Alexander Hamilton National Historic Site, NYC: Part 2

In my previous post about Hamilton’s Grange, I described the turbulent history of the house and its two relocations. This post is about our wonderful visit through the house. We’ve been wanting to see Hamilton’s home for many, many years so this visit was our dream come true. You enter the door from the right [...]

Alexander Hamilton National Historic Site, NYC: Part 1

Alexander Hamilton built and owned only one home in his life, The Grange, or his “sweet project,” he called it in his letters. He’d had a tempestuous, tragic life as a young man and was now ready to settle down into comfortable family life in the countryside of Upper Manhattan Island, Harlem Heights. While he [...]

The King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga

Next to the restored Fort Ticonderoga is a curious dirt path leading to a little dell. The place is called “King’s Garden.” Even though the day was very hot and we were tired from our long trek through the Fort’s many museums, we decided to take a look at this garden. A staid rock entrance [...]

Fraunces Tavern Museum, Pearl Street, New York, NY

As history buffs who greatly admire and study the lives and works of the fathers of our nation, we couldn’t visit New York City without a pilgrimage to Fraunces Tavern Museum on Pearl Street. The diminutive building is overshadowed by rising skyscrapers of modern times, testaments to the success of the nation as a bastion [...]

A Visit to Fort Ticonderoga, Part 3

We spent the better part of a day at Fort Ticonderoga, taking in the magnificent sights of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain, absorbing the amazing and sometimes tragic history, and exploring the fort’s numerous labyrinthine pathways and alcoves. And this was all before we had even entered one building! Read Part 1 and Part [...]

A Visit to Fort Ticonderoga, Part 2

In A Visit to Fort Ticonderoga, Part 1, I discussed the amazing views of the fort and its very important role in the defense of pre-colonial settlements and American Revolutionary strategy. After soaking in the glorious sights and enjoying a musket drill, we entered the interior ring of the fort that once housed the soldiers, [...]

Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY

The Hudson River School of art has been my favorite fine art genre since I studied founder Thomas Cole’s stunning Voyage of Life paintings as a young art major in school. Such deep, dramatic, and luminous paintings these artists produced in the mid to late 19th century! As a matter of fact, their paintings were [...]

The Erie Canal Village, Rome, NY, Part 2

This is part two of a terrific visit. We visited a cheese factory, church, and schoolhouse; enjoyed refreshments at the tavern; and investigated the old modes of transportation. A great time!

The Erie Canal Village, Rome, NY, Part 1

Finally! I’d been wanting to visit this Village again ever since I visited when I was 14 years old. What a wonderful, wonderful place. Step back in time, literally. If it wasn’t for your wristwatch and cellphone, you’d think you were back in 1807.

Lorenzo Historic Site, Cazenovia, NY

This historic site, built in 1807, is open for guided tours. It showcases the lifestyle of a typically wealthy Dutch patroon of Upstate New York. The tour of the home was terrific (except that we couldn’t photograph anything). The beautiful gardens were open for our exploration. Cazenovia Lake sits languidly across the field. Beautiful!

Next Page »