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Location: Main- History

New Jersey: Where the REAL history comes alive.

New Jersey has Revolutionary War reenactments throughout the year. Above is a selection of photos from the Monmouth Battlefield Reenactment held in June of each year at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. Check out the NJ event guide for any upcoming events.

Check out the many restored historical villages in New Jersey - from Historic Smithville and Allaire State Park to Tuckerton Seaport - which demonstrates the history of the Jersey Shore and the small sea villages. These villages demonstrate how people lived and worked in New Jersey. From the Iron bogs at Allaire Village that demonstrate iron working in the Pine Barrens to Historic Mt Holly where you can see the oldest school house in the state, dating back to 1756. In West Orange, visit Thomas Edison's laboratory, where you can see where he invented so much of what we (and the world) take for granted. Or take a ferry boat from Liberty State Park and visit The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit Sandy Hook and see the oldest operating lighthouse in the country which was built in 1764, learn about the history of ocean rescue and lifesaving and visit Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Proving Grounds.

Living History Museums
From the northern most part of the state to the southern - New Jersey is dotted throughout with living History museums. These are museums where you can see how people actually lived. See how blacksmiths worked, or farmers. How did the early settlers of the shore live and work? if you want to make learning history fun - check out one of our New Jersey's many living history museums.
Weekly Fieldtrip
This is where you can get information on easy weekend trips. A special site would be highlighted each week. This can be the shore, the mountains, a historic site, or just a new out of the way spot that many people may not know about
Endangered History
This is a listing of historic sites which are endangered. History is what makes up a people's culture, once it is gone - there is no restoring it for future generations. If we want to preserve the varied history of New Jersey and enjoy it for centuries to come - we need to do it now!
Lighthouses
New Jersey has nine classic landbased lighthouses to explore, including the oldest operating lighthouse in North America - Sandy Hook Lighthouse (1764). Climb to the top of Barnegat Lighthouse or Cape May Lighthouse and take in the magnificent views, or take a trip the remote East Point Lighthouse on the shores of the Delaware Bay.
Reenactments

New Jersey has reenactments throughout the year. In June you can witness the reenactment of the Battle of Monthmouth on the actual battlefield Washington fought on. In December and January you can see the reenactments in Trenton and Princeton. On Christmas Day you can witness Washington and his army crossing the Delaware.

If you want to learn about the great moments in history where they actually occurred - there is no better place than New Jersey.
Crossroads of the American Revolution Heritage Area
Find out about the new National Heritage Area that many New Jerseyans are fighting for.

This will create a linkage between the many Revolutionary War sites that are so important to the state's history and provide numerous opportunities to bring more tourist dollars to the state.
Indian History

 
Colonial History

Come discover the history from the founding of New Jersey by the Netherlands to the time of the Revolutionary War. See where the Swedes settled in the southern part of the state, the old Quaker Meeting Houses, some of which are still in use today and the last Royal Governors Mansion in the United States - The Proprietary House.
Revolutionary War and Early American

New Jersey wasn't called the Cockpit of the Revolution for nothing. Washington spent more than half of his time in New Jersey.

What is one of the most memorable parts of the revolution? Most people think of the Crossing of the Delaware, well it happened right here. How many people have heard of the suffering in Valley Forge? Well actually that was propaganda that Washington used to speed up Congress to get him supplies. The real suffering occurred during two years spent in Morristown.

19th Century

 
20th Century

History doesn't stop with the 18th and 19th centuries. Come explore the many "modern" historic sites, such as the USS New Jersey or Albert Einstein's house.