Hamilton Grange Move Media Advisory

Alexander Hamilton's Grange as it is moved towards Convent Avenue. On June 7, 2008 it will journey to its new location at St. Nicholas Park.

NPS Photo

Event Day Contacts - Darren Boch at [phone] or Mindi Rambo at [phone]

Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the Home of Alexander Hamilton, is Moving Saturday, June 7

WHAT: The National Park Service (NPS) is moving Hamilton Grange National Memorial from its current site, located in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem, New York City, to its new home in St. Nicholas Park, about a block and a half from its current location.

Alexander Hamilton’s house, named “The Grange” after his family's ancestral home in Scotland, was the New York City home of Hamilton from 1802 – 1804. Built as a countryside estate with sweeping prospects on all four sides, the Grange was first moved in 1889 from its original site on W. 143rd Street to 287 Convent Avenue, to make way for construction of city streets. Detailed studies have been done to determine how the Grange looked in Hamilton’s time, and NPS is moving the home to St. Nicholas Park to allow the exterior and interior of the home to be restored to its former splendor. A part of Hamilton’s original 34 acre estate, St. Nicholas Park is the third and final location of the home Hamilton helped design and which he called his “sweet project.” The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation granted a permanent easement to NPS to move the Grange to St. Nicholas Park.

WHEN: The Grange will be moving Saturday, June 7 from approximately 7:30 am to 2:00 pm (exact times subject to change). The Grange will begin its move at 7:30 am, turning into St. Nicholas Park at approximately 12:00 pm.

WHERE: Over the course of the past two weeks, the Grange has been moved up and over St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (see www.nps.gov/hagr for photos), its neighbor on Convent Avenue. On Saturday, June 7 the home will head south on Convent Avenue, turn east onto W 141st and then right into the northwest corner of St. Nicholas Park, across from Hamilton Terrace.

· Media Access: All media, with or without NYC press credentials, should pre-register for the event to gain access to the media access area. To register, please call or email Darren Boch at 212-668-2251 or e-mail us or Mindi Rambo at [e-mail] or 212-668-2208, no later than Friday, June 6 at 4:30 pm.

· Media Access Area: The media access area will open Saturday, June 7 at 6:00 am and remain open for the duration of the move, but no later than 4:00 pm. The area is located on W 141st Street, from St. Nicholas Avenue to a barricade that will be erected just east of Hamilton Terrace (see attached map).

· Media escort: By request, electronic media and photojournalists can be escorted west up W 141st Street past the barricade and into the move route in order to cover the move close-up.

· Photo-op (7:30 am): Maria Burks, Commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor, and Adrian Benepe, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, will initiate the move by “pressing the buttons” that power the 9 four-wheeled dollies that will move the Grange.

· Public viewing areas: The public is being encouraged to come to the area to witness this historic event. See attached map for designated public viewing areas.

· To cover the turn from Convent Avenue onto W 141st Street, which is expected to occur at approximately 9:30 am, media may enter public viewing areas #2 and #3 (see attached map), but there is no vehicular access to these areas.

· NPS Park Rangers and other sources will be available for on-site interviews on the move logistics and the history and significance of Hamilton Grange National Memorial.

Street Closures & Satellite Truck Parking

· Vehicular Street Closures:

o W 141st Street from Amsterdam Avenue to St. Nicholas Avenue

o Convent Avenue from W 142nd Street to W 135th Street

o Hamilton Terrace

· Satellite/microwave trucks: On a first-come, first-served basis, a limited number of parking spaces will be available on the north side of W 141st Street within the media access area; entrance from St. Nicholas Avenue no earlier than 6:00 am event day.

Event Day Contacts - Darren Boch at [phone] or Mindi Rambo at [phone]