Nowhere in the colonies did General George Washington spend more time during the American Revolution than in New York’s Hudson Valley. For much of that time he was accompanied by his trusted aide-to-camp, Alexander Hamilton.
In celebration of Independence Day, on July 3rd, Disney+ will launch live streaming of the film of the original smash hit Broadway production of “Hamilton,” created by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda. Just in time for this event and the 4th of July, Historic Hudson River Towns, an association of sixteen towns just north of New York City, has launched a geo-located audio tour, featuring many Revolutionary War sites and stories, which can be enjoyed while driving through the region or remotely at home.
Developed by Historic Hudson River Towns and TravelStorysGPS, the new tour will entertain travelers and virtual travelers with stories from early days, through the Revolutionary War to today. The tour can be used safely hands-free, as travelers explore this beautiful and famous region while driving. The tour can also be enjoyed remotely from home or from almost anywhere in the world.
Alexander Hamilton frequently traveled through the Hudson Valley during the Revolutionary War and afterwards as congressman and US Secretary of Treasury. Many significant Revolutionary War sites that he visited are presented on the audio tour. On the east side of the river, Washington and Hamilton encamped at Dobb’s Ferry with the American and French armies. From there, they began their famous march south to Virginia, where their victory at the Battle of Yorktown secured the surrender of British forces and the end of the Revolutionary War.
On the west side of the river just north of Haverstraw, another quaint historic Hudson River town, American troops, under the command of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, made a midnight raid on a British encampment at Stony Point. Washington helped plan the attack, arrived after the battle had been won and encamped there with the victorious troops. It is thought that Hamilton joined him there, as official documents from those dates are written in Hamilton’s hand.
In Irvington, another Historic Hudson River Town, visitors can see the stately mansion that Hamilton’s son James owned and named “Nevis” in honor of his father’s birthplace in the British West Indies.
Other Revolutionary War sites found on the new tour include Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers, the oldest building in Westchester County. The Manor Hall, along with its 52,000 acre estate, was forfeited by Frederick Philipse II, a wealthy landholder who backed the Crown and had to flee to England.
Tarrytown saw action when a small group of American soldiers beat back British naval vessels out in the Tappan Zee. This village is also where British Major John Andre, who plotted with traitorous American General Benedict Arnold, was captured and later hanged as a spy across the river at Tappan. Hastings-on-Hudson memorialized the “Battle of Edgar’s Lane,” a skirmish between British and American troops.
In 1782, while waiting for the Treaty of Paris to be signed, General Washington hosted a last encampment with the French army at Verplanck’s Point to celebrate the end of the war.
These and many other stories highlight significant historic, cultural, and recreational sites through the towns on both sides of the Hudson River from Yonkers north to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge. Historic Hudson River Towns’ new audio tour guides travelers and virtual travelers through these places, as well as to downtowns, parks and recreational sites for peaceful walks and hikes, all just minutes north of New York City.
The new free audio tours of Historic Hudson River Towns can be enjoyed remotely at home at www.hudsonriver.com or from any APP store.
