If you’re not already obsessed with Hamilton: An American Musical, you’ve definitely heard of it by now at the very least. The smash-hit Broadway show about America’s first Secretary of the Treasury grabbed the country’s attention in August of 2015 and hasn’t let go since. The original cast's recording of the soundtrack has already won a Grammy and has gone 2x platinum, and tickets to the live show in New York are basically impossible to get your hands on.
Well, nearly impossible. Just this past Saturday, my sister and I were two of the privileged few allowed to enter the hallowed halls of the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City, the home of Hamilton. We had secured our tickets back in May. Given how quickly the tickets sell out, six months was actually not too outrageous of a wait. (Right now, for example, Hamilton is sold out through August of 2017.)
We decided to celebrate our fantastic luck by using the entire day to go on a little Alexander Hamilton field trip in New York, where the musical is set. Hamilton left his footprints all over the city, which was his home when he emigrated to the USA from the Caribbean as a boy. If you love the show and want to explore some Hamilton-related sites in the big apple, just keep reading!
Weehawken Dueling Grounds
“Weehawken. Dawn. Guns. Drawn.”
Okay, this one is cheating, but it’s a must-see, and it’s right across the river in Jersey (everything is legal in New Jersey). If you don’t already live in the city, this is a good place to start your trip. Drive to Weehawken, NJ and stop at Hamilton Park. It’s a tiny strip on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River with a spectacular view of NYC. Look for the huge American flag down the street from the park — there is a bust of Hamilton (on Hamilton Avenue, no less), along with a boulder upon which the Treasury Secretary supposedly fell after being struck by a bullet from Burr in their famous duel. You can overlook the craggy land where Hamilton and Burr would have dueled with the looming city right over their shoulders. After you’ve taken in this dramatic sight, grab the ferry from Weehawken and catch a bus downtown to hit the next sites.
Lower Manhattan — Financial District
Federal Hall
“History is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world…”
Whether you’re interested in Hamilton the man or Hamilton the character, you’ve got to see the Financial District of New York. This is the living, breathing site of the financial empire that Hamilton was looking to build. Go check out Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street, the site of the first United States capitol. This is where George Washington was inaugurated as our first president. There’s a huge statue of him outside the building, which is now a museum; you can’t miss him. Grab some falafel from the vendor down the street and eat lunch on the steps while you take in the sites of the bustling Financial District. It’s surreal to see people walking around on still-cobbled streets as they head to work at the New York Stock Exchange, the largest and most modern stock exchange in the world.
Fraunces Tavern
“Two pints of Sam Adams but I’m workin’ on three…”
A few blocks away from Federal Hall is Fraunces Tavern, which claims to be the oldest surviving building in Manhattan. The tavern was hugely important during the Revolution. Washington used it as a meeting place with his troops, and peace talks were negotiated with the British over dinner here. For the lovers of the musical: Lin-Manuel himself has said in Hamilton: The Revolution that the songs “My Shot” and “The Story of Tonight” take place in Fraunces Tavern. Do not throw away your shot; get to downtown Manhattan and visit this museum!
Trinity Church
“I rely on Angelica… while she’s alive, we tell your story. She is buried in Trinity Church near you. When I needed her most, she was right on time…”
If you don’t have enough time to hit all these places, definitely make time for this one. Escape the bustling city by ducking under the church walls of Trinity. This is where Hamilton, Eliza, Angelica, Philip, and Hercules Mulligan are buried. Take in the quiet churchyard. Get a feel for the Revolutionary time period by looking at the hundreds of well-worn tombstones before you find Alexander’s grave, which is more well-preserved, at the edge of the cemetery. Eliza is buried right next to him; Angelica is close by, too, but her gravestone does not bear her name. Roses and American flags adorn all their graves, and you’re likely to pay respects with a small crowd of people. The path to Alexander’s grave is worn by the footsteps of hundreds of lovers of the musical who have made the pilgrimage over the last year.
Midtown — In and Around the Theater District
The Richard Rodgers Theater, 46th Street
“I want to be in the room where it happens…”
Self-explanatory, right? On your way uptown, hop off at the Times Square subway stop and make the short walk to 46th Street, where you can spot the giant Hamilton billboard from over a block away. Catch a glimpse of the theater steps where Lin and countless other cast members have hung out with crowds before the #Ham4Ham lotteries. Even if you don’t have tickets to the show, you should bask in the glory that is the Richard Rodgers, if only for a few minutes.
The New York Public Library, 5th Ave. and 42nd Street
“How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive? How do you write like you need it to survive?”
This one has a time constraint — if you can get to the NYPL by December 31, you can see a pretty awesome (and free) Hamilton exhibit. The librarians have put some cool things on display, like a timeline of Hamilton’s life and some priceless samples of his handwritten drafts of Washington’s farewell address. There are also copies of the book in which the infamous Reynolds Pamphlet was published, as well as Hamilton’s personal encyclopedias which he carried from camp to camp to study during the war.
Uptown — Harlem and Morningside Heights
Hamilton Grange
“No stress, my love for you is never in doubt; we’ll get a little place in Harlem and we’ll figure it out…”
Unfortunately, my sister and I didn’t have time to get all the way uptown to see Hamilton and Eliza’s home at Hamilton Grange. The house has been moved from its original site two or three times, but it now resides at 414 W. 141st Street as a National Memorial. The house functions as a museum now (with free admission), where you can see recreated rooms and the grounds that Hamilton owned in the early 1800s.
Hamilton Hall, Columbia
“I’ma get a scholarship to King’s College. I probably shouldn’t brag, but dag I amaze and astonish…”
While you’re uptown, it might be fun to check out Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, named after the Founding Father himself. There’s a statue of Hamilton out front, as he is one of the school’s most notable alumni (Hamilton attended Columbia when it was known at King’s College in the late 1700s).
These are only some of the sights in NYC and the surrounding area that have been touched by Alexander Hamilton’s influence. For more information, visit this site. If you can’t secure tickets to the musical, you can always treat yourself to a day trip to New York to follow in Hamilton’s footsteps!
