In 1802, Alexander Hamilton built a country home in the pastoral fields of a neighborhood now known as Hamilton Heights. It was the only home he ever owned, and is where he resided when he famously lost his life in a duel with Aaron Burr. American history lovers will appreciate Hamilton's Federalist style home, and it's also off the beaten path for people who want to see a more residential, quieter face of New York City.

Parking and public transportation at Hamilton Grange
Parking may be difficult in this neighborhood; public transportation is the most convenient option. Take the 1 train to 137th Street, or the A,B,C, or D to 145th Street. Several city buses also serve the area.

Best and worst time to go to Hamilton Grange
The restored period rooms on the second floor can be toured only with a park ranger present, so visits should coincide with those slated times, or with one of the guided tours that take place throughout the day. School groups are given priority on Wednesday through Friday mornings. Call ahead during these times to confirm that you'll have access to the upstairs rooms.

Admission to Hamilton Grange
Admission and tours are free.

Must see/do at Hamilton Grange
The ground floor features an exhibit and film, which recap Hamilton's sometimes forgotten legacy. Plan to spend about 30 minutes here before touring the second floor, where some artifacts on display were actually used by the Hamilton family. Another short film is shown upstairs, which describes how the house was moved in 2008 to its current location.

Other places to visit near Hamilton Grange
Morris-Jumel Mansion is New York City's oldest house, where Hamilton attended a cabinet dinner hosted by President George Washington. City College is a scenic campus more than a century old, and The Grange Bar & Eatery is a popular local restaurant.

Insider tip for visitors to Hamilton Grange
In addition to his home, New York City has many monuments to Hamilton, including a granite statue in Central Park, the U.S. Custom House in Lower Manhattan, and a bronze statue that sits on the original site of the Hamilton Grange.

Author's bio: Michele DeBella is a freelance writer based in New York City. She loves the history of Upper Manhattan, which also happens to be her neighborhood. Follow her on Twitter.