. Ecofacts are things that occur in nature but people used. Soil samples can give us information about what life was like in the past (if, for example, farming was done at a site, what type of soil were the farmers working with?). Most of the objects on display at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site are the first type of item: an artifact.

Relevant artifacts are now sent to the park historian for further review and possible addition into the park’s collection. The artifact will be gently cleaned and conserved where appropriate to make sure the object does not break apart as fast as it would in nature. Items will then ultimately have one of two options. A special facility will house the items or they will be on display in an exhibit. The process concludes with revisiting the research questions that started your journey. What can these discoveries tell us about life in the past? Did a discovery change our perception about a person or place? How can we best present the information we learned to the public? These questions and more are how archeologists learn from investigations long after the fieldwork is over.

If you want to learn more about archeology in general, check out the National Park Service's About Archeology page.

Investigations at the Park

Within Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, there has been identification of several locations as places of historical importance. These locations include the historic home White Haven, various outbuildings (stone building, ice house, chicken house) and the historic stable. Since the park’s establishment in 1989, 25 archeological surveys have taken place at these locations and others in the park to try and answer questions about the site’s past.

According to Douglas Scott’s report Under White Haven: An Archeological Overview and Assessment of Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, archeological work first occurred at the site in 1991. Excavations around the park’s stone building (summer kitchen) revealed ceramic sherds and bottle glass. Given the fact that other residents lived on the property after Ulysses Grant, it was important to try and date as many of the items as possible. The report states that many of the datable items could in fact be traceable to the mid-nineteenth century. That would have been during Grant and his in-law’s ownership of the property. The report goes on to mention that minor excavation occurred in the underground winter kitchen. There were no significant findings in this excavation.

A major excavation occurred in the main house's winter kitchen in 1995.

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The fall of 1995 saw the next major archeological survey at the site. There were two major finds from this project. The first was the discovery of a historic road on the property. The second was the revelation of more items in the winter kitchen following a more comprehensive excavation of the space. The historic road ran from Grant Rd. (which is just outside the western park boundary) to the rear entrance of the White Haven home. This was a case of the discovery of archeological evidence first, and the historical record providing additional help later. This additional help was in the form of an 1875 engraving showing the road up to White Haven as well as the outbuildings around the home. It was the discoveries in the winter kitchen, however, that provided the most insight into what life might have been like at White Haven in the 19^th century.

Some of the items uncovered during the 1995 winter kitchen excavation.

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The enslaved cooks at White Haven used the winter kitchen. Thus, the artifacts found there were likely to provide some information about their stories. A 1998 analysis report by James E. Price and Mary Jane Hastings mentions there were items found there were items found that the enslaved residents may have placed under the floor. Religiously affiliated reasons might have been the cause for the placement of these objects. Those reasons could include wishing for protection for oneself, seeking a cure for an ailment or illness, or hoping for good fortune for the future. Other findings in the winter kitchen included general household items. Some of these items are on display today in an artifact room adjacent to the kitchen. To learn more about African American religious traditions in St. Louis, check out this article about hoodoo.

The late 1990s saw a return of archeological work to the summer kitchen. It was archeologists made the discovery that the stone building may have been home to more than just cooking-related activities. Both rooms of the building contained finds such as marbles, pipes, sewing equipment. These discoveries would suggest that leisurely activities took place in the structure, either from the Dent/Grant family, the enslaved persons, or both groups.

Subsequent investigations have occurred on the site since 1999, each with different research questions and each with varying results. A 2000 survey investigated the area where the historic stable is today to look for artifacts. This happened before the movement of the barn to its current location. 2004 saw investigations at the original locations of Hardscrabble and Wish-ton-wish. These were two other structures on the original 850-acre property. In the 2010s, weather events and vegetation removal warranted investigations in several areas. This included the park’s main waterway, Little Prairie Creek. To this day, several questions posed over the years still lack archeological evidence to answer them. Where were the enslaved people’s living quarters? Development of the surrounding suburb of Grantwood Village on the original White Haven property happened in the 1940s and 1950s. This occurred without proper archeological surveying. Any existing structural remains are most likely buried in concrete on private property. Where was the outhouse? Despite several attempts to find it, the park is still unaware of its location. These questions, and more, may get answers in the future, but for now remain a mystery.

Archeology is an important part of any historic area, including Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Many of the items found at the site must be permanently stored in collections facilities to ensure their long-term survival. However, you can still view some of the archeological finds at the site in places like the artifact room. This is located adjacent to the winter kitchen of White Haven. To learn more about the archeological process and archeology at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, check out the sources below:

References

Environmental Protection Agency, “Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)” Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) | US EPA

National Park Service, “What Are the Steps of an Archaeological Project?” What Are the Steps of an Archeological Project? (U.S. National Park Service)

Price and Hastings, 1998. A Report on the 1995 Excavations at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, St. Louis, Missouri

Scott, Douglas. Under White Haven: An Archaeological Overview and Assessment of Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, St. Louis, Missouri

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