Hamilton Grange Virtual Tour

I have purchased about thirty acres nine miles from town, have built a house, planted a garden, and entered upon some other simple improvements.

-Alexander Hamilton, 1802

With his political career effectively winding down in the late 1790's, Alexander Hamilton shifted his focus and passions towards the building of a country estate in Harlem Heights. The Grange, as it came to be called, served as a refuge for Hamilton in the last years of his life, and served as the Hamilton family home for many years after his death. Today, you can visit visit The Grange virtually. Follow the links on this page to explore individual rooms.

 

 

Explore the Rooms

 

 

This is an architectural sketch of the Hamilton Grange basement. Because the basement was lost during The Grange's first move, this sketch can only surmise the original layout.

NPS Photo

Basement Layout

Having been moved twice, this is the third basement attached to The Grange. Remarkably, some structural evidence for the basement's original layout still exists, and today's walls roughly reflect the original layout. While it is impossible to know exactly how each of the rooms were used, evidence reveals that the kitchen used to exist where the bathrooms are located today.

The most detailed historical account of the basement's contents is preserved in a letter from John McComb, Jr, the architect of The Grange, to Alexander Hamilton on June 22, 1801. In this letter, McComb proposes various projects which will complete the building of The Grange:

"To Lath & plaster the ceiling of the cellar Story throughout.

To Plaster the Side walls of Kitchen, Ironing Room, Hall, & passage, & to point & white wash the Stone & brick walls of the other part of Cellar Story.

To Lay both Kitchen hearths with brick placed edge ways.

To put a strong Iron back in the Kitchen fire place five feet long by 2 ft. 9 inches high.

To put another Iron back in the Ironing Room 3’6" by 2’9"."

 

The first floor of Hamilton Grange has been restored to its historical appearance.

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First Floor Layout

This floor of The Grange has been restored to its historical appearance. The large, stately front door opens to the foyer. From the foyer, Alexander Hamilton’s study is to the immediate right. On either side of the bust opens the doors to the parlor and the dining room. In the back of the house, two small rooms are used as exhibit spaces due to the lack of evidence for their historical use.

Today, the first floor is the focus of the historical restoration of The Grange's interior. Visitors wishing to see a historically accurate respresentation of the home would visit the first floor. More information about historic floor tours can be found here.

 

The upper floor of The Grange is now used as staff offices.

NPS Photo

Second Floor Layout

The second floor, which was used as sleeping quarters, is accessed via the stairs to the left of the foyer. Because no historical records exist to tell us what the second floor contained, this space is used today as National Park Service employee offices. It is thought that the east and west rooms were used by Eliza and Alexander, respectively, and the long room was used by the whole family. This is not confirmed, however. Furnishing style and layout is also unknown.