然而,反对之声并不仅仅针对于纪念堂的选址。据纽约时报报道,纪念协会的内部管理机制也引起了一些非议:纪念协会的成员皆是当时纽约的顶级富豪,然而他们自己捐出的钱还不及总捐款的一个零头。纽约时报将他们形容为“成天坐在办公室里,就等着签署自愿捐款的收据”的人。[10]在早期,纪念协会甚至连纪念堂的建筑模型都没有,它不断地募集捐款,却没有具体解释这笔捐款会用在什么地方。这很令公众困扰,也削弱了捐款者的积极性。[11]乔安·沃(英语:Joan Waugh)注意到了当时公众的这种感受;在《格兰特:美国英雄,美国迷思》(英語:Grant: American hero American myth)一书中,她写到:[12]
第一次设计竞赛收到了65个设计方案,其中42个来自国外。格兰特纪念协会并没有选出最终的获胜者,因此抛出了第二次设计竞赛。1890年4月,格兰特纪念协会从五件参赛作品中,选中了约翰·H·邓肯(英语:John H. Duncan)的设计方案[16]——协会估计这一方案的花费介于496,000至900,000美元之间。[17]邓肯在职业生涯中接手的第一项重要设计是纽堡的华盛顿纪念碑(英語:Washington Monument)、纽堡纪念碑(英語:Newburgh Monument)和胜利塔(英語:Tower of Victory)的设计——这些建筑是为了纪念美国独立战争胜利一百周年(即1883年)而建造的;[18]1887年,他成为建筑联盟(英语:Architectural League of New York)成员。[19]邓肯这样描述他的设计目标:“建造一座纪念堂,要让人一眼就看出是一座军人的墓。”[16]他想避免“(纪念堂外观)与住宅相似”,[20]因为它本来就应该是崇敬和尊重的缩影。[17]陵墓的花岗岩外立面与带有波斯元素的摩索拉斯王陵墓相仿,[21]同时也采用了与阿尔卑斯胜利纪念碑类似的爱奥尼柱。墓内格兰特和他妻子朱莉娅的石棺的设计则是基于拿破仑一世在荣军院的石棺。[22]
建设
1890年,格兰特纪念协会确定了设计方案和建筑师。虽然协会更有组织了,纪念堂的前景也更清晰了,但国会重新展开了关于纪念堂选址的辩论。1890年10月,美国参议员海尔(英語:Hale)推动了一项立法,旨在将石棺安置在华盛顿特区的纪念堂里。[23]虽然该议案未能通过,但它却重启了关于格兰特遗骸安葬地的辩论。奠基仪式计划于1891年4月27日举行。虽然在该日期之前各方仍未商定纪念堂的位置,但奠基仪式依旧如期举行。[24]1891年6月,辩论以“纪念堂应建在纽约”而告终;当月,协会就聘请了约翰·T·布雷迪(英語:John T. Brady)作为承包商。[25]
陵墓开放38年之后的1935年12月,格兰特墓开始了第一次修复工程,当时公共事业振兴署的工人在中庭铺设了新的大理石地板。[30]该署在纪念堂的维护中起到了很大作用。乔安·沃解释说:“在1930年代,陵墓在公共事业振兴署的资金支持下勉强维持。”修复工程开始后不久,适逢旧纽约市邮局拆除,陵墓获赠两座鹰的雕像,装饰在格兰特纪念堂的前面。在1930年代,振兴署的工人完成了好几项工程,包括屋顶修复、电力照明和采暖系统的安装,以及紫色玻璃窗的拆除。匹兹堡平板玻璃公司(英語:Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company)安装了茶色玻璃,以替代原先的紫色玻璃。1930年代末,修复摆放圣物的两个房间的工程开工——房间里的陈列柜摆放着军旗,墙上的壁画描绘的是格兰特参加过的战争。1938年,联邦艺术计划(英语:Federal Art Project)选择艺术家威廉·梅斯(英語:William Mues)和耶诺·贾斯科(英語:Jeno Juszko)来设计内战将领威廉·特库姆塞·舍曼、菲利普·谢里登、乔治·亨利·托马斯(英语:George Henry Thomas)、詹姆斯·B·麦克弗森(英语:James B. McPherson)和爱德华·奥德(英语:Edward Ord)的半身像。[31]振兴署将五座半身像安放在中庭的圆墙内,围绕着石棺。在振兴署完成这些项目之后,格兰特纪念协会在1939年4月27日为格兰特墓举行了一个重张仪式。[32]
THIS TREE IS PLANTED AT THE SIDE OF THE TOMB OF GENERAL U.S.GRANT, EX-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMMEMORATING HIS GREATNESS BY LI HUNG CHANG, GUARDIAN OF THE PRINCE, GRAND SECRETARY OF STATE, EARL OF THE FIRST ORDER. YANG YU ENVOY EXTRAODINARY AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF CHINA, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF CENSORS KWANG HSU 23RD. YEAR, 4TH. MOON, MAY 1897.
喜剧演员格劳乔·马克思在他的广播和电视节目《你赌你生活(英语:You Bet Your Life)》上,他经常问参赛者:“格兰特墓里埋葬着谁?”这个脑筋急转弯的关键在于“埋”字。正确答案是“没有人”,因为格兰特夫婦的遺骸在中庭地面上的石棺中,而不是被埋在地下。然而,如果回答者回答“格兰特”,马克思也经常给予安慰奖。除此之外,他还会问其它几个简单问题,以确保节目中人人都能获奖。[47]
^原文:In order that the City of New York, which is to be the last resting place of General Grant, should initiate a movement to provide for the erection of a National Monument to the memory of the great soldier, and that she should do well and thoroughly her part, I respectfully request you to as one of a Committee to consider ways and means for raising the quota to be subscribed by the citizens of New York City for this object, and beg that you will attend a meeting to be held at the Mayor's office on Tuesday next, 28 inst., at three o'clock ...
^原文:We have not a cent for New York in the undertaking, and would advise that not a dollar of help be sent to the millionaire city from Indiana ... If the billions of New York are not sufficient to embellish the city ... let the remains be placed in Washington or some other American city.
^原文:Riverside was selected by myself and my family as the burial place of my husband, General Grant. First, because I believed New York was his preference. Second, it is near the residence that I hope to occupy as long as I live, and where I will be able to visit his resting place often. Third, I have believed, and am now convinced, that the tomb will be visited by as many of his countrymen there as it would be at any other place. Fourth, the offer of a park in New York was the first which observed and unreservedly assented to the only condition imposed by General Grant himself, namely, that I should have a place by his side.
^原文:Why should citizens give money to build a monument whose shape was still a mystery?
^原文:I only did what I did because I had no other resort ... the only thing left was abandoning the site and that was not an alternative to me.
^原文:improvements have detracted from the tomb's solemnity
^原文:He would be better off anywhere than New York, but my argument is not with New York; it's with the National Park Service.