12 Interesting Hamilton Sites in New York City

Hamilton Grange is the only home that Hamilton ever owned. Built in 1802 on a spacious 32-acre estate, Hamilton lived here for a short two years before his untimely death (from the infamous duel with Burr). Since then, the home has been relocated a few blocks to accommodate the growing needs of the city.

The National Park Service manages the home, which is free and open to the public. You’ll find a handful of exhibits that give insight into Hamilton’s childhood and role in the shaping American history. The only way to see the inside of the home is through free ranger-guided tours.

Tours are pretty quick (30 minutes, if memory serves) and can be booked same day. No advanced reservations required. But speaking from personal experience, (and I hate to say this!) I think the National Park Service can do a better job maintaining the home.

I had high hopes for Hamilton Grange because it’s one of the most iconic Hamilton sites in NYC, but the experience didn’t live up to expectations.

The tour was short, much of the furnishings were replicas from the area (not original), the second level of the house (where the bedrooms are located) is off-limits for tours and the grounds didn’t give reason to linger. All told, I wouldn’t travel out of the way to see the home, but if you’re in the area, pop in for a tour.

Goes without saying, but for die-hard fans, visiting Hamilton’s only home is definitely a worthy addition a self-guided Hamilton tour in New York City. Adjust your expectations and you’ll have a good time!

Hamilton’s New York is still here, in the churches, the streets, the institutions he helped build. Walking his path is walking through the city’s origin story.

There’s no denying that Trinity Church is one of the most beautiful churches in New York City. It’s also one of the top Hamilton sites in New York City. The reason? The church’s graveyard is Alexander Hamilton’s final resting place.

You can visit his grave on the south side of the graveyard under a marble pyramid tomb. It’s hard to miss since it towers above the other tombstones and is bright white. Other notable burials at Trinity Church’s include his wife Eliza, son Philip, sister-in-law Angelica and Hercules Mulligan.

Trinity Church also played an essential role in the Hamilton’s life. On Sundays, Eliza and the children would come to pray (the family even rented pew #92), and five of his children were baptized at the church. Admittedly, Hamilton wasn’t a frequent flier at the church, but he did visit on occasion.

Fraunces Tavern is one of New York City’s oldest bars and was a favorite hangout spot for the Sons of Liberty. General George Washington visited the tavern several times, including nine days after Evacuation Day (when the last British soldier left New York) to bid farewell to his senior officers. Hamilton was known to frequent the tavern before, during, and after the war.

Here’s where it gets interesting for Hamilton fans. The Society of Cincinnati (a society of Revolutionary War generals and their descendants) met at the tavern on July 4, 1804. Interestingly, both Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton attended the event at Fraunces Tavern a mere week before their infamous duel.

While visiting, pop into the museum on the second floor for a peak at the room where Washington gave his farewell address ($10). When you’re done, head downstairs for a dram (or beer) at one of the most historic Hamilton sites in NYC, which happens to be a top-notch whisky bar.

Local tip Hamilton’s connection to NYC is everywhere if you know where to look. His home (Hamilton Grange) in Harlem is a free National Park site, and his grave at Trinity Church in the Financial District is one of the most visited tombstones in America.

After Hamilton’s fatal duel with Aaron Burr he was rushed across the Hudson River to Manhattan for medical attention at William Bayard Jr.’s home, where he died the next day. Unfortunately, the mansion has since been destroyed, but a plaque at 82 Jane Street claims to be the site of the house.

The exact location of the Bayard House remains hotly debated among historians, with some suggesting it might have been a block north on Horatio Street. The neighborhood went through serious construction and growth during the early 1900s, so we may never know the exact location of the house. However, 82 Jane Street is a worthwhile stop on any self-guided Hamilton NYC tour.

The Weehawken Dueling Grounds in New Jersey play a somber yet significant role in Hamilton’s life story. On July 11, 1804, Hamilton engaged in a fatal duel with Burr, (“everything is legal in New Jersey”) which resulted in his untimely death at the age of 47.

Visiting this historic site allows fans to pay homage to Hamilton’s legacy and reflect on the tragic twist of fate. The park is a mere 20-minute drive from Midtown, but if you’re relying on public transportation, you can grab a bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Built in 1831, the Hamilton-Holly House became Eliza Hamilton’s residence from 1833 to 1842 (after Alexander’s death). Eliza sold Hamilton Grange to developer Thomas E. Davis and used the proceeds to purchase a townhouse at 4 St. Mark’s Place alongside her son, Alexander Hamilton Jr.

She lived in the home with her adult children, Alexander Hamilton Jr. and Eliza Hamilton Holly, and their spouses. Today, the building remains a private residence (rentals exceed $4,000 a month!), but you can swing by on a self-guided Hamilton tour of NYC and admire the home from the outside.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated it a landmark in 2004. It’s one of the best-maintained Hamilton historical sites in New York City (considering it’s nearly 200 years old!).

Fun fact The Hamilton-Holly House is not only one of the most famous Hamilton sites in NYC but also home to a punk-rock clothing store called Trash and Vaudeville. The store operated out of the first floor for 40 years and is famous for outfitting rockstars like Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, and the Ramones.

Federal Hall is historically significant for being the locale where George Washington took the oath office as our first president in 1789. Hamilton watched the inauguration from the balcony of his home at 57 Wall Street (the building has since been demolished).

Alexander Hamilton practiced law at Federal Hall, including the first tabloid murder trial in America (“This the first murder trial of our brand new nation, the liberty behind deliberation.”). The Federal Hall building that Hamilton worked in was demolished in 1812, the building you see today was built in 1842.

Centrally located in Wall Street, right across the street from the New York Stock Exchange, swinging by is a no-brainer while exploring Alexander Hamilton’s sites in NYC. Federal Hall allows fans to walk in the footsteps of Hamilton and visiting is completely free of charge!

The impetus for Alexander Hamilton’s move to New York City was to attend college (“I’m a get a scholarship to King’s College”). At the time, Hamilton went to King’s College, which was located in the Financial District and shared a campus with Trinity Church.

After the Revolution, the school was renamed Columbia College. Hamilton served on the school’s Board of Trustees from 1784 until his death. Then, in 1896, the school relocated to Morningside Heights (near the Upper West Side) and was renamed Columbia University.

Hamilton Hall, near the south lawn, is named in his honor. A statue of Hamilton stands proudly in front of the administrative building, perfect for a photo-op. With that said, there is little else for fans to enjoy, but the stop is worth considering if you’re in the area (make sure to check out The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine as well, it’s the 5th largest church in the world).

Built in 1765, the Morris-Jumel Mansion is recognized as the oldest house in Manhattan. Located in Washington Heights, it hosted figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Henry Knox.

In fact, Washington used the residence as his headquarters during the Revolutionary War. He also held his first presidential cabinet meeting at the locale. Hamilton, part of Washington’s circle, frequented the mansion.

The mansion is well-preserved and interesting to explore, self-guided tours are available for $10. Lin-Manual Miranda visited the mansion a number of times while writing the musical, making the house a top destination this Hamilton guide to NYC.

Interesting fact about this NYC Hamilton Site The home was owned by Eliza Jumel, who married Aaron Burr in 1833, almost three decades after Hamilton’s death. (If you’re curious, Burr’s first wife, Theodosia, died from stomach cancer in 1794).

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s world-famous musical is safely at home at the Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway. Admittedly, Broadway didn’t exist during Hamilton’s time but theater is hallowed ground for those searching for famous Hamilton sites in NYC.

Hamilton is already the fourth highest-grossing Broadway show of all time after only nine years on Broadway, impressive! Lin-Manuel Miranda originally played the lead role of Hamilton, and tickets to his final performance on July 9, 2016 fetched as much as $2,500 on the resale market (ouch). Luckily, most tickets cost between $200-$400 today, but sell out months in advance.

In an ironic twist, the Richard Rodgers Theatre also ran a different Revolutionary Era musical. Titled 1776, the show ran from 1969 to 1972 and tells the story of John Adams (who was one of Hamilton’s rivals).