Photographing Washington, D.C.: Digital Field Guide

Chapter 19. Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

A silhouette of The Artillery Group, one of the statues of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. Taken at ISO 200, f/6.3, 1/500 second with a 130mm lens.

Why It's Worth a Photograph

Before Ulysses S. Grant was the eighteenth president of the United States, he was the commander of the Union armies during the final years of the American Civil War. He is credited with the victory of the Union over the Confederacy.

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial sits on the west side of the Capitol, and begins the west side of the National Mall. Grant is astride his favorite wartime horse, Cincinnati, and he looks out over the Mall to Abraham Lincoln, the president who sought Grant's tactical savvy and bravery to win the war over the Confederate Army. He is flanked by The Cavalry Group, in which he is a young commander leading a charge during the Civil War, and The Artillery Group, where soldiers are positioning for an impending battle.

Where Can I Get the Best Shot?

Access to the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is easy, because there is ample room to walk around the large statues.

Figure 19.1. The best locations from which to photograph the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial: (A) Grant and his wartime horse Cincinnati, (B) The Cavalry Group, and (C) The Artillery Group. Nearby photo ops: (11) ...