Hamilton Grange National Memorial facts for kids
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Hamilton Grange National Memorial
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Hamilton Grange
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 Location in Manhattan
Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Upper Manhattan, New York City, NY |
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| Built | 1802 |
| Architect | John McComb Jr. |
| Architectural style | Federal style |
| Website | Hamilton Grange National Memorial |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000097 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
Hamilton Grange National Memorial, also known as The Grange, is a special place in St. Nicholas Park, Manhattan, New York City. It protects the old home of Alexander Hamilton, one of the important Founding Fathers of the United States.
Inside the mansion, you can see restored rooms and a new exhibit on the ground floor. This exhibit helps visitors learn more about Hamilton's life. The area around the Grange, called Hamilton Heights, even got its name from Hamilton's large estate that used to be there.
Contents
The First Owner: Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton grew up in the West Indies. He came to New York in 1772 when he was 17 years old. He studied at King's College, which is now Columbia University.
Hamilton had a very busy life. He was a military officer and a lawyer. He helped write the U.S. Constitution. He was also a key writer of The Federalist Papers, which helped explain the new government. He became the first Secretary of the Treasury for the United States.
In 1802, Hamilton asked architect John McComb Jr. to design a country home for him. This home was built on his large 32-acre estate in upper Manhattan. The house was built in the Federal style. It was finished just two years before Hamilton's death in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.
Hamilton named his estate "The Grange." This name came from his grandfather's land in Scotland. The Grange was the only home Hamilton ever owned. He would travel there often from his law office. He loved working on the landscaping, including planting a circle of thirteen sweet gum trees. These trees represented the thirteen original states of the U.S. His family lived in the house for 30 years after he passed away.
Moving the House: The First Time
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By 1889, New York City was growing. The city's street plan, called the Manhattan street grid, was being built in Hamilton's old neighborhood. Part of The Grange was in the way of a new street. So, the house had to be moved to avoid being torn down.
A church called St. Luke's Episcopal Church bought the house. They moved it a short distance east and south to 287 Convent Avenue. During this move, some parts of the house, like its original porches, were removed. The main entrance was boarded up, and a new entrance was made on the side.
Later, the church built a larger building around The Grange. This meant the house was tightly surrounded and many of its original features were hidden. In 1924, the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society bought The Grange. They opened it as a public museum in 1933. Inside, they displayed furniture and items that belonged to the Hamilton family.
In 1960, The Grange was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place. The National Park Foundation bought the house and gave it to the National Park Service. In 1962, the U.S. Congress decided it should become a National Memorial. They wanted the house to be moved again and restored to look like it did when Hamilton lived there. People felt its location on Convent Avenue was too crowded. They wanted it to be a freestanding building, like a country home. However, it took a long time to move it because people in the neighborhood didn't want it to leave the area. The Grange was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Moving the House: The Second Time
On May 9, 2006, Hamilton Grange was closed to the public. This was so experts could study the house and prepare it for another big move. The plan was to move it to nearby St. Nicholas Park. This new spot was chosen because it was a better place to show off the house. It also allowed for the restoration of parts that were lost in the first move. Plus, it kept the house in the same neighborhood, within Hamilton's original 32-acre estate.
The actual move began in February 2008. First, the house was lifted in one piece over part of St. Luke's Church. It was then placed onto Convent Avenue. Over several weeks, it was slowly raised using special jacks. Workers put more than 7,000 pieces of wood under its foundation. Then, it was rolled along steel beams onto tall wooden stilts in the middle of Convent Avenue. The house stayed about ten feet off the ground while cars drove underneath it!
Finally, on June 7, 2008, the house finished its journey. It was rolled one block south on Convent Avenue and then one block east on 141st Street. The whole trip was about 500 feet. It was a slow move, taking six hours, but many people came to watch.
Once at its new home in St. Nicholas Park, the house was secured to its new foundation. The original porches were rebuilt. The main entrance and staircase inside were restored using materials found elsewhere in the house. The area around the Grange was also landscaped. They planted 13 sweet gum trees, just like Hamilton had in his original garden. There's also a stone wall and a circular rose garden, designed to Hamilton's own plans.
The Grange re-opened to the public on September 17, 2011. A special ceremony was held with some of Hamilton's descendants attending. Visitors could take tours of the beautifully restored rooms. The ground floor now has a visitor center. This is where the kitchen and servants' rooms would have been long ago. The Grange is now next to the City College campus.
- Official NPS website: Hamilton Grange National Memorial
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
See also
In Spanish: Granja de Hamilton para niños
