Broadway Star Alexander Hamilton and Trinity Church

For many years I would walk by the southern edge of Trinity Church and its graveyard, along Rector Street between Broadway and Trinity Place, and marvel that there was the grave of Alexander Hamilton, and I could see it from the sidewalk. 

Back in those days he was just a Founding Father, but now of course he's really famous because of the Broadway musical Hamilton. I haven't seen it but there's no denying its popularity. It may have even contributed to keeping him on the ten dollar bill. I hope someone writes a musical about Harriet Tubman, the new face of the $20 bill. Maybe that'll be the sequel. 

Here's a view of Hamilton's grave from Rector Street:

All those times I had walked by on the street, and it wasn't until now that I'm writing this blog that I thought to enter the grounds and the church building to fully appreciate them. I'm grateful that this blog has helped me break the barrier that often exists, probably throughout the world, between tourist spots and where the locals go.

Hamilton's grave is in the plot of land south of the church building, and there are also northern grounds on the other side. Since I visited the northern area first, I guess I'll go in that order here, and then work my way back to the southern area and then the church building itself. First, here's a brief intro in front of the church on Broadway:

There are too many interesting and notable people buried here to mention them all, but hopefully we'll at least get to some. 

The block along Broadway has a tourist feel to it, with stands and food carts and also lots of tourists, of course. They always add to the 'tourist feel.' 

The food options are also probably for all the people who work in this area during the week, since it's right in the Financial District near Wall Street and such.

In the above photo you can see a group gathered across the street. When I first arrived at the block I saw they had a sign for a plumbers' group and didn't know if they were having a meeting or something. 

A little later, when I was walking through the church grounds, I heard loud whistle blowing and shouting that turned out to be a big protest by the still-striking Verizon workers. So maybe the plumbers group was part of the strike? Or lending their support? I don't know, unfortunately. 

In the above photo you can see a fancy entrance to 100 Broadway, which is the American Surety Building and was built in the late 1800's. It is a landmark and has some impressive artwork on its exterior.

Its ground floor is home to a Duane Reade. So, there's that. 

I seem to have gotten sidetracked from Trinity Church, but here are some final looks outside at Broadway, first facing uptown and then downtown.

Oops, I forgot one more note. Along the sidewalk there are inscriptions for every person or group that has ever had a parade for them down Broadway, or the 'Canyon of Heroes.' They are listed in chronological order as you walk along Broadway, and it's really interesting to read them. Here's one example near Trinity Church:

Okay, now let's see the northern churchyard area. It is quite beautiful, with many nice trees and flowers and plants, and a relatively calm and quiet vibe even with the busy downtown blocks all around. 

It's nice that there are many plaques which give brief summaries of who some of the people are in the cemetery. 

 Here is William Bradford, who was born in the 1600's.

 There was a big structure near the center of the northern grounds:

On the western side you can see the New York Stock Exchange, which used to be called the American Stock Exchange.

 Along the western edge there was an interesting marker:

I wonder what they put in the 1997 time capsule. Probably Spice Girls merchandise and a copy of Titanic. I hope they have antique CD/DVD players in 2097. Maybe they can borrow one from a museum.

Here is another notable person in the northern grounds:

Here's a panorama look at the northern grounds, standing at the western side and facing east towards Broadway:

To the far right in the photo, just before the path that leads to the southern grounds, is Memorial Garden.

While there is a direct entrance to the southern grounds from Broadway, it can also be reached in this area by walking along the pathway. During this walk I saw a cool bridge that connected to a building across Trinity Place, though unfortunately there was a sign saying it was closed for construction. I believe the building it connected to was the Trinity Church-Parish Office.

There were some interesting markers along the pathway. 

The Revolutionary War history at this church is pretty remarkable. Here's a closer look at the plaque to the right:

Written in the circle is Daughters of the American Revolution.

As we reach the southern grounds, here's a view of Trinity Place below:

And a panorama facing south, with Alexander's Hamilton's grave straight ahead:

Here are some closer looks at Hamilton's grave area.

Hamilton's wife is buried just in front of him.

And next to her is a small marker:

Also at the southern grounds is a statue:

And an impressive structure for Robert Fulton, who the plaque says is actually buried at the northern grounds:

I briefly went inside the church, which is quite beautiful.

At the entrance area that leads directly out to Broadway is a memorial plaque and beautiful doors.

There is also a royal marker:

During my time walking through the church grounds I started to hear the commotion on Broadway that was the Verizon workers strike. It continued after I saw the inside of the church, and so I walked along the strike area, which stretched south past Rector Street. The noise was loud and constant, and there would occasionally be a man talking through a megaphone to lead on the strikers. 

I have no smooth transition for the next photo, so here's a look at Wall Street's western edge at Broadway. Wall Street then runs east until the FDR Drive at the East River.

Wall Street is pretty famous so I thought I would throw that in there. 

Because of sloping streets, Broadway is higher up than Trinity Place to the west, and so the church's walls at Trinity Place are pretty big.

You can see a gate entrance along the wall, just past the bridge. The cherub above the gate has an amazing history.

Trinity Church and its grounds are a nice place to visit, both for their beauty and history. Stop by sometime if you get a chance, and remember: you don't need to be a tourist to visit and appreciate the city's attractions. Here's one last look at a northern area of the church: