‘Hamilton’ the musical alludes to the woman credited for making Niagara Falls a honeymoon capital
Published March 16, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Due to the fact that the musical stage show, Hamilton, revolves around the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, it makes sense that the woman credited with making Niagara Falls a honeymoon destination would have a presence.
Theodosia Burr Alston is the woman who made Niagara Falls the “Honeymoon Capital of the World” when she persuaded her husband, Joseph Alston, that it was the ultimate romantic destination, making them the first recorded couple to celebrate their post-nuptials at nature’s wonder-wall of water.
So what’s this trend-setter’s connection to Hamilton? Well, it seems her father, U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, was a bitter political rival of Hamilton’s, so much so that the pair had a duel with pistols. Hamilton died and Burr exiled himself to Europe after charges of treason.
Since the play is about Hamilton’s life and times, looking at themes of politics, race and culture, cleverly casting a handful of non-white actors as founding fathers, it only makes sense that Burr’s daughter Theodosia would rate a mention or two.
Indeed, the first act song, Wait For It alludes to a romance between Burr and Theodosia’s mother–also named Theodosia.
“Theodosia writes me a letter every dayI’m keeping the bed warm while her husband is away.”
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The younger Theodosia is directly referenced later in the first act with the song, Dear Theodosia, when the characters of Hamilton and Burr sing the duet to their respective children, Philip and Theodosia – an ode to how each parent will make the world a better place for their offspring.
Not mentioned in the musical, likely the most popular of the past decade, is the mystery surrounding Theodosia’s death when the ship she was sailing on disappeared somewhere on the Atlantic ocean.
After she disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean onboard the schooner, Patriot,
tales of Theodosia Burr Alston’s death were lurid suggestions that she was
kidnapped or made to walk the plank by seafaring pirates.