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For war and history buffs, the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington D.C. is a great attraction to visit. The memorial was built to pay tribute to America?s brave Civil War general and later on president Ulysses Grant. Because of what its represents, it is considered as one of the most significant sculptures in Washington D.C.

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is found at the base of Capitol Hill along with other landmark Washington D.C. such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Currently, it is the second largest equestrian bust in the United States and the third biggest in the planet.

The idea to create the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial was first brought up in the 1800s and in 1902, the Congress officially commissioned the project. Architect William Pearce Casey and sculptor Henry Merwin Shrady teamed up to design and build the statue. Another sculptor, Edmond Amateis, also helped during the tail-end of the construction. Unfortunately, Henry Shrady died in 1922, only two week prior to the dedication of the memorial.

The platform where the equestrian statue stands measures 252 feet long by 71 feet wide. The platform is segmented into three parts, all of which are fashioned using the finest quality marble sourced from Vermont. At the center of the platform, the statue of Grant aboard his horse Cincinnati weighs 4,800 kilograms and stands at 5.2 meters tall. On both sides of General Grant are two main pedestals where cavalry and artillery troops sit on. There are four smaller pedestals which encircle the main pedestals where adorned with lion statues, as if ready to prance to defend the U.S. and army flags.

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial was built from the outside to the inside starting with the minor pedestals, followed by the major pedestals and the cavalry and artillery troops, and lastly the equestrian statue of Grant. The memorial was officially dedicated on April 27, 1922 which coincided with Grant?s birthday.
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