Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies in 1755. He began working at the age of thirteen as a clerk in a shipping firm on St. Croix, and quickly rose to become manager of the company. His business associates, recognizing Hamilton's talents, decided to finance his education and, at the age of seventeen, he enrolled in King's College, now Columbia University, in New York City.

Hamilton became involved in the political controversies of the 1770s and became an exponent of the cause of the American patriots, writing many pamphlets and newspaper articles. When the American Revolution began, he was commissioned a Captain of Artillery and soon became an aide-de-camp to Washington.

After the War for Independence, Hamilton served as a delegate in Congress and was instrumental in creating the new Constitution; as co-author of the "Federalist Papers", he was indispensable in the effort to get the Constitution adopted. As the first Secretary of the Treasury (1789-1795), he devised plans for funding the national debt, securing federal credit, encouraging expansion of manufacturing and organizing a federal bank.

At the end of the eighteenth century, Hamilton commissioned architect John McComb to design a Federal style house in upper Manhattan. Completed in 1802, The Grange, named after the Hamilton family's ancestral home in Scotland, served as his home for only two years. On July 11, 1804, Hamilton was fatally wounded in a duel with his political rival Aaron Burr.

VISITATION:

Closed for restoration. No visitation in 1996.

LOCATION:

287 Convent Avenue between West 141st and West 142nd Streets, New York City (Manhattan), (Manhattan), NY

ADDRESS:

287 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10003
New York, NY 10005

TELEPHONE:

(212)666-1640

OPERATING HOURS:9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Closed National Holidays.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Summers hot and humid. Light clothing. Winters cold. Heavy outerwear required.

DIRECTIONS:

I-87 (Major Deegan Expressway) to exit 4 - East 149th Street; west on 149th Street across bridge onto West 145th Street; west on 145th Street six blocks to Convent Avenue; south 4 blocks on Convent Avenue. A limited amount of street parking is available.

Transportation:

7th Avenue-Broadway #1 or #9 subway trains stop at the West 137th Street station on Broadway, 2 blocks west and 5 blocks south of Hamilton Grange. A B C and D subway trains stop at the West 145th Street station on St Nicholas Avenue, 4 blocks north and 2 blocks east of Hamilton Grange. Frequent service is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Frequent bus service is provided on Broadway two blocks to the west by routes M-4 and M-5, on Amsterdam Avenue one block to the west by routes M-100 and M-101, and by route BX-19 operating crosstown on 145th Street. Half-hourly bus service on Convent Avenue is provided by route M-18.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:

Admission is free. All tours and programs are free.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

A small museum depicts the life and accomplishments of Alexander Hamilton.

Trails and Roads:

None.

Programs/activities:

Ranger-led programs and tours are offered throughout the day.

Lodging and camping facilities:

None in park. Abundant lodging facilities available throughout New York City and suburbs.

Food/supplies:

Abundant food and dining facilities available throughout the immediate neighborhood.

Other Concessions/NPS-managed visitor facilities and opportunities:

A small museum shop is operated at the site.

Accessibility:

Hamilton Grange is not accessible to the mobility impaired.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

No activities oruse will be possibe until structural repairs are completed.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Reservations are not being accepted at this time pending structural repairs to the buiding. Information is available at (212)666-1640. Commercial filming and after hours use require a Special Use Permit issued in advance; for information call (212)825-6883.

BASIC VISIT:

Only the exterior of the building may be viewed at this time.

SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS:

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

General Grant National Memorial, Columbia University, City College, Morris-Jummel Mansion, Hispanic Museum, Riverbank State Park, Riverside Church, Schomberg Center, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Studio Museum in Harlem.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write: Superintendent, Hamilton Grange National Memorial, 26 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005; call (212)666-1640.