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Grants Pass name dates to Civil War How did Grants Pass get its name? I�ve heard a couple of different stories, including one about General Grant once having stopped here. Is that true? What�s the scoop? � Robert D., Grants Pass The city was named after Grant, but he never lived there, Robert. In fact, there is no evidence that Grant ever visited Southern Oregon, albeit he was stationed at Fort Vancouver for a year beginning in the fall of 1852, according to Oregon Geographic Names, the bible for those looking for the root of Oregon names. He was later stationed at Humboldt Bay in Northern California but made the trip south via boat, the book says. The city�s name most likely came about by the fact the news of Grant�s capture of Vicksburg during the Civil War arrived in the frontier while a crew was working on a road through a pass just north of the city, the book says. The crew celebrated the victory by dubbing the summit after the popular general. The name was first applied to a stage station, then to the present site of the community where a post office was established on March 22, 1865. There is also a story about Grant having "passed" in a card game at what now is Grants Pass but that is pure fiction, according to the book. ("Since You Asked'' is a daily feature in the Mail Tribune that answers questions from readers on virtually any topic of general interest. To submit a question, e-mail us at [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification. If you have specific questions about our Web site or other questions about the Mail Tribune, please send them to [email protected] ) Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA