HAMILTON BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION DRAWS RECORD VISITATION

Hamilton Grange National Memorial received a welcome visitor on Jan. 14 when “General Hamilton” himself visited the home for his 257th birthday celebration. Hamilton, portrayed by a living-history specialist, spent time upstairs in the historically-furnished areas of the home, gave a short address in the ground floor visitor center, and afterwards mingled and took questions 

Questions from guests covered topics ranging from his time as an aide-de-camp under Washington, to the articles of the Constitution, to his relationship with his children, to his education, and to his Federalist viewpoints. One bold visitor queried the General on his “dalliance” with a Mrs. Maria Reynolds, notable as it is considered the first scandal of its kind to tarnish a national political figure. 

More than three times the normal number of visitors for a Saturday attended General Hamilton’s birthday celebration, the first special program since the site’s grand re-opening in September 2011. Though the normal 15-person capacity for the historically-furnished floor remained in effect, the open-house hours for self-guided tours were extended to accommodate the additional crowds. 

“It was gratifying for us to see the turnout and the interest of so many people in the life and story of Alexander Hamilton,” said Shirley McKinney, superintendent of Hamilton Grange National Memorial. “We look forward to providing additional sometimes non-traditional programs to expand that interest.” 

Notable attendees to the event included Tony and Grammy award-winning creator-composer-lyricist and Tony nominated actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda, a Washington Heights native, is currently working on a hip-hop chronicle of Hamilton’s life called “The Hamilton Mixtape.” He recently kicked off the new season of Lincoln Center’s “American Songbook” series with a preview performance of this work-in-progress. “The Hamilton Grange is a wonderful piece of living history, tucked away square in the middle of Uptown Manhattan,” Miranda said. “I would encourage anyone interested in the history of our amazing city to plan a visit. Happy birthday, Mr. Hamilton. You throw a swell party.” 

 

Of the visit, “Hamilton” said, “I can’t tell you how lovely it is to visit my ‘sweet project.’ What the National Park Service has been able to do is so interesting for me.” 

Referring to the new location of the Grange – its third, he said, “While it is certainly in a different aspect than perhaps I am used to, it is so charming, and so akin to its original setting.” 

For more information about visiting Hamilton Grange, call (646)-548-2010 or visit www.nps.gov/hagr on the web. You can also follow us at Twitter.com/HamiltonGrngNPS . 

About Hamilton Grange National Memorial 

Hamilton Grange National Memorial preserves the home of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, economist and political philosopher. He also authored the majority of “The Federalist Papers.” Hamilton chose the then-rural quiet of Harlem as the site for his Federalist-style country residence. This home was completed in 1802 and named "The Grange" after the Hamilton family’s ancestral home in Scotland. Fatally wounded on July 11, 1804 in a duel with his political rival Vice President Aaron Burr, Hamilton was only able to enjoy the home for two years. 

Hamilton Grange is located at 414 West 141st Street (in St. Nicholas Park, between St. Nicholas and Convent avenues). Public transportation is available nearby via subway and bus. Please visit www.mta.info to plan your route.