General Grant National Memorial is a mausoleum containing the bodies of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil Way General and 18th President of the U. S., and his wife Julia.  It's located in New York City on a prominent site in Riverside Park, overlooking the Hudson River.  The granite and marble structure was completed in 1897 and is the largest mausoleum in North America, as well as the second largest mausoleum in the Western Hemisphere. 

The tomb was designed by architect John Duncan, who cited the objective of his design was, "to produce a monumental structure that should be unmistakably a tomb of military character" and one which, "avoids the resemblance of a habitable dwelling, and is meant to be the epitome of reverence and respect". 

Grant was one of the great figures in American history.  His death was followed by a huge outpouring of public grief.  Approximately 90,000 people from around the world donated over $600,000 toward the construction of his tomb.  Duncan modeled the tomb's exterior after the Mausoleum of Halicarmassus, while within the tomb, the twin sarcophagi of Grant and his wife are based on that of Napoleon at Les Invalides in Paris.  Scenes of Grant's life are depicted in mosaics in the tomb.  It's a monumental design with a conical dome rising 150 feet above ground level, and took five long years to build. Dedicated in 1897 by William McKinley, thousands attended the ceremony.  The National Park Service took over jurisdiction of the tomb in 1959.

For years the tomb was among the most popular American landmarks.  Over the course of the 20th century, however, Grant's reputation suffered, and his final resting place eventually became a national disgrace as it fell victim to desecration and neglect.  His descendants threatened to remove the remains and have them buried elsewhere.  Finally, the embarrassed National Park Service spent $1.8 million to restore the tomb and to provide for upkeep.  The restoration was completed and the tomb rededicated in 1997.