Okay, Alexander Hamilton went there for one year in 1773 when it was called Kings College. It was founded in 1754 in lower Manhattan by royal charter of King George II of England. Kings College closed in 1774 when the British occupied NYC. In 1896 it became Columbia University in the City of New York. The College is one of many schools in the university along with the medical, business, law schools etc. Kings College was located in the Madison Ave area from 1857-1896. The campus moved to its present location in Morningside Heights in 1896.
Our group (4 from Holland and 2 from Australia) met at Trinity Church (Wall Street area) where Hamilton and his family are buried. This was my second tour with Josh Rogol who gets 5 Stars for his knowledge and friendliness. Seeing the hit musical Hamilton before the tour would be very helpful (if you can get tickets). Hamilton was born on Nevis in the British Leeward Islands. He was the Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington’s first cabinet. He died on July 12th (my birthday) 1804 after being shot by Aaron Burr during their famous duel. As Secretary of the Treasury, he helped create the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall (across the street from the exchange). We were told during our 15-minute stop that Hamilton watched as George Washington was sworn in as our first president. Federal Hall was also the home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and executive branch offices. It now serves as a museum to George Washington with his statue in front.
We had a brief stop at Zuccotti Park made famous after 9/11 as the home of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Other brief stops were at 57 Maiden Lane where Thomas Jefferson lived (there is a plaque out front attesting to that fact). When we passed by 40 Wall Street it brought back memories. As a high school senior in 1952, my father got me a job running an elevator in that building.
At 85 Broad Street, we were shown the remains of the 17th Century Lovelace Tavern below ground and visible through a glass cover. We stopped at Hanover Square that is a pocket park with the Queen Elizabeth II gardens located there. It was then a walk down Stone Street (no cars allowed) that is a narrow cobblestone Alley that was New York City’s first paved street
We ended our tour at Frances Tavern on Pearl Street, established in 1762. It is New York City’s oldest restaurant where George Washington bid farewell to his troops. There is a museum attached to the tavern. www.francestavern.com It was but a 5-minute walk to South Ferry and my subway ride home. I learned a lot from Josh. Bravo.
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