9) Weehawken Dueling Grounds
The Weehawken Dueling Grounds are infamous as the place where Aaron Burr fatally shot Alexander Hamilton, a story recently popularized in the Broadway musical Hamilton. The location of the duel is somewhat off the beaten path and doesn’t attract many tourists, despite being alive with this chilling piece of history. Located on the coast near the Hudson River, the grounds are now a wooded green space which is open and friendly. A bust of Alexander Hamilton stands next to the boulder which – reputedly – he lay his head upon as he died. But Burr and Hamilton were not the only men to duel on these grounds, and there would have been many who fought and died both before and after them. Although dueling was not legal in either New York or New Jersey, this spot was out of sight and away from prying eyes. The dueling grounds have a rich but turmoil-filled history, and it’s worth visiting this spot just to feel more in touch with an important piece of history.
