Elihu Root House

Elihu Root House is a Federal-style residence located on the Hamilton College campus in Clinton. The building displays symmetrical proportions and colonial elements, with an east-facing portico, service quarters, and later Victorian additions applied during a renovation.

The house was built in 1817 as faculty housing and later became the private residence of statesman Elihu Root. Root lived here from 1893 to 1937 while serving as Secretary of War and Secretary of State, and the college took ownership in 1979.

The residence shows the ties between high-ranking American political figures and college communities. Root used his home here to exchange ideas with faculty members and kept his connection to the campus strong throughout his working life.

The house sits on the active Hamilton College campus and can be reached easily from the main walkways. Visitors should check ahead about access, as visits may be seasonal or require arrangements with the college.

Root later won the Nobel Peace Prize, and he developed major reforms to American military policy while living here. This link between an academic setting and strategic planning makes the residence much more than a politician's home.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 43.04981,-75.40461

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:47