When it comes to the Revolutionary period, New York City has a fascinating history.
However, NYC hasn’t done as great a job as Boston or Philadelphia in showcasing this to the public. When you walk through the streets of Lower Manhattan, signs of Colonial and Revolutionary times aren’t prominently displayed.
That doesn’t mean New York’s past is gone or that it can’t be found as you walk from street to street. On the contrary, you just have to know where to look. That’s where a Hamilton walking tour in NYC comes in!
Context Travel NYC:
Uncovering Hamilton and Revolutionary New York Tour
Let me go out on a limb here and ask what comes to mind when I say, Alexander Hamilton.
Now, if you’re like most people planning a New York City trip, you undoubtedly think of the hit Broadway musical. You know the one, who’s tickets are harder to come by than a rainbow with a pot of gold!
But, Hamilton fans and history buffs, alike, have become curious about Alexander Hamilton’s life and story. They’ve come to New York by the busload. What they want is to see and hear the real-life places and stories behind the man and the musical.
They’ve come in search of the Founding Fathers and revolutionary war sites in New York.
As a (nerdy 😉 ) teacher, I love it when people are inspired to go deeper and learn more, particularly when it involves closing the books and hitting the pavement.
For this reason, I was thrilled to join a Context Travel NYC tour called Young, Scrappy, and Hungry: Hamilton and Revolutionary New York. Our small group of 5 people (Context tours never have more than 6.) met in downtown NYC on a bright, Saturday morning.
Our Hamilton Tour NYC was led by one of Context Travel‘s passionate scholars, an expert in New York Revolutionary War history studying for his Ph.D.
We started where early colonial life began in New York, which was then called New Amsterdam.
Most people, Americans included, don’t realize New York was not first settled by the English. Rather, it was the Dutch who, later on, were forced by the British to surrender their colony.
As the tour began, we stopped in Bowling Green, New York City’s oldest park.
We listened as our Context Travel Tour docent set the scene with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. When the news finally reached New York a couple of days later, we heard how the King George III statue and other royal symbols in the park were disposed of by American Patriots known as the Sons of Liberty.
Unlike visiting Bowling Green with just a guidebook or a Wikipedia blurb, our group had an expert who knew exactly where to direct our attention. He showed us still visible signs of the damage left behind by the Sons of Liberty.
When you can actually touch history, the scene springs to life before you.
It was also at this early point when I realized Context Travel Tours were not really, tours. Context walking tours are like thematic, experiential field trips. (Who doesn’t love a field trip!?) This was going to be a walking Revolutionary period history lesson, and it was so exciting to see what we would discover next.
We walked, talked, and asked questions through Battery Park and into Castle Clinton. While others hurriedly moved past to board boats for the Statue of Liberty or were searching their maps for things to do in NYC, we talked about Alexander Hamilton arriving as an immigrant to New York to pursue his education.
We looked out over New York Harbor and discussed its strategic positioning for both the British and the Patriots leading up to and during the Revolutionary War.
Our group continued by weaving its way into the oldest section of New York. On the way, we passed by the Watson House, former home to James Watson and a Federalist along with Hamilton.
Lower Manhattan doesn’t have the grid street pattern as in midtown and upper Manhattan. Instead, early Dutch settlers built streets based on Native American pathways and the natural landscape of the island.
This is the reason why downtown streets like Stone, Beaver, Pearl, and even Broadway meander and curve. If you’re visiting other neighborhoods in NYC, you’ll notice the same applies to NYC’s Greenwich Village.
Along the way, our Context Travel docent talked about Hamilton’s role in the Revolutionary War. He joined the militia in 1775 and worked his way up the ranks. Eventually, Hamilton became a senior aid to George Washington.
At this point in the conversation, our docent mentioned the name, Hercules Mulligan. Now, I’ve always been a history buff, but I had to admit I didn’t know much about this guy.
Our expert scholar talked in detail about Mulligan’s connections to Hamilton and how he incredibly saved George Washington’s life twice. It’s at moments like these when I can’t help but wonder about all the historical information and stories still to be learned!
And so, fitting Context Travel’s mold as an “intellectually curious traveler,” I asked a ton of questions.
I never felt as if I was holding up the group or going beyond our group leader’s expertise. Quite the contrary, in fact. My questions were welcomed and prompted others to ask their own questions for a truly in-depth conversation.
The tour continued to Revolutionary period spots like Fraunces Tavern. It was here after the Revolution where George Washington hosted a farewell dinner, thanking each of his closest military aids one-by-one.
At Federal Hall, George Washington’s Statue looks out over today’s financial district.
Although the original Federal Hall has since been demolished, this was the site of the first congress and where Washington was inaugurated. Hamilton played a key role in helping the Constitution to be ratified and became the first Secretary of the Treasury.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, founded by Hamilton, is just a few buildings away.
I couldn’t help but think how I’ve walked by these spots dozens of times without piecing together their Revolutionary history.
A couple of times, I even went against my own NYC dos and don’ts, stopping suddenly on the sidewalk to look without pulling over! 😉
The sign of a great tour is one that is a walking, interactive, and in-depth discussion. Context Travel accomplished this with ease.
When Context tours come to an end, you have a fuller understanding and the inspiration to go even deeper into the subject.
I was so interested in what I’d learned that I spent the weekend reading more about Hercules Mulligan and deciding which Alexander Hamilton books to read.
Towards the end of our Context tour, we entered Trinity Church’s cemetery to see the resting places of Alexander Hamilton, his wife, and family. Eliza’s sister, Angelica, and Hercules Mulligan were also buried nearby.
The cemetery was crowded with a couple of other revolutionary war tours packed with a lot of people in a group. As I squeezed passed one of the groups, I overheard a man asking his wife if she could hear what the guide was saying…
Now, I’m not sure what your reason for traveling is? Maybe you’re looking to check off items on your must-see and do list. Or perhaps, you’re hoping to grow in some way from your experiences?
If you’re like me, you truly believe in the teaching power of travel. But, I get it. Your time as a traveler is precious. So, make certain the experiences you choose are ones that’ll stay with you long after you’re back home.
If you’d like to go deeper on your next trip, check Context Travel to learn about their offerings In NYC and in 40 cities around the world.
Would you like to take a Hamilton tour in New York City?
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