U.S. Grant Birthplace and Grant Commemorative Sites Historic District
Why it's listed
Point Pleasant, a small hamlet on the Ohio River east of Cincinnati, is the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant, and this four-acre district gathers the places that commemorate that fact. At its core is the Grant Birthplace, a one-story timber-frame house with a limestone foundation, furnished as it might have looked at his birth. Nearby are a brick caretaker's house from about 1820 with 1936 additions by the Columbus firm Goller, Harsh & Davies, a 1936-37 garage, and Grant Memorial Park. Stone pylons, bronze beacons and plaques from the 1920s bridge survive, though the bridge span itself was replaced in 1984. Limestone retaining walls, flagstone walks, gutters and a parking lot were built with Works Progress Administration labor around 1937. The State of Ohio acquired the park in 1925, an early public preservation effort. The district was listed for its role in commemorating Grant and in the growth of tourism tied to his Clermont County origins, with a period of significance from about 1864 to 1948.
Significance in brief: The district is significant under Criterion A for commemorating the birth of Ulysses S. Grant and as a set of twentieth-century commemorative and tourist sites. The State of Ohio acquired the park in 1925, making it an early public preservation effort, and WPA work in the 1930s added walls, walks and a parking lot. The form states the birthplace is not eligible as a birthplace under the criteria consideration because other Grant properties are more closely tied to his career.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001013, listed August 6, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 232 and US 52, Point Pleasant |
|---|---|
| County | Clermont County |
| Listed | August 6, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001013 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1864-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Goller, Harsh & Davies, Columbus, OH |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Conservation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Birthplace is furnished and interpreted as a museum; the park and sites remain largely as they were in the late 1930s. The 1927 truss bridge was replaced by a concrete span in 1984, which is non-contributing, while the original pylons, beacons and plaques remain. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 38.89437, -84.23272 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001013.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5596107
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.