From Washington to Hamilton: New York City’s fascinating revolutionary war sites

Don’t be fooled by thinking that only Philadelphia and Boston had a part to play in the Revolutionary War of the late 1700s – New York was just as vital due to its positioning. America’s fight for independence was spread throughout these northern cities and by taking a trip through Manhattan you’ll be able to see some historic sites that can give you a bit more insight into the struggles that were faced by the revolutionaries. If you can plan ahead, the best time to go is around the 4^th of July, when you’ll witness some spectacular festivities and fireworks displays over the East River.

St. Paul's Chapel at Trinity Church

In the Financial District, St. Paul's Chapel at Trinity Church, built in 1766, is remarkable due to its links to prominent figures of the American Revolution. After George Washington's inauguration on April 30, 1789, he visited the church to worship. He attended services at St. Paul’s throughout the two years that New York City was the capital of the fledgling America. You can see the pew where he sat during those services and learn about the history of the church and its significance throughout the revolution. 
 

Alexander Hamilton's Grave

The runaway success of the Broadway musical Hamilton, an homage to American statesman and patriot Alexander Hamilton, has made his grave at Trinity Church Cemetery even more popular for visitors. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Hamilton was also George Washington's senior aide, the first Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and an ardent abolitionist.

Hamilton died on July 12, 1804, from injuries sustained in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. Hamilton's wife, Elizabeth Schuyler, and his sister-in-law Angelica Schuyler are also buried at Trinity Church Cemetery, as is Francis Lewis, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Trinity Church has plenty of famous people buried there and is worth a visit to pay homage to various statesmen, writers, inventors and socialites. 
 

Morris-Jumel Mansion

Morris-Jumel Mansion in Washington Heights served as George Washington's headquarters for five weeks during the fall of 1776. The mansion, now a museum, offered strategic views of Manhattan and the Harlem and Hudson Rivers that helped Washington plan successful campaigns against the British. The British later forced Washington and his troops off Manhattan Island and used the house as their headquarters. When the Revolutionary War ended, the U.S. government reclaimed the mansion.
 

Fraunces Tavern

In business since 1762, Fraunces Tavern is not only New York City's oldest building, but also a museum dedicated to the tavern's role in the American Revolution. During the British occupation of New York, Loyalists to the Crown took the tavern, but by 1783, the Continentals had resumed control. Visit the museum to view Revolutionary War-era artifacts, such as one of Martha Washington's silk shoes and a letter from Continental spy Nathan Hale, as well as exhibits on interesting topics like the war's agents of espionage.

In late November of 1783, George Washington dined – and even ordered take-out – at Fraunces Tavern. On December 4, 1783, he gave his stirring farewell speech to the officers of the Continental Army in the tavern's Long Room. The Fraunces Tavern Museum offers reduced admission on July 4th, and Revolutionary War walking tours traditionally make stops at the tavern.
 

City Hall Park & Bowling Green

On July 9, 1776, the new Declaration of Independence was read out loud for the first time in New York State to an excited mob at City Hall Park. Members of the mob then made their way to Bowling Green, the city's oldest park and now a beautiful place to relax, picnic and take in some amazing sights. When they got to the park, they pulled down a gilded lead statue of King George on his horse. The patriots dragged the statue up Broadway and sent it to Connecticut, where it was melted down and made into ammunition for the Continental troops.
 

New York Historical Society

At the New York Historical Society on Manhattan's Upper West Side, you can view fragments of the hapless King George statue that patriots toppled in Bowling Green during the American Revolution. The society also showcases Revolutionary War artifacts, including weapons, flags, souvenirs and George Washington's Valley Forge camp bed and inaugural armchair. This museum is a treasure trove of various exhibits and it’ll give you a true understanding on how the Continentals lived and fought during the War of Independence.

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