Hamilton Grange National Memorial
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Hamilton Grange National Memorial Photography Guide

National Memorial · New York

  • Bortle 9
  • 2 photo spots
  • Clearest: September
Photo: NPS Photo/Kevin Daley · Public domain (NPS)

Hamilton Grange National Memorial is a National Memorial in New York. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.

Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Manhattan. A faithful testament to early American architecture, it stands today as a tribute to its first owner’s many accomplishments.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
2
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 9
Inner-city sky
Clearest month
September
48% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Harlem
1.2 km (0.7 mi)

Light at Hamilton Grange

Live
Sunrise
7:13 AM
Sunset
6:09 PM
Golden hour AM
6:56 AM – 7:51 AM
Golden hour PM
5:32 PM – 6:27 PM
Blue hour AM
6:45 AM – 6:56 AM
Blue hour PM
6:27 PM – 6:37 PM
Full darkness
7:41 PM – 5:43 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:25 PM / 1:08 AM
Day length
10h 56m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Best photo spots in Hamilton Grange

We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Hamilton Grange. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.

Fire Lookouts (1)

State Parks (1)

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Hamilton Grange the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:19 AM8:01 AM4:11 PM4:53 PM243°9h 34m
February6:51 AM7:29 AM4:52 PM5:31 PM254°10h 40m
March7:09 AM7:45 AM6:26 PM7:03 PM268°11h 54m
April6:18 AM6:54 AM6:58 PM7:35 PM284°13h 18m
May5:39 AM6:19 AM7:27 PM8:07 PM296°14h 27m
June5:25 AM6:06 AM7:48 PM8:30 PM303°15h 05m
July5:38 AM6:18 AM7:47 PM8:27 PM300°14h 49m
August6:07 AM6:44 AM7:18 PM7:56 PM290°13h 49m
September6:37 AM7:13 AM6:31 PM7:07 PM275°12h 30m
October7:08 AM7:45 AM5:40 PM6:17 PM260°11h 09m
November6:44 AM7:24 AM3:58 PM4:39 PM246°9h 55m
December7:14 AM7:58 AM3:46 PM4:30 PM240°9h 16m

Computed for the park's reference point (40.8187, -73.9488); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Hamilton Grange, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:13 AM – 5:13 AM0.011°
March4:24 AM – 5:34 AM1.217°
April2:24 AM – 4:34 AM2.220°
May12:19 AM – 3:39 AM3.320°
June10:36 PM – 3:16 AM4.720°
July10:27 PM – 1:47 AM3.320°
August9:39 PM – 11:49 PM2.220°
September8:40 PM – 9:50 PM1.217°
October7:48 PM – 7:48 PM0.011°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.

Weather & best time to visit

New York City has a temperate climate, and temperatures in northern Manhattan are frequently several degrees cooler than those in the southern part of the city.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.

Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.

Getting there

Hamilton Grange National Memorial is in Saint Nicholas Park in Manhattan. It is located at 414 West 141st Street, between Convent Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue. There is no parking available on-site, and street parking in the area is very limited.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Guided Tours
  • Hands-On
  • Living History
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits

Nearby parks

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Hamilton Grange National Memorial?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Hamilton Grange?
Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Can you fly a drone in Hamilton Grange?
Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Can you see the Milky Way in Hamilton Grange?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 9.
What time is sunset in Hamilton Grange?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:17 PM local time; see the live widget for today.