Article

Hamilton Grange Dining Room

This room was dedicated to formal dining at The Grange, and visitors to the home would be treated to dinner in this stately room. Guests included Governeur Morris, Rufus King, and the Schuylers, among others. In early May of 1804, Alexander Hamilton wrote to his wife, Eliza, “On Sunday Bonaparte & wife with the Judges will dine with you. We shall be 16 in number if Morris will come. Send him the enclosed note on horseback, this Evening, that James may bring me an answer in the morning.”

It is impossible to say what transpired over the dinner in which Jérôme Bonaparte attended, or whether Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest brother enjoyed what he saw at the Grange. Nonetheless, the dining room at The Grange was designed to impress. It is thought that the Hamiltons had a second, less-formal dining room in the basement for private family dinners.

Like the parlor, this room features large bay windows on one side. The triple-hung windows offered a view of the Harlem plains and River, and allowed passage to the east-facing portico. By opening the windows in the parlor and dining room, a fresh crosswind could be felt throughout the first floor of the home. The furniture in this room is a blend of original pieces and modern reproductions.

Dining Room Collection

Silver Plated Wine Cooler

In 1797, George Washington gifted this wine cooler to Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton Portrait

This portrait of Alexander Hamilton is said to be one of the most accurate to his appearance in life.
Elizabeth Hamilton Portrait

This portrait hangs in the dining room of The Grange.