Rethinking the Joke About Grant’s Tomb

The classic joke “Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb?” often leaves people puzzled, especially visitors to the famous monument in Riverside Park. While the straightforward answer is “Grant,” referring to Ulysses S. Grant, some suggest that the real answer is “no one,” since the remains are actually in sarcophagi above ground within the mausoleum.

The monument, which stands about 150 feet tall, was completed in 1897 after fundraising by the Grand Monument Association. Today, it draws approximately 110,000 visitors annually and is managed by the National Parks Service.

Park Ranger Miranda Allen explains that the question’s origins trace back to a 1950s quiz show, where it was intentionally made an easy question. She notes that, technically, Grant isn’t “buried,” because the remains are above ground, in the form of sarcophagi.

During a visit on the 140th anniversary of Grant’s death, locals and visitors shared their thoughts. One visitor pointed out that Grant’s 1885 funeral was reportedly attended by 1.5 million people, a remarkable turnout considering the city’s population then was only around 2 million.

Another visitor humorously remarked that, despite the monument’s name, it could be anyone’s tomb. “Just because it’s Grant Tomb, it could be anybody,” said Abdullah Hashimi, a 19-year-old student nearby.

One local, Pat Sopak, a lifelong New Yorker, said the answer to the joke has evolved over time — it’s “obvious” and “constantly updating.” Allen adds that the true answer is “no one,” because “to be buried, you have to be in the ground,” which doesn’t apply here since the remains are above ground in the mausoleum.

So, next time someone asks, the correct answer might just be “no one” — a humorous twist rooted in semantics.