Nature & Science

The White Haven estate in the fall

NPS/Nick Sacco

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site consists of 9.65 acres of land. The grounds feature several hundred trees and are a haven for a variety of wildlife such as raccoon, woodchuck, rabbit, squirrel, red fox, and an assortment of birds.

Landscape Surrounding Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

When Ulysses S. Grant lived at White Haven (1854-1859), the property was 850 acres in size and the surrounding area was sparsely populated. Besides the presenece of a few farms, much of south St. Louis County contained densely-wooded forests. Grant's wife, Julia Dent Grant, grew up at White Haven and recalled the presence of locust trees surrounding the property. According to the 1850 census, only one-third of the property had been "improved" for farming while the rest remained heavily wooded.

Today the south St. Louis County area has been an outgrowth of industrialization and residential growth. Several hundred thousand people live in the surrounding area and the park is bordered by a suburban neighborhood--"Grantwood Village"--to its north, east, and south. Grant Road and "Grant's Farm," an animal park managed by the Anheuser-Busch brewing company, borders the park to the west.

Topography

The far southwestern corner of St. Louis County includes the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The highest elevation in this area of the county is 964 feet about sea level. Most of the county, however, is primarily a flat plateau. When Grant lived at White Haven, the highest elevation on the property was its western boundary at 629 feet (this part of the property is now part of "Grant's Farm"). The elevation for the main home is 541 feet.

Climate and Weather

Eastern Missouri's climate is typical for a midwestern state: hot, humid, and muggy summers and cold, potentially snowy winters. The average temperature in January is a high of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the low is 23 degrees. In July, the average high is 90 degrees and the low is 71 degrees. St. Louis averages about 42 inches of rain annually, with March, April, and May being the peak rainy season. Thunderstorms are common in the area. Part of the park grounds sit on a floodplain and the nearby Gravois Creek can occassionally flood over, leading to rare instances in which Grant Road is closed due to flooding. Other severe weather such as heat advisories, tornadoes, and snowstorms can occur.

Trees

The park contains several hundred trees that are spread throughout the property. The vast majority of trees currently standing were planted at various points during the twentieth century, but there remains a Black Oak tree on the southern end of the property that was planted around 1829. There are also numerous tree types on the property that are rarely seen in Missouri, including Gingko and Dawn Redwood.

Visitors can take a self-guided tour of unqiue trees on the park grounds that are significant for their historic or natural qualities. The tree tour is accessible through the NPS App or by visiting this page.

Water Resources

When Grant lived at White Haven, the two primary water sources were Little Prairie Creek and the Gravois Creek. Little Prarie Creek (perhaps more appropriately described as a stream) sits on the northern part of the park's property and runs west into the Gravois Creek. A Spring House was connected to Little Prairie Creek at the time, although it was later torn down in the twentieth century. The Gravois Creek runs south and eventually spills into the Mississippi River. It is located on the "Grant's Farm" property just west of the park and runs parallel with the park boundaries.

Wildlife

A range of wildlife species roam the park property. In the early 1800s black bear, American Bison, gray wolves, mountain lion, beaver, river otter, and even elk still roamed the Missouri and Mississippi River valleys. Today, animals such as racoons, red fox, squirrels, and a range of birds can be seen. To read more about White Haven's wildlife, check out this article.