Celebrate NJ's Revolutionary War parks and open spaces on July 4
2024 Summer Camp Guide
2024 Summer Camp Guidep

Community News

Celebrate NJ's Revolutionary War parks and open spaces on July 4
6/24/2016

This July 4 commemorates the birth of our nation 240 years ago, and most folks will celebrate Independence Day with picnics, parades and fireworks.

I recently attended a family memorial at spectacular West Point and was struck by its convergence of natural beauty and our country’s revolutionary war history. 

Revolutionary War historic sites are scattered throughout New Jersey, and many of them are inspiring and beautiful.  They are great places to learn a bit of history, celebrate our nation’s founding and enjoy the landscapes.

New Jersey played a crucial role in the American Revolution and – located between the new nation’s capital in Philadelphia and the British stronghold in New York – it was truly the “Crossroads of the American Revolution.”  General George Washington and the Continental Army spent more days in New Jersey than any other state.

Recognizing the state’s significance, President George W. Bush signed legislation in 2006 establishing the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, which encompasses parts of 14 New Jersey counties where significant events took place. The Heritage Area includes Morristown National Historic Park and sites associated with the Battles of Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth.  The Heritage Area also helps to preserve the historic landscapes of New Jersey… the farms, fields, hills and valleys of the Crossroads region.

Here are some ideas for places to visit in this state we’re in.

Morristown National Historic Park. Jockey Hollow, the winter encampment of the Continental Army and General George Washington's headquarters in Morristown in 1777 and 1779-80, preserves both the lands and historic features. The Continental Army used its timber resources for the construction of over 1,000 soldier huts. If you explore the twenty seven miles of hiking trails there, you can see evidence of the "log-house city."  Located in the headwaters of the Great Swamp Watershed, many of the park’s trails crisscross the streams that provided Washington’s soldiers with water. 

Since the time of the Revolutionary War, the forest at the park has regrown into a secondary old growth tulip tree forest. There are up to 100 acres of old growth tulip trees now 150 to 220 years old, up to 42 inches in diameter and at least 120 feet tall.

Morristown National Historic Park includes three important Revolutionary War sites: Jockey Hollow, the Ford Mansion, and Fort Nonsense, the latter a hilltop fortification overlooking Morristown, including trenches, raised embankments, a signal beacon and fantastic views.

Battle of Trenton and Battle of Princeton. In the early months of the American Revolution, British forces had won key victories in New York and had driven the Continental Army to retreat into Pennsylvania.  If it were not for Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on a stormy Christmas night in 1776 leading to victories in Trenton and Princeton, it’s likely that the Revolution could have come to an early end.

You can see the site of the Delaware River crossing at Washington's Crossing State Park in Titusville. Originally preserved for its historical significance, the park is also well known for its trails and wildlife habitat. A wide variety of migrating birds use the stream and ravine for resting and nesting.  A variety of spring and summer wildflowers can be found throughout the park, making it an idyllic setting for picnicking and hiking.

Not far away is Princeton Battlefield State Park, where on Jan. 3, 1777, Washington led his troops to Princeton for one of the fiercest battles of the Revolution.  General Hugh Mercer, Washington’s close friend, refused to surrender to British soldiers and was bayoneted several times before falling next to a large oak tree. The tree was known thereafter as the Mercer Oak. It survived to the age of 300 years before it was felled by strong winds in March 2000. A sapling grown from a Mercer Oak acorn was planted inside the old stump and now the young “new” Mercer Oak is thriving in the same location.

Monmouth Battlefield State Park.  The Battle of Monmouth took place took place on June 28, 1778 when the Continental Army intercepted an army of British, German and Loyalist soldiers fleeing from Philadelphia to New York to escape an impending blockade of the Delaware River. While the British-led troops escaped, the battle established the effectiveness of the Continental Army and is considered an important strategic and political victory for General Washington.

The 1,800-acre park in Manalapan preserves a rural 18th-century landscape of hilly farmland and hedgerows that encompasses miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas and a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse.

To find more Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey, go to the Crossroads of the American Revolution website at http://revolutionarynj.org or the Revolutionary War New Jersey website at www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com.

And for information about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.


Learn More

POSTS

Still the Garden State!

Protect New Jersey's wildlife homes

Preserved lands protect clean air and water

To tree or not to tree?

Hard cider in the Garden State

Turkey Time

American shad return to New Jersey river after 173 years

Act now to avoid worst climate impacts

NJ Natural Lands Trust celebrates 50 years

Must love bats!

Move and improve your health!

Renewable energy: Save money and our land, water, air and health

Speak up for endangered species!

Save the bugs!

Check out New Jersey's fall bird migration

A little bit of respect...for native plants!

Explore New Jersey's wildflower meadows

All aboard floating classrooms

Catch the Perseids meteor shower!

Check out the 'fun' in fungi

Too hot to think? Studies shows heat affects your brain

Love NJ's outdoors? Take action now!

New Jersey's official reptile, the bog turtle

Sea level rise and New Jersey: Not perfect together

These New Jersey plants have an appetite for insects

Explore the Pine Barrens through paddles, hikes and tours

Like to jog? 'Plog' instead and keep NJ clean

Love Jersey fruit? Thank our native pollinators!

Good news for globally rare swamp pink lilies

Say cheese! Remote cameras aid wildlife research

Begone, single-use plastic bags!

3,000 birds and counting for 'bluebird grandfather'

The Pine Barrens gets some help from its friends

A clean energy future for New Jersey

Cowtown and rare grassland birds, perfect together

Fight light pollution during International Dark Sky Week

New film tells story of how Petty's Island was saved

Ten years of nipping invasive species in the bud

Welcome spring in a county park

Go for a walk and feel better!

Grab a friend and go outside

Recycle your way to zero waste!

Last call for winter wildlife watching on Jersey coast

Without its 'understory' layer, the forest will collapse

From whale songs to poetry, a remarkable journey

A cleaner, greener New Jersey

Let's keep New Jersey the Garden State, not the Pipeline State

New Jersey's winter hikes

'Trees don't vote' but Byrne saved Pine Barrens anyway

Governor-elect Murphy should set new course on the environment

ARCHIVE

December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011

CLICK FOR RECENT POSTS



     coupon     
WITH THIS COUPON
Snipes Farm Camp Programs for children ages 5-12 and the Camp Leadership Program for youth ages 13-15 connect kids to nature, a working farm and friends. The Early Bird discount of 8% runs until February 20th, 4% until April 1st with other discounts available.
Snipes Farm and Education Center
890 West Bridge Street
Morrisville, PA 19067
215-295-1138
https://www.snipesfarm.org/?utm_source=communities-alive&utm_medium=camp-ad&utm_campaign=communities-alive-general
Coupons may not be combined.
Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.
Expires: 04/01/24
Printed online at DoylestownAlive.com.

-Print Coupon

© BucksCountyAlive.com - Mikula Web Solutions. All rights reserved.
Redistribution of coupons in printed or electronic form is prohibited.