Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

There’s more on your Thanksgiving plate than turkey. It’s filled with history. Explore the savory, turbulent and curious Thanksgiving history. How the holiday began and the struggles Thanksgiving faced to be accepted, along with the political, cultural changes and modern innovations that would drive and define the menu. 

Suzanne Corbett is an award-winning food writer, author and food historian who has taught thousands to cook featuring traditional American foodways. Suzanne serves as a guest foodways interpreter with the National Parks Service, in addition to other state, regional historic sites and house museums where she contributes to preserving America’s culinary past while stirring kettles and spinning stories. 

Join Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site for A Spirited Holiday Past! President Grant's home, White Haven will be decorated for the holiday season. Tour the home and create a holiday craft with your family. Guitarist Pattrick Rafferty will perform 19th century holiday tunes in the parlor and Suzanne Corbett will provide 19th century baking demonstrations in the historic stone kitchen. You can sample Grant's gingerbread and roll out gingerbread cookies. All activities are free and no reservations are required.  

Ulysses S. Grant NHS is one of sixteen area historic sites participating in the annual Historic Saint Louis Holiday Program.

Celebrate the holidays with music at White Haven! Join White Haven Brass—a quintet of talented staff and volunteers from Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site—for a spirited performance of 19th century holiday favorites. The concert is free and will take place in the theater in the Visitor Center.

To continue the holiday celebration, guitarist Patrick Rafferty will perform a program of 19th century holiday guitar music. Joining Patrick will be soprano, Arianna Aerie for a set of 19th century holiday classics. Patrick Rafferty, an award-winning performer and teacher,   concertizes across the Midwest and teaches in studio and classroom settings around the St. Louis area. The concert will take place in the theater in the Visitor Center and is free. Reservations are not required.

Enjoy a festive concert by Wolf Creek Bluegrass in the park’s theater. You can expect to hear traditional bluegrass from artists like Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers along with some surprise bluegrass renditions of holiday classics. Visitors are invited to attend the open house, concert, or both!  Activities are free and no reservations are required.

Note: Grant’s Farm will be open that evening for their walk-through holiday lights. Our parking lot is open just for our visitors and is free.

Experience White Haven in the evening during the holidays.  Lights will illuminate the grounds and historic house. Traditional and contemporary carols will fill the air as you arrive. Inside, the decorated rooms will glow with candlelight*. In the museum, you’ll hear period holiday music performed by guitarist Patrick Rafferty. In the Visitor Center classroom you can enjoy 19th century treats served by Suzanne Corbett, food historian, and learn about 19th century etiquette and holiday culinary customs. 

End the evening with a festive concert by Wolf Creek Bluegrass in the park’s theater at 7:00 pm. No reservations are required.

 All activities are free. Visitors are welcome to attend the open house, concert, or both! 

*For safety reasons, our candles will be battery operated.

 Note: Grant’s Farm will be open that evening for their walk-through holiday light. Our parking lot is open just for our visitors and is free.