Tour of a Founding Father's Home: Hamilton Grange

The ten-dollar founding father without a father got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter, by being a self-starter.

Alexander Hamilton came to NYC looking to be a new man after devastation reigned on his home in the Caribbean. After attending King’s College, he played a crucial role in forming our country’s constitution and served as the United State’s first Secretary of Treasury.

In 1802, Hamilton’s country home was completed in NYC. He lived here with his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and their eight children for two years before he was tragically killed in a duel with Aaron Burr. Elizabeth and the children remained in the house for 35 years until they moved to Washington D.C. Today, the house, dubbed by Hamilton as “The Grange,” still stands in NYC and offers tours to the public. If you're not able to make it there in person, let us give you a run-down of the founding father’s home.

The Home Itself

Hamilton commonly called The Grange his “sweet project” and made many of the decisions when it came to choosing the molding, window decorations, and even the flooring. The two-story, Federalist-style house has four upstairs bedrooms, a first-floor study, living room, dining room, and a kitchen in the basement that is now part of the visitor’s center.

The Living Room

The entire living room has been restored to mimic the original decor. It is styled with Louis XVI-type furniture and even has five of the original chairs from 1802. There is also a copy of a portrait of George Washington hanging on the wall. Washington actually sent the Hamiltons the original portrait as a gift, since Alexander viewed him as a mentor.

The Study

History has it that no one was allowed into Hamilton’s study unless he personally invited them. Hamilton designed the room himself and chose a deep green to reflect the outdoor beauty of his estate. Visitors will also note that the study is relatively small. Hamilton did this on purpose, since he already had a large office in New York City.

You can take a ranger-led tours of Hamilton’s house Wednesday through Sunday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., and self-guided tours from 12 to 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Best of all - the tours are free! Do you want to keep up with more history and fun places to visit in NYC? Connect with AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

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