From rural outpost to a vital, colorful landing spot, discover the fascinating story of Weekhawken and the people who made it what it is today.
Although less than one square mile in area, Weehawken's rich history extends more than 400 years to when Dutch explorers first dropped anchor in Weehawken Cove. The town commands a unique location overlooking the Hudson River, with sweeping views of New York City. Its story begins with Weehawken's early bucolic estates, the idyllic attractions of the magnificent Palisades, and its notorious hidden dueling grounds, where Alexander Hamilton met his end at the hands of Aaron Burr in 1804. By the mid-19th century, a shift toward urban industrial development changed the landscape, as evidenced by the iconic 1883 Weehawken water tower and the sprawling, long-gone 1890s Eldorado Amusement Park that brought throngs of visitors via the largest passenger elevator in the world at that time. The construction of the Lincoln Tunnel as well as the developments of the town's neighborhoods, commerce, and government all helped to shape Weehawken's past and future.