Grant's Farm

Last updated
Grant's Farm
Grant's Farm
38°32′53″N90°21′27″W / 38.54806°N 90.35750°W / 38.54806; -90.35750
Date opened1954
LocationGrantwood Village, MO
Website www.grantsfarm.com
A personal history of Ulysses S. Grant, and sketch of Schuyler Colfax (1868) A personal history of Ulysses S. Grant, and sketch of Schuyler Colfax (1868) (14784768392).jpg
A personal history of Ulysses S. Grant, and sketch of Schuyler Colfax (1868)
Horizontal wood engraving on a vertical page from Every Saturday, November 25, 1871, page 525, showing an old two-story house surrounded by trees. "The Old Dent Homestead on President Grant's Farm, Near St. Louis.".jpg
Horizontal wood engraving on a vertical page from Every Saturday, November 25, 1871, page 525, showing an old two-story house surrounded by trees.
Horizontal, black and white photograph of three-quarter view of Grant's log cabin and surrounding grounds in 1912 Grant's Log Cabin on Busch Farm, St. Louis Ave., St. Louis.jpg
Horizontal, black and white photograph of three-quarter view of Grant's log cabin and surrounding grounds in 1912
Grant's log cabin in 2015 Grant's Cabin.jpg
Grant's log cabin in 2015
The Bauernhof Beer Garden at Grant's Farm, 2010 Beer garden at Grant's Farm.jpg
The Bauernhof Beer Garden at Grant's Farm, 2010

Grant's Farm is a historic farm, and long-standing landmark in Grantwood Village, Missouri, built by Ulysses S. Grant on land given to him and his wife by his father in law Frederick Fayette Dent shortly after they became married in 1848. It has also served as a residence of various members of the Busch family.

Contents

Description and history

The property was at one time owned by Ulysses S. Grant and prior to that, by the Dent family. Since 1903 it has been owned by the Busch family, who previously owned the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company until it was sold to InBev in 2008. Originally a private deer park for the Busch Family, Grant's Farm has been an animal reserve since 1954. It is open to the public for free; however, there is a parking fee of $18 per vehicle. This fee helps to maintain the farm and care for the animals. The farm is home to such animals as buffalo, emus, camels, macaws, donkeys, goats, peacocks, the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales among others. Most of these animals can be seen by visitors on a tram tour of the deer park region of the park, while the Clydesdales are found in their nearby barn and pastures. The farm also contains a cabin called "Hardscrabble," which was built by Ulysses S. Grant in 1856 on another part of the property and later relocated to Grant's Farm after being shown at the 1904 World's Fair. It is the only remaining structure that was hand-built by a U.S. president prior to assuming office. [1]

Also on the farm is the Busch family mansion known as the "Big House", and a house in which Ulysses S. Grant resided between the Mexican and Civil Wars called White Haven. This had been his wife, Julia Grant's, family home. Colonel Frederick Dent, Julia's father, gave 80 acres of the farm to the couple as a wedding present on what today is Rock Hill Road. Grant built his cabin on this land. [2] Colonel Dent was a farmer in St. Louis County. He owned 925 acres along Gravois Creek, 10 miles southwest of the city, and owned slaves to farm the land. Five miles from the Dent farm was Jefferson Barracks, where Ulysses S. Grant was assigned in 1843, after attending West Point and rooming with Julia Dent's brother. [2] Grant's cabin was featured at the 1904 World's Fair. White Haven, next door to Grant's Farm, the Busch family estate, is now a national historic site: the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. [2]

Ownership and potential sale of Grant's Farm

In November 2015, the Saint Louis Zoo agreed to purchase Grant's Farm from six heirs of the beer baron, August A. "Gussie" Busch, Jr. for approximately $30 million. The deal required a city judge to back four of the Busch heirs in order to release the land from a trust. Area residents would also have to approve $8.5 million in added taxes to support yearly park operational costs. The deal would triple the land holdings of the zoo and allow the zoo to build a breeding facility for its endangered animals. The Busch family would remain owners of the family mansion for the time being. A-B InBev had leased the land from the Busch family and had operated Grant's Farm since it bought Anheuser-Busch in 2008. A-B InBev agreed to donate approximately $27 million to the zoo to buy the farm. One Busch heir, Billy Busch, made a competing offer as he wanted to keep the farm in the family. Billy Busch owned William K. Busch Brewing Co. and wanted to expand his brewery on the land. [3] In March 2016, the Saint Louis Zoo Association withdrew its offer to buy Grant's Farm, citing the family's disagreement as one of the primary reasons. [4] In April 2016, the family dispute continued as Billy Busch outbid his siblings' offer by $1, with a bid of $26,000,001 along with $8 million to purchase the family mansion. [5] In December 2017, five family members (Andrew Busch, Peter Busch, Robert Hermann Jr, Trudy Valentine, and Beatrice von Gontard) agreed to purchase the farm, with the aim of keeping it free and open to the public.

See also

Related Research Articles

Budweiser is an American-style pale lager, a brand of Belgian company AB InBev. Introduced in 1876 by Carl Conrad & Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, Budweiser has become a large selling beer company in the United States. Budweiser is a filtered beer, available on draft and in bottles and cans, made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anheuser-Busch</span> American brewing company

Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 2008, it has been wholly owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, now the world's largest brewing company, which owns multiple global brands, notably Budweiser, Michelob, Stella Artois, and Beck's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Grant</span> First Lady of the United States from 1869 to 1877

Julia Boggs Grant was the first lady of the United States and wife of President Ulysses S. Grant. As first lady, she became a national figure in her own right. Her memoirs, The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant were published in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Breweries</span> Brewing company based in Johannesburg, South Africa

South African Breweries is a major brewery headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa and was a wholly owned subsidiary of SABMiller until its interests were sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev on 10 October 2016. South African Breweries is now a direct subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolphus Busch</span> German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch (1839–1913)

Adolphus Busch was the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser. He introduced numerous innovations, building the success of the company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He became a philanthropist, using some of his wealth for education and humanitarian needs. His great-great-grandson, August Busch IV, is a former CEO of Anheuser-Busch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busch Gardens</span> American amusement parks in Florida & Virginia

Busch Gardens is the name of two amusement parks in the United States, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The original park is in Tampa, Florida, and the second park is in Williamsburg, Virginia. There were also previously Busch Gardens parks in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California (1964–1979) and Houston, Texas (1971–1973). The "Busch Gardens" name was earlier used to refer to the gardens developed by Adolphus Busch near his home in Pasadena, California, which were open to the public from 1906 to 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busch Gardens Tampa Bay</span> Animal theme park in Tampa, Florida, US

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre (136 ha) animal theme park located in Tampa, Florida, United States, with the entire park landscaped and designed around themes of Africa and Asia. Owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the park opened on June 1, 1959. The park has an annual attendance consistently exceeding 4 million, often ranking second among SeaWorld parks behind SeaWorld Orlando. The park features many roller coasters and thrill rides, including a Dive Coaster called SheiKra, a "family-style" thrill coaster themed around cheetahs called Cheetah Hunt, a launched roller coaster called Tigris, a classic seated steel roller coaster called Kumba, a wood-steel hybrid hypercoaster called Iron Gwazi, Falcon's Fury, and Montu, which was the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world when it opened. The park also features several rides and attractions aimed for children under the age of nine, as well as two water rides — a river rafting ride and a classic log flume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site</span> National Historic Site of the United States

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is a 9.65-acre (3.91 ha) United States National Historic Site located 10 mi (16 km) southwest of downtown St. Louis, Missouri, within the municipality of Grantwood Village, Missouri. The site, also known as White Haven, commemorates the life, military career and presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Five historic structures are preserved at the site, including the childhood home of Ulysses' wife, Julia Dent Grant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gussie Busch</span> American businessman (1899–1989)

August Anheuser "Gussie" Busch Jr. was an American brewing magnate who built the Anheuser-Busch Companies into the largest brewery in the world by 1957; he acted as company chairman from 1946 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August Busch IV</span> American businessman (born 1964)

August Adolphus Busch IV is an American businessman and former CEO of Anheuser-Busch. He was the last of the family to control the company, which was purchased in a hostile takeover in 2008 by InBev. Busch IV was known for his marketing leadership, where his history as head of the Anheuser-Busch marketing department garnered ten straight USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter awards, as well as awards at Cannes and the Grand Clio. He also served as a director of shipping giant FedEx. Busch has been involved in a number of legal incidents during his lifetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August Anheuser Busch Sr.</span> American brewing magnate (1865–1934)

August Anheuser Busch Sr. was an American brewing magnate who served as the President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch, based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1913 to 1934. It became the world's largest brewery in 1957 under direction of his son August A. "Gussie" Busch Jr.

SABMiller was one of the top five global brewing companies, and had a range of over 150 beers, including international beers such as Pilsner Urquell, and Miller Genuine Draft, and local ones such as Gambrinus and Castle Milk Stout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budweiser Clydesdales</span> Anheuser-Busch promotional horse teams

The Budweiser Clydesdales are a group of Clydesdale horses used for promotions and commercials by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. There are several "hitches" or teams of horses, that travel around the United States and other countries that remain in their official homes at the company headquarters at the Anheuser-Busch brewery complex in St. Louis, Missouri, or at Merrimack, New Hampshire. At St. Louis, they are housed in a historic brick and stained-glass stable built in 1885. There are eight horses driven at any one time, but ten horses are on each team to provide alternates for the hitch when needed. Assorted Clydesdales are also used as animal actors in television commercials for Budweiser beer, particularly in Super Bowl ads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anheuser-Busch Brewery</span> United States historic place

Anheuser-Busch Brewery is a brewery complex in St. Louis, Missouri. It was opened in 1852 by German immigrant Adolphus Busch. It a National Historic Landmark District. The Lyon Schoolhouse Museum is on the grounds at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. It is considered to be one of oldest school buildings in St Louis. It served as the head offices of the brewery after 1907. The museum contains rare mementos gathered from the founding of the company to current day, including pictures of the brewery and its expansion over the years. The 142 acres (57 ha) property includes 189 buildings. Some of the most striking are red brick Romanesque architecture with crenelated towers and elaborate ornamentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Wide Technology Soccer Park</span>

World Wide Technology Soccer Park is a soccer complex which includes four soccer-specific stadiums, with the main field, West Community Stadium, holding 5,500 seats. Located in Fenton, Missouri, United States, a suburb southwest of downtown St. Louis, it is operated by St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club whose 275 teams and 3,600 players use it for both practice and games. It is also the home field for Webster University's men's and women's soccer teams and was the home of Saint Louis FC from 2015-2020. The complex has five playing fields—three turf and two grass—and one main exhibition turf field, most of which are lighted. The fields are primarily used for soccer but also host field hockey and lacrosse teams. In addition to the playing surfaces, the complex features offices, home and away locker rooms, a fan shop, a banquet hall, a veranda overlooking the main field, two concession stands, a press box, and a private office.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, commonly known as AB InBev, is a Belgian multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium and is the largest brewer in the world. AB InBev has a global functional management office in New York City, and regional headquarters in São Paulo, London, St. Louis, Mexico City, Bremen, Johannesburg, and others. It has approximately 630 beer brands in 150 countries.

ceo of advantage solutions

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early life and career of Ulysses S. Grant</span>

Ulysses S. Grant was the first born son of Jesse Root Grant and Hannah Simpson Grant. This article lends itself to the story of this future general's ancestry, birth, and early career in and out of the United States army from 1822 to 1861. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio and he was educated in both private and public schools or academies and was later known to be an avid reader. Grant was raised as a Methodist, but uncommon for his time, he was not baptized or forced to attend church by his parents. Growing up in a middle-class family and supported by his father's tanneries, he sought a different career in the military. He was appointed to West Point by Ohio Congressman Thomas L. Hamer. It was Hamer who gave Grant the name Ulysses S. Grant when Grant entered West Point as a plebe in 1839. After four years at West Point, he was stationed in Missouri, where he met his future wife, Julia Dent. In 1846, Grant served in the Mexican–American War, where he was brevetted for bravery. There he fought in Mexico and learned under two commanders, Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. Upon his return to the United States, he married Julia and started a family.

Adolphus Busch Orthwein, also known as Dolph Orthwein, was an American heir and business executive.

Percy Orthwein was an American heir and business executive in advertising from St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

References

  1. "Saint Louis ZOO Association Announces Opportunity to Purchase Grant's Farm from Busch Family". Saint Louis Front Page. November 18, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 O'Neil, Tim (August 22, 2010). "A Look Back • Ulysses Grant's marriage here was a quiet affair". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  3. Hunn, David (November 19, 2015). "St. Louis Zoo proposes buying Grant's Farm; Billy Busch makes competing offer". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  4. Bock, Jessica (March 5, 2016). "St. Louis Zoo withdraws Grant's Farm offer". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  5. Cambria, Nancy (April 25, 2016). "Billy Busch one-ups siblings by $1 on bid for Grant's Farm". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 1, 2016.