About This Tour
Most New Yorkers don't know their city was a battleground from August to November 1776 — from Gravesend in Brooklyn to Pelham in the Bronx. The Battle of Harlem Heights was a turning point in that campaign. The day after the disaster at Kip's Bay, with morale shattered and the army in retreat, Washington needed a win. On September 16th, he got one.
On this mile-and-a-half walk through Morningside and Hamilton Heights, you'll walk the ground where it happened and see firsthand how the hills you're climbing gave Patriot soldiers a decisive strategic advantage over the advancing British. The terrain tells the story — and you'll feel it in your legs.
Along the way you'll pass Hamilton Grange, City College, Grant's Tomb, and Columbia University — landmarks that most visitors see without any idea of the blood-soaked history beneath their feet. Please arrive 10 minutes early at the meeting point.
Highlights
- The Road to Harlem Heights — hear about the tumultuous events and bloody conflicts that led to this fight in a northern Manhattan buckwheat field in September 1776
- Walk the Battleground — retrace the footsteps of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton on a hilly, mile-and-a-half journey through the heights and see how the terrain gave Washington the edge
- A Much-Needed Win — learn how this American victory (the first since Lexington and Concord) emboldened Washington and his troops after two major defeats
- The Legacy of Harlem Heights — uncover stories of more pivotal battles and skirmishes that made New York City an integral part of the fight for independence
- Historic Sites Today — see Hamilton Grange, City College, Columbia University, Grant's Tomb and more landmarks woven into the story
Itinerary
Your Guide
