Guide Bios

Jimmy Napoli has been a licensed N.Y.C. tour guide since 1996, specializing in the American Revolution, the creation of the Federal Government of the United States, the abolition movement, and women's suffrage. His main area of interest and expertise is Alexander Hamilton. In 2007, Jimmy appeared in the PBS documentary "The American Experience; Alexander Hamilton," written and directed by Middlemarch Films. In 2012, Jimmy was published in a re-edition of the classic biography "George Washington: The Indispensable Man", by James Thomas Flexner, writing the additional essays and providing historical consultation on this Sterling Publishing signature edition.

He is also a frequent lecturer at Morris-Jumel Mansion, George Washington's 1776 headquarters in Harlem, and other historical mansions and museums around the country. Born on Manhattan Island, Jimmy grew up fast in the turbulent 1970's in the rough-and-tumble neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens and has resided in Manhattan for nearly thirty years. He is currently living on his boat X isle off the coast of St. Croix, where Hamilton spent his childhood years.

"Napoli is a force of nature, with the energy of an entire cast of actors"

As a born and raised Dutch woman Eva loves riding her bike - rain or shine. Eva met Jimmy through her tour guide mentor, the late Lee Gelber and immediately connected to Jimmy's passion for Alexander Hamilton, history and for life in general.

After studying acting and directing in the Netherlands, Eva was invited to former Yugoslavia to perform and train with the renowned KPGT theater group, during the Serbo-Croatian war. Adventure and entertainment are in her DNA. Eva has also worked extensively with European arthouse filmmaker Edwin Brienen. In the late 1990's, she moved to New York City, where she continues to make films with independent filmmakers including Jonathan Caouette, Jorge Torres-Torres, and Onur Tukel (Catfight, Black Magic for White Boys, Scenes from an Empty Church during a Pandemic).

Her passion for history and story-telling inspired her to write, produce and perform several historical plays (including Mata Hari and Raising a Revolutionary) and an autobiographical play (Almost Mata Hari - Lovers, Letters and Killers). She to date appeared in more than 45 independent films that have been showcased in more than 50 film festivals - including Cannes, Toronto and Sundance.

She co-founded X isle Productions LLC with her partner Jimmy Napoli to share their passion for history and inspire people through stories about Hamilton, revolution, piracy and other intriguing topics. Together with Jimmy, she films and edits a personal travel vlog about their long, oftentimes challenging boat journey from New York to St Croix.

She is performing “Raising a Revolutionary” in combination with different Hamilton lectures by Jimmy Napoli. This is a one-woman show about Rachel Faucett, the brilliant, scandal-ridden mother of Alexander Hamilton.

Check it out on the X isle page or YouTube

Carol S. Ward has over 10 years of collaborative leadership in non-profit management, financial oversight, fundraising, strategic planning, Board relationships and grant-winning cultural program development. Most recently she was Executive Director of the Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York City, with prior positions at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT and the Ridderhof Martin Gallery in Fredericksburg, VA.

Ms. Ward is an art historian with her BA from Mary Washington College, and two Masters Degrees, her first in Museum Education from the College of New Rochelle, and her second in Art History from Hunter College.

Articles she has written have been published in The Magazine Antiques, The Historic House Trust journal, the American Alliance of Museums Magazine, Antiques Weekly and catalogs for the Bruce Museum, Morris-Jumel Mansion and Keno Auctions.

Her book "Visions of America: The Morris-Jumel Mansion" was published in 2015 and she has recently appeared in the PBS Documentary Hamilton's America.

Fred has been a licensed New York City tour guide since 1996. He specializes in New York's colonial and revolutionary history. He has led tours for the New York Historical Society, Fraunces Tavern® Museum, Heritage Trails New York, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, the Art Deco Society, the Morris-Jumel Mansion, and the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. He has a Masters in American History from Brooklyn College.

I have been a NYC licensed tour guide since 1994 but it was 6 years earlier in New Orleans, Louisiana that I started a career of sharing the history of America with visitors to this country. Like Hamilton, I am an immigrant to the U.S. Born in Belgium, with a French heritage on my mother's side. My earliest tours were from Boston to Washington D.C. with French speaking customers. The challenge of telling America's history was made easier with a 7-day tour that started on the Freedom Trail and ended in Lafayette park near the White House. I have taken 30+ years to develop my history of America, yet when I heard Lin-Manuel Miranda's "HAMILTON", I thought to myself, Mon Dieu! He's done it in 3 hours!

Asja studied painting in Germany, where she was born and raised. In early 2004 she came to New York City, taking full advantage of the lively art scene in Manhattan and the outer Boroughs. As a mom of two boys, she didn't want to give up her creative outlet, so she dragged her sons to every art event in the city and soon developed a passion to study the city's history. Her research quickly led her to Alexander Hamilton and his many contributions in creating the United States. She has been a NYC Sightseeing guide ever since.

She is the founder of Artspace 88.

Joey was born in Colombia and grew up in Queens and has been able to accumulate nearly 20+ years of experience as a licensed New York City tour guide. He doesn't really see aiding folks as they explore and unearth the treasures of the city as a job but something more akin to a solemn duty. Just kidding: I love this job because it's fun and educational for everyone involved.

George is an historian and presenter, who put his BA in history from New Mexico Highlands University to good use for over 30 years working as an interpretive park ranger for the National Park Service. His specialty is colonial American History related to NYC. George worked at sites in the NYC area related to Alexander Hamilton. He was the lead Ranger at Hamilton Grange National Memorial, which was the home of Alexander Hamilton. He also worked at Federal Hall National Memorial, which is the site of our first national capital.

During his time with the National Park Service he led various tours and special events and performed in revolutionary war reenactments. George had the opportunity to be the MC for the ceremony commemorating the establishment of the U.S Coast Guard founding, which was on C-Span, and was invited to be an expert on a panel discussion about Hamilton Grange National Memorial's grand opening at the Museum of American Finance.

When not researching history, he's an avid sports fan.