Burr–Hamilton duel

The dueling grounds in Weehawken were once a hidden, blood-soaked ledge carved into the base of the New Jersey Palisades. Because dueling was strictly outlawed in both New York and New Jersey, prominent men sought out this specific spot for its isolation and its location at the water’s edge. Its seclusion ensured that boats could land directly on the shore, allowing participants to settle affairs of honor away from the eyes of authorities and the public. Between the early eighteenth century and the mid nineteenth century, this narrow strip of land hosted at least eighteen known duels.