History Salvaged, LLC and The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage have partnered to create a comprehensive line of handcrafted heirloom gifts and collectibles made from original Witness Wood®, literally history you can hold, sourced from maintenance, repair, and/or restoration of the U.S. Grant Cottage Historic Site, Mt. McGregor, NY, the final home of Ulysses S. Grant in 1885.
The History Salvaged and Grant Cottage partnership - the last home of the Commanding General of the U.S. Army & 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant – was formed to create an exclusive collection of Grant Cottage heirlooms from Witness Wood® and other original materials removed during maintenance, repair, and preservation of Grant Cottage.
The Grant Cottage pens are functional pieces of history and art that along with our other heirlooms should be “Used, Collected and Gifted” as each along with the story they contain helps “Keep History Alive®”.
Built-in 1872 as a hotel, the cottage was moved in 1882 to make way for the new 200 guests, state-of-the-art, Hotel Balmoral that featured electricity. In 1885 the Grant Family’s stay at the Cottage was enhanced by amenities provided by Hotel Balmoral
While at the Cottage, Grant wrote his memoir, welcomed guests including Mark Twain (his friend and publisher), and died on July 23, 1885, just days after completing one of the world’s most critically acclaimed memoirs and thus securing his family’s financial security.
Opened as a Historic Site in 1890 the Cottage remained, though a fire destroyed the Balmoral in 1897, and has survived multiple manifestations of the surrounding property that has included a sanatorium, NY State Prison, and more.
In 1989 The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage was formed to operate and maintain the last residence of this beloved American figure.
The Historian Witness Wood® Fountain Pens include availability in the below Witness Woods® and more:
- Thomas Jeffersons Monticello
- Teddy Roosevelt Sagamore Hill
- Ronald Reagan - Reagan Ranch
- George Washington - Washington planted the tree in Fredericksburg, VA
- Abe Lincoln Birthplace
- Sam Houston Pecan
- The White House
- Independence Hall
- Ford's Theatre
- Ulysses S. Grant - Grant Cottage
- Napoleon - La Natalie
- Brooklyn Bridge
- MORE
The Historian
The newly designed and handcrafted History Savaged fountain pen, The Historian was created to enhance our Mission: the reclamation, salvaging and repurposing of wood and other natural materials from historic sites throughout the United States and beyond that would otherwise be discarded and lost to history.
We challenged ourselves to design The Historian to best present our myriad of historic Witness Woods® in a way that would not only enhance the rarity and beauty of our Witness Woods® but stand the test of time. We wanted to create a Classic Witness Wood® Fountain Pen that would last several lifetimes.
The Historian accomplishes that goal in design and craftsmanship to create this classic brass-capped and Witness Wood® bodied fountain pen that is truly a piece of history and functional art, worthy of being passed down to future generations, along with the story of each piece of Witness Wood® contains.
Structurally, each The Historian is completely handcrafted (except the nib) and begins with a brass bar drilled and milled to accommodate an aluminum core. The aluminum core contains the threading to contain the clip and the threading to attach to the main pen body, as well as the benefit of reducing the weight of the cap.
A hollowed aluminum shaft is inserted into the Witness Wood® body and supports the main pen body. This insert adds to the overall strength and at the same time protects the valuable Witness Wood® from damage from an internal ink leak. A threaded brass fitting is pressure fit into the aluminum liner that connects the body to the cap.
The aluminum and brass inserts further benefit the pen by providing an airtight seal, thus preventing the nib from drying out between uses.
The brass cap is then dimpled and polished to a mirror finish.
A cyanoacrylate covering consisting of 20 coats is applied to the Witness Wood® surfaces, protecting and enhancing the historic Witness Wood® body. The Cyanoacrylate becomes an acrylic coating that polishes to a mirror finish and adds to the depth in appearance in the Witness Wood®.
The Historian when finished is a Classic Witness Wood® Fountain Pen with a dimpled mirror-like brass cap and a beautifully balanced torpedo-shaped Witness Wood® body that is comfortable in the hand.
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All pens are handcrafted by or under the supervision of our Master Pen Craftsman and are made in America.
Each is individually hand made and each varies in look and feel.
All History Salvaged product is guaranteed authentic and made utilizing the wood describe and in conjunction with our partner clients.
All History Salvaged products arrive in Eco-Friendly packaging.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery as each Historian is custom-made to order.
