Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Missouri. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Ulysses S Grant the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:05 PM | 243° | 9h 46m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:40 PM | 255° | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:09 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:38 PM | 283° | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:51 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:07 PM | 295° | 14h 16m |
| June | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:28 PM | 301° | 14h 51m |
| July | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:26 PM | 299° | 14h 36m |
| August | 6:16 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:57 PM | 289° | 13h 41m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:11 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:25 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:50 PM | 247° | 10h 06m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 241° | 9h 30m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.5518, -90.3517); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ulysses S Grant, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:58 AM – 5:18 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| March | 4:17 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:12 AM – 4:42 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:13 AM – 3:53 AM | 3.7 | 23° |
| June | 10:25 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:18 PM – 2:08 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| August | 9:36 PM – 12:06 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 7:52 PM – 8:12 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
St. Louis weather can be uncomfortable and occasionally severe, so please plan your visit accordingly. High heat and humidity, severe thunderstorms, snow and ice, and extreme cold are all possible depending upon the season. For an update of inclement weather conditions which may affect your visit, call (314)842-1867 and follow the instructions to connect to the inclement weather report.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Ulysses S. Grant is located in south St. Louis County on Grant Road, near Gravois Road to the south. Watson Road is to the north, I-270 is to the west, and Laclede Station Road is to the east.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Biking
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Living History
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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