The General Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, dedicated in 1920, is the largest bronze sculptural group in Washington, DC. The figure of Grant and his horse is 2-½ times life-size, and is one of the largest bronze equestrian sculptures in the world. The dynamic end groups of Cavalry and Artillery incorporate twelve (12) life-sized horses, thirteen (13) life-sized soldiers, and a complete 1857 12# Napoleon cannon and limber. Four large reclining lions and two 9-ft. by 7-ft. plaques complete the assemblage. The sculpture commission was the largest to-date, and took sculptor Henry Shrady 20 years to complete.

Kreilick Conservation, LLC was retained to conserve all of the bronze work, and to provide limited treatment of the Vermont white marble pedestals. All of the bronze was cleaned using an IBIX micro-abrasive cleaning system utilizing calcium carbonate media at very low pressure. All of the bronze surfaces were patinated to match existing examples of the sculptor’s other work, and an unaltered surface discovered on this sculpture. All bronze surfaces were protected with the application of Incralac. More than one hundred missing bronze elements (swords, scabbards, rifle barrels, horses’ reins, etc.) were replicated in cast bronze following extensive research and modelling of original equipment, and by taking molds of extant examples. The seven marble pedestals were poulticed to remove cupric staining and repointed.