Statue of Alexander Hamilton by Horatio Stone in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol
Although Alexander Hamilton always called New York home, his image and influence is found all around Washington, D.C. Join local historian Kathleen Bashian for a tour of sites that reflect the vision and leadership of this Founding Father—well before he was reinvented as a Broadway musical phenomenon.
Visit the United States Capitol to view paintings and sculptures of Hamilton and the people who influenced his life, and to discuss Hamilton’s military campaigns. Walk through the tunnel to the Library of Congress (where the bulk of Alexander Hamilton’s original papers reside) for a special program with scholar Denver Brunsman, who discusses Hamilton’s vision of government and his role in the Compromise of 1790, which led to Washington becoming the nation’s capital—and is depicted in the song “The Room Where It Happens” in Hamilton.
A 3-course lunch takes place (where else?) at the Hamilton, as Brunsman looks at Hamilton’s monetary policy and how it applies to its contemporary counterpart. Afterward, visit the Society of the Cincinnati’s headquarters at Anderson House to learn about Hamilton’s leadership of the society and his duel with Aaron Burr. Go behind the scenes for a preview of some of the artifacts that are part of an upcoming exhibition on Hamilton, including his military uniform.
During the day, participants view the statue of Hamilton on the steps of the Treasury Building, and sculptures in Lafayette Square of the military men who Hamilton knew during the Revolutionary War. In the H Street neighborhood where Eliza Hamilton spent her final days, learn about her later life spent advocating for charitable causes and defending the name of her beloved spouse.
