Broadway May Be on a Break…

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…But That Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Track Down the Real-Life Locations From ‘Hamilton’ on Your Own…

Because It Wouldn’t Be a Newsletter Without an American Revolution Offshoot

Coming from someone who owns about 30+ Revolutionary War books, hung a replica of Washington Crossing the Delaware above her desk, littered countless nods to our first President around her apartment, and has been to Virginia multiple times for Founding Father related excursions, I cannot tell you how furious I was when everyone else jumped on the Revolutionary War bandwagon after Hamilton blew up. It’s how I expect Knicks fans would have felt had they landed Zion…or KD and Kyrie…or yes, how they’ll feel after they get Giannis in Free Agency…*silence*…*changes topic*

I got over my immature overreaction and thoroughly killed the album over and over…and over again. For anyone who has seen the live performance, the Disney+ release, or simply listened to the original cast recording, it’s impossible not to feel transported back to the 18th century by the end of the opening song. Since the show takes place in New York of almost 300 years ago, let’s explore ten actual spots in which major events of the show (and real life) went down so you can feel that much more in character the next time you’re outwardly lip syncing to “My Shot” while walking down Broadway in broad daylight.

Hamilton Grange

The Hamiltons were living on this property when Philip Hamilton was killed in his duel. Alexander speaks with Philip before his duel in “Blow Us All Away,” and Hamilton and Eliza would have taken solace here in “It’s Quiet Uptown.” Eliza would have been at the Grange the morning of Hamilton’s duel, where she spoke to him in “Best of Wives and Best of Women.”

Fraunces Tavern

Fraunces Tavern is the setting for at least two songs, “Aaron Burr, Sir” and “My Shot.” There are additional scenes that take place in this taverns during the show, most famous of which being George Washington’s farewell address and the meetings of The Society of the Cincinnati, which Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton attended.

Federal Hall

The murder trial of Levi Weeks, who was defended by Burr and Hamilton and is mentioned in “Non-Stop,” was held in the original City Hall, now the site of Federal Hall. It was also the first U.S. Capitol Building and the location for the debate regarding Hamilton’s debt plan and the initial meeting between Jefferson and Madison when Jefferson first arrived in New York in “What’d I Miss”.

King’s College

Alexander Hamilton sings about getting a scholarship to King’s College in “My Shot,” and Philip Hamilton has just graduated from the college in “Blow Us All Away.” Though originally founded in Trinity Church, the location of King’s College that’s relevant to the musical was bordered by present-day West Broadway, Murray Street, Barclay Street, and Church Street.

Jefferson Residence

As sung in “The Room Where It Happens,” Jefferson arranged “the meeting…the venue, the menu, the seating” at his residence on Maiden Lane, where he, Hamilton, and Madison reached a compromise regarding Hamilton’s plan to have the federal government assume the states debts and the location of the nation’s capital.

129 Spring Street

In the basement of this storefront is the 200+ year old “haunted” well involved in the Levi Weeks murder case, where Hamilton and Burr served as defense counsels for Weeks as mentioned in “Non Stop”. The woman Weeks was accused of murdering was found in this well and there’s been reports of hauntings in the building over the years.

Trinity Church/St. Paul’s Chapel

In “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” Eliza sings that her sister Angelica is buried here near Alexander, where Eliza joined after her death. After his inauguration as President in 1789, George Washington prayed here, and other members of the government, including Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, were regular worshippers while the capital was in NYC.

Weehawken, New Jersey

The fateful duel between Philip Hamilton and George Eacker happens here in “Blow Us All Away.” Philip sings that he “was aiming for the sky” in recounting the duel to Alexander Hamilton in “Stay Alive (Reprise).” The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, where Hamilton was mortally wounded, also occurs here in “The World Was Wide Enough”.

Bayard’s Mansion

Alexander Hamilton was taken to the Bayard Mansion at 80-82 Jane Street after his duel with Aaron Burr, and Angelica Schuyler and Eliza Hamilton “were both by his side as he died” here, as sung in “The World Was Wide Enough.” After his duel, Hamilton was rowed across the Hudson and taken into Bayard’s home. 

The Common/City Hall Park

Angelica, Eliza and Peggy work it downtown in the Common in “The Schuyler Sisters,” and Hamilton takes on a pro-British speaker there in “Farmer Refuted. “The park’s western boundary was a Native American trail that later became Broadway and the location is roughly that of current City Hall Park.