Hamilton Turns 260

History buffs will gather Wednesday at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in Manhattan. They’ll be joining together to honor a founding father turned Broadway sensation.

January 11, 2017 marks the 260th birthday of Alexander Hamilton. Although his contributions to America were great, many still pass by his grave at Trinity Church without a second glance. His monument, which is visible to pedestrians on the street, is lost in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Jackhammers and sirens fill the air, the scent of roasted peanuts lingers through the graveyard, and his tomb is set to the backdrop of a Factory Shoe Outlet.

However, some visitors have not let the cityscape cloud their view. Josiah Rogers is a high school student from Virginia with a particular interest in history. He's visiting New York with his family, and they made sure to stop at Hamilton's tomb. They also have plans to see the Broadway Musical, naturally.

He says, “He was such an influence on our country, and yet he was so forgotten. Not everyone always agrees with his ideals, and rightly so, but his influence on the country was enormous.”

Rogers thinks if Hamilton were alive today, he would still play a major role in American politics. His continued influence, both while he was serving and afterwards, are a testament to that.

Lynn Goswick works with Trinity Church, and she says the Broadway show has also inspired interest in recent months. She says she's noticed more visitors stopping at the graves of those mentioned in the play, including Philip Hamilton, Angelica Schuyler Church, and Hercules Mulligan. She also says visitors have been leaving more tokens— flowers, stones, coins, notes, even a potted plant— at Hamilton’s monument.

Celebrants of the founding father will lay a wreath at his tomb in downtown Manhattan for his birthday Wednesday