General Grant’s HQ at City Point – Appomattox Plantation

This is a GORGEOUS waterfront stop on the Petersburg National Battlefield tour of historical sites. We happened to go on one of the first real days of summer and were blown away by how lovely and green everything was (some picnicking families and dogs seemed to agree!) and the vista of the house along the waterfront.
As a National Park Site, this is pretty minimal. The house has a bell for entry, unlike most sites which you can just walk into during open hours, and once you’re inside the house you’re mostly on your own. There is a 15 minute video about Grant’s time at City Point where you learn that Grant didn’t necessarily occupy this house — Appomattox Plantation was used as the offices of U.S. Quartermaster Rufus Ingalls and his staff during the siege — but Grant did come by and it’s one of the only standing buildings from the time which is really interesting.
There are two furnished downstairs rooms to look at and the top floor is completely unfinished, but also a really interesting place to walk around and explore if you like old houses, which you probably do if you’re here!
Again, beautiful site but a little lacking in programming. Still highly recommended and take the time to check out the other Petersburg Battle Sites in the area while you’re there.