I am a self proclaimed presidential history "nerd". I've read a biography on each president in order (currently reading F.D.R.), and my bucket list includes visiting all their birth and burial places. I also make it a point to visit presidential libraries, national historic sites, etc. So, bottom line, I'm tough on these places.
I arrived just as a tour started. Two very kind, older people were working as docents. Kaye and Bud, I believe. Very nice, but VERY TALKATIVE, which is ordinarily not a bad thing when it comes to history, but my schedule was tight. There were multiples times during the tour when I thought the explanations and information was tangential and obscure (and I'm a history guy!). When another couple had to leave due to their timeline - I rode their coattails.
There just isn't enough information and/or background here for the tour to be that long. There are few items that actually belonged to the Grant family. Having said all this, I should say I was impressed by Bud's grasp on history. Impressive.
I walked to the nearby schoolhouse (about 3 blocks away) and just looked in the windows. I couldn't wait for Bud or Kaye to drive over there and let me in...
There was a small snafu where I was almost charged $2,020 for an entry fee and souvenir...and poor Kaye couldn't figure out how to fix it (hence the 30 min walk to the schoolhouse while she figured it out haha!). Damn electronics these youngins use!
Overall I was glad I went! read more