“Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room” Hamilton
Hamilton, the Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer prize winning Broadway musical makes its streaming debut on Disney+ at midnight Pacific Time on July 3rd. The musical will be aired in its entirety, with the original cast, featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hamilton and Philadelphia-raised Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr.
Act Two’s "The Room Where It Happens" is pivotal to the story, “When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game But you don’t get a win unless. you play in the game”, and refers to a deal struck by Hamilton, Madison and Jefferson. The Compromise of 1790 led to the establishment of a federal capital on the shore of the Potomac and the assumption of the state’s Revolutionary War debts by the newly established government. Although this particular deal was not struck in Philadelphia the majority of the decisions regarding the new country were made in rooms in, what is now, the city’s historic district.
In 1773 twelve of the thirteen colonies sent delegates to Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia in response to the British blockade of Boston Harbor and the passage of the Intolerable Acts after the Boston Tea Party. Carpenter’s Hall meetings of the First Continental Congress began in September 1774 and delegates arrived, found lodgings and established alliances. The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall after the Revolutionary War started. Once again delegates were lodged nearby and tenuous alliances were again established. Fifty-five representatives met in 1787 in the State House of Philadelphia. For the next four months a Constitutional Convention was held to frame a Constitution for the new government.
Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison and Jefferson have entered the nation’s narrative as important figures in the founding of the United States as authors of significant documents. Philadelphia’s Historic District is known as the most important square mile in the country and a (masked) walk following in their footsteps, without the crowds, is possible during the pandemic.
Dolley Madison was extremely influential during her time as First Lady and her story begins in Philadelphia. Dolley, a Quaker, and her first husband, lawyer John Todd, lived in a home on the corner of 4th & Walnut Sts., from 1791-93. In 1793 Todd died of yellow fever leaving her a widow with a son. She attracted the attention of James Madison, 16 years her senior, and he courted her inside this house. They wed in 1794 and Madison was fourth president from 1809-17. When available free tours are one hour and timed tickets are offered at the Independence Visitor Center.
Madison had only to walk two blocks from his residence at 429 Spruce Street to woo Dolley. After his marriage he and Dolley lived there from 1794-97. President Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution”, coauthor of the Federalist Papers and drafter of the First Twelve Amendments to the Constitution, later ten would become the Bill of Rights. During the Constitutional Convention he served on the Committee of Slave Trade. He died in 1836. This is a private residence.
Benjamin Franklin’s final residence, a living and working complex called Franklin Court, is located between 3rd & 4th & Market. His house was torn down in 1812 and later was replaced with a ghost frame, the B. Free Franklin Post Office, the only one in the country not to display a US flag, Printing Office and underground museum are also on the premises. His household, at one point, consisted of six slaves but later in life he became a staunch abolitionist and served as the President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.
Born in Nevis in the British West Indies, Alexander Hamilton rose to prominence quickly. He attended both the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention as well as serving as Washington’s personal secretary and aide-de-camp during the war. Hamilton was on the road to political success when he wed Elizabeth Schuyler in 1780. He and his family lived at 226 Walnut Street from 1790-95 and It is in Philadelphia that he engaged in an affair that became public and basically halted his career. When his wife was away he had an affair with Maria Reynolds, a married woman. He never held another public position after 1800. His home is no longer there.
On May 14, 1776 Thomas Jefferson, accompanied by his 14-year old enslaved valet Robert Hemings, brother of Sally, arrived in Philadelphia and lodged on Chestnut St. He required a quieter place so he moved to 7th & Market St. to a 3-story brick 1775 Georgian house owned by Jacob Graff. He rented two rooms on the second floor, a parlor and bedroom, and here he drafted the Declaration of Independence. The house is furnished on the second floor. An exhibit and film on the first floor include information on the excised slavery clause. Jefferson and Hemings lived there until September 3rd.
Negotiations were often held over good food and fine wine and the 18th-century City Tavern filled the bill. In 1772 fifty-three citizens commissioned the construction of a tavern befitting the city with five accommodations, three dining rooms and a ballroom. It opened in December of 1773 and a recreation continues to serve visitors today. The tavern was the unofficial meeting place and functioned for three days as the Continental Army’s headquarters. Reservations are recommended. 138 S. 2nd St.
Independence Hall is the focal point of Independence National Historical Park. Originally known as the PA State House this Georgian structure was constructed from 1732-56, renovated in 1830 and restored in 1950 to its late 1800s appearance. It functioned as Philadelphia’s City Hall until 1870. It is largely furnished with reproductions, originals burned during the British occupation 1777-8, but it does exhibit the silver inkstand used to sign the Declaration and the 1779 “Rising Sun” chair used by Washington during the Constitutional Convention. The adjacent Congress Hall was constructed in 1787. The House met on the first floor and the Senate on the second. Within the complex’s walls Washington’s second inauguration and John Adams first, the American flag was designed in 1777 and the founding documents were ratified. 5th & Chestnut St.
Washington and Adams resided in a 1767 mansion at 6th & Market Streets when Philadelphia was the nation’s capital from November 1790 to June 1800 Washington lived there along with his family and nine enslaved workers. Adams owned no slaves. Washington rented the house and added a servant’s hall and a bow window and expanded the stables. His office was on the second floor. Visitors can walk through rooms outlined on the ground with minimalist walls. Each room details stories of the enslaved residents.
Trip Tip:
While tracking the Founding Fathers be safer by using “Gloves in a Bottle” for your hands. This protectant is wonderful for sensitive skin, contains +SPF15 sunscreen and is a vegan shielding lotion that. actually bonds with your skin to form a barrier to retain natural oils. It hypoallergenic and does not wash off easily and should be reapplied between 4 to 12 hours.
