New Cell Phone Tour at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site joins Grand Canyon National Park, Arlington House National Memorial, Independence National Historical Park, Saratoga National Historical Park, and many other National Park Service sites in making information available to visitors via cell phone.  This adds another dimension to the experience visitors can have at this national park.

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site has worked on this project with OnCell Systems, an audio tour company.  OnCell Systems has provided similar audio tours for cell phones at museums, historic sites, and national parks across the country. 

The new audio tour will be available to anyone who wants to experience it, but it is aimed at giving a piece of the Grant story to visitors who do not have time to take a full-scale tour.  It is a free service of the national park, only costing visitors their normal fees for cell phone minutes and usage.

 

Different stops on the cell phone tour describe Grant’s association with the property, his time farming here in St. Louis, Ulysses and Julia Grant’s courtship and marriage, the slaves at White Haven, the type of work done in the three buildings behind the house, and several other topics.  It also answers common visitor questions such as, “Why is a house named White Haven painted green?,” and “Didn’t Grant build a cabin, too?”

 

The cell phone tour is not meant to replace visitors’ interaction with park rangers and volunteers.  Rather, it will give visitors an additional way to connect with the park’s story through a very familiar manner—on their cell phone.  A lot can be learned through the audio tours available on cell phone.  It's an exciting addition to the educational experience.  It's also a simple and easy way to learn and enjoy the site at your own pace.  Visitors are also encouraged to leave their comments about the tour and their visit by simply dialing *0.

 

If you would like to preview the tour you can call 314-748-7041 as well as download the tour map.