Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site was established in 1990 on 9.65 acres that formed the core of the 19th century farm called White Haven, where Ulysses S. Grant first met his wife Julia Dent, raised a family, and farmed the land. The path now known as Grant's Trail was once the Carondelet Kirkwood Branch of the Pacific Railroad Company, later Missouri Pacific. In 1872, President Grant gave permission for the route to run through his property and donated land for Grant Station just south of here. After the rail line was abandoned, a portion was purchased by Gateway Trailnet in 1991 through the Rails-To-Trails Act and converted into a recreational trail, and St. Louis County Parks and Recreation has administered it since 1997.
