ECW NEWS: Grant Cottage Seeks to Acquire Grant’s Casket Flag

Following Ulysses S. Grant’s death at Mt. McGregor, NY, he was placed in a flag-draped casket for viewing while the family made plans for his funeral.

That original flag is now coming up for auction on Friday, July 31, 2026. The Friends of Grant Cottage, which manages the Grant Cottage State Historic Site, the site of Grant’s death, seek to acquire that flag for the Cottage’s collection.

Emerging Civil War’s Chris Mackowski speaks with Ben Kemp, operations manager for the Friends of Grant Cottage, about the effort to acquire the flag.

“We would love to bring this unique and meaningful artifact back to the historic site to be displayed for the public,” Kemp said in a public statement. He said the starting bid is expected to be $15,000.

Supporters wishing to assist in the effort can make a donation pledge. Specify the amount you would like to pledge in an e-mail to ben@grantcottage.org. Donations will be collected only after successful acquisition of the artifact.