Grant's Farm

Looks like we got to Missouri just in time for all the freak weather to start! We got home in the late afternoon from a day's adventures, just in time for the storms and winds to start. Jan and Dave headed home because where they live was getting hit with hug ice bombs. We slept through the bulk of it that night. And after all the tornado-like winds and hail the size of baseballs that swirled through St Louis on Saturday evening, Sunday was calm and overcast.

But we woke up to reports of 2 deaths downtown, thousands of cars that were damaged, and buildings with windows that were blown-up out by the mighty hale--literally.

Our day started out with a wonderful breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then we were off to Grant's Farm. Grandma stayed home to rest, and we met up with Dave and Jan for the outing.

The 80-acre farm was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant, but was acquired by August Busch (founder and owner of Anheiser-Busch Brewery) in 1907. It was a hobby farm that was so beautifully kept, that his friends suggested opening it to the public in the 1950s. The famous Clydesdale horses were kept there until they were moved to their own state of the art facility in Boonesville, MO.

At the beginning of the ride is the house that Ulysses and his wife Julia Dent lived in after they were married. Her father gave them the property as a wedding gift. The tram takes you through the grounds were odd and unusual breeds of deer, elk, and cattle are free-roaming before it drops you off in the center, near the carriage house.

As you go through the perimeter of the property, you see the fence that is surrounding the estate. The history behind it is very impressive. It was made from decommissioned guns of the soldiers of the Civil War. The guns were stripped down and taken apart and the barrels were welded together to form the fence around Grant's Farm. That is one of those odd tidbits that I find so fascinating!

After we got off the tram, our first stop was the goat pen. I've never seen so many baby goats all in one area. The farms have a very cost efficient way of feeding the multitudes...visitors buy bottles of goat milk for $1 a bottle and then go into the pen and feed them.

They are very fast little suckers, because if you're not careful, the milk is gone in just a matter of seconds to one greedy little goat. Nathan and Cameron had a ball in the pen.

Many of the warm-weather animals were not out for display yet, so we headed on to see Bud...the elephant. We attended the "elephant education" exhibit and because of the wheelchair, were as close to the elephant as the presenters.

So close, in fact, that when Bud showed everyone how well he could spray water, he drenched Nathan and Cameron. Nathan was not pleased, but Cameron thought it was all in good fun.

The carriage house and stables looked like they had been modeled after a Bavarian village. They were beautiful and housed all the carriages from the past century that were pulled by the draft horses. Some of the most impressive were the fire wagon and parade wagon.

Above all the carriages, were busts of animals from hunting acquisitions throughout the years. The most impressive of these were in the center...a zebra, a buffalo, and a long-horn elk.

We went to see the Clydesdale's in the stables beyond the park. They are extraordinary and HUGE!!

Such impressive animals. Gale says that she remembers times when the corrals and fields were full of hundreds of them. Now, most of them reside at the breeding farm of Warm Springs.

We stopped to see the cannons that were near the mansion at the entry. They are Howitzer cannons and were part of a pretty impressive artillery at one point.

We had the greatest day and I hope that we get to come back and explore this beautiful piece of history.