The following information is subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm.
Alphabetical Listing: | | | | | | | | |R | |
History Made in New Jersey and Morris County
Some of New Jersey’s mort important history was made in Morris County, and in particular Morristown. Morristown is home to Morristown Historical National Park and other significant sites.
The Crossroads of the American Revolution includes 15 counties of New Jersey and refers to an area that was a strategically important area of the American Revolution.
Washington’s troops experienced two harsh winter encampments in Morristown – the first of which began in January of 1778. In 1779 General George Washington returned to Morristown with 10,400 men. This winter was the coldest winter in 100 years with snow as deep as six feet deep. The troops were housed in log cabins at Jockey Hollow – today part of the Morristown National Historic Park. Visitors can visit replicas of the soldiers’ huts and even watch a brief movie about the soldiers’ experience during that harsh winter.
There are numerous historical sites in Morris County New Jersey. Morris County is a great place to start if you want to learn about New Jersey history. Bring the kids, school groups, and kids clubs – there are plenty of things to do for kids!
Click on the link for information on the New Jersey Historical Society.
Click on the link for a list of National Register Historical Sites
A  Acorn Hall...
is the headquarters of the Morris County Historical Society, was built as a private residence in 1853 and expanded and remodeled in 1860 in the fashionable Italianate Villa style, complete with an unusual octagonal tower. The house, now a museum, is decorated largely with original furnishings, carpeting and wall coverings from the two families who lived there between 1853 and 1971. The museum’s exhibit gallery hosts special exhibits on local history or nineteenth century life; these change throughout the year. Acorn Hall also boasts a fine garden and an appealing gift shop. Guided tours of the house are offered and include exhibits. Acorn Hall is also part of the Women’s History Trail.
Hours of Operation: Monday and Thursday: 10 – 4
Sunday: 1 – 4
Group tours by appointment
Location: 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown
Telephone: 973-267-3465
www.acornhall.org
B Boonton Historical Society & Museum...
located in the 1868 Dr. John Taylor House, was founded to preserve and display Boonton’s history. The museum has permanent and changing exhibits about the history, arts, and people of Boonton as well as a gift shop. The society also provides walking tours and evening programs.
Hours of Operation: Saturday: 1 – 4
Location: 210 Main Street, Boonton
Telephone: 973-402-8840
www.boonton.org
Butler Museum...
established in 1976, is located in the historic 1889 NYS&W Railroad Station. Among the collections are military items and uniforms, American Hard Rubber Industry artifacts, Butler HS yearbooks from 1918, old newspapers on microfilm, a major postcard collection and Statue of Liberty artifacts. Handicapped Accessible.
Hours of Operation: Saturday: 10 – 2, Call for Special Appointments.
Location: New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad Station, Upper Main Street, Butler
Mailing Address: One Ace Road, Butler, NJ
Telephone: 973-838-7222
www.butlermuseumnj.org
C Community Children’s Museum...
is a hands on museum for children featuring a full size replica of Van Gogh’s bedroom painting where you can sit on his bed and touch the textured walls and an Art Studio to create works in clay. Learn about electricity without the shock and be an astronaut in John Glenn’s space capsule or be an actor in the theater. Explore three different countries in the Homes Around the World exhibit. Great for birthday parties.
Entrance Fee: $5 for 6 months and older.
Hours of Operation: Thursday – Saturday: 10 – 5; Sunday
12 - 5 Groups and birthday parties by appointment any time
Location: 77 E. Blackwell St., Dover
Telephone: 973-366-9060
www.communitychildrensmuseum.org
Cooper Mill
Originally built by Nathan Cooper in 1826, the Mill and adjacent visitors center has been carefully restored to provide visitors with an opportunity to rediscover the roots and heritage of the region, while witnessing the amazing power of the Black River, harnessed to grind grain into flour by massive 2,000-pound millstones.
Hours of Operation: July – August
Wednesday – Friday: 10-3:45
Saturday: 10 – 4:45
Sunday: 12 – 4:45
May – June, September – October:
Saturday, 10 – 3:45
Sunday, 12 – 3:45
Location: 66 Route 24, Chester
Telephone: 908-879-5463
www.morrisparks.net
F Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
This is where the spirit of life at the turn of the 20th century is evoked through weekly activities presented on the farm, Farmhouse and The Willows. Staff dressed in appropriate period attire interprets the lives and roles of farm laborers, domestic workers, Foster family members and friends. They perform a daily regimen of farming, and domestic chores. They also raise livestock and crops by historical methods.
Hours of Operation: April – October
Wednesday – Saturday: 10 – 5
Sunday 12–5
Location: 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown
Telephone: 973-326-7645
www.morrisparks.net
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
The 127-acre grounds of the Arboretum feature a number of stunning theme gardens, including shade, cottage, perennial, rock and vegetable gardens, as well as specialized collections of shrubs and trees. In addition, visitors can stop in at the Haggerty Education Center, which hosts a number of shows and events and art exhibits & a year-round calendar of programs for gardeners of all ages and skill levels, the Carriage House, and the charming Cottage Gift Shop.
Hours of Operation:Grounds:
Monday through Sunday 8 – dusk
Education Center: Monday through Sunday 9–4:30
Location: 53 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown
Telephone: 973-326-7600
www.arboretumfriends.org www.morrisparks.net
H
Historic Speedwell...
brings the birth of the American Industrial Revolution to vivid life. This National Historic Landmark site is comprised of eight historic structures. Among these are the home of Stephen Vail, proprietor of the Speedwell Ironworks, restored to the period of 1844-1864, and the Factory Building where Samuel F.B. Morse and Alfred Vail first publicly displayed the telegraph. Exhibits illustrate the history of the Ironworks and Stephen Vail's connection to the S.S. Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, and a museum store.
Hours of Operation: April – October,
Wednesday – Saturday 10 – 5
Sunday 12–5 333
Location: 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown
Telephone: 973-540-0211
www.morrisparks.net
M
Macculloch Hall and Gardens
A 20-room Federal-style mansion was built in 1810 by George Macculloch, known as the Father of the Morris Canal. Ten period rooms display 18th and 19th century furnishings, while four galleries offer changing exhibits year-round. There is also an impressive collection of prints and drawings by Thomas Nast, the famous political cartoonist who had once been a neighbor of Macculloch Hall.
Hours of Operation: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday
1 - 4
Location: 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown
Telephone: 973-538-2404
www.maccullochhall.org
Mead Hall...
completed in 1836, Mead Hall has been called the finest example of Greek revival architecture north of the Mason–Dixon Line. It was owned for several years by William Gibbons, and then sold to Daniel Drew in 1867. The building became the center of the Drew Theological Seminary in the same year and was renamed for Roxanna Mead, Drew’s wife. Having served as the seminary’s home until 1900, Mead Hall currently houses small classrooms and the offices of Drew University administrators including the president and provost. Guided tours for small groups can be arranged as the building’s availability permits.
Hours of Operation: Tours available by appointment only
Location: Campus of Drew University, Route 24, Madison
Telephone: 973 408-3646 or 973-408-3201
Morris Museum..
which includes the gracious Georgian-style Frelinghuysen Mansion, designed by Stanford White, features galleries for both permanent and changing exhibitions which explore the arts, sciences and humanities. Among the Museum's permanent collections are fine and decorative arts, costumes and textiles, dolls and toys and the new Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of music boxes, automatic musical instruments and mechanically activated figures dating from the late 16th century to the early 20th century.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 5
Sunday 1 – 5
Thursday 10 – 8
Location: 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown
Telephone: 973-971-3700
www.morrismuseum.org
The Morris Plains Museum
preserves Morris Plains’ history by keeping a collection of artifacts, records and documents. The museum features permanent and changing exhibits. (Sat 10-2) 51 Jim Fear Drive, P.O. Box 231, Morris Plains 973-683-1089
Hours of Operation: Saturday 10 – 2
Location: 51 Jim Fear Drive, Morris Plains
Telephone: 973-683-1089
Morristown National Historical Park
Established in 1933 as the nation's first "National Historical Park," consists of four non-contiguous units, Jockey Hollow, Fort Nonsense,Jersey Brigade and The Ford Mansion that served as George Washington's military headquarters during his troops' harsh winter encampments in Morristown.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9 – 5
Location: Washington Place, Morristown
Telephone: 973-539-2016
www.nps.gov/morr
The New Morristown and Morris Township Public Library
The library provides residents of the town and township with current reading materials and programs. Built in 1917 in the Gothic Revival style, with building additions in 1986 and 2007, the library disseminates state and local documents, archives New Jersey history sources, has extensive genealogical resources, a children’s library, and is home to the Thomas Nast Society.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m./Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m /
Saturday (July/August) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m./Sunday 1 p.m.
to 5 p.m.
Location: 1 Miller Road, Morristown
Telephone: (973)538-6161
www.jfpl.org
Mt. Hope Historical Park
Known as one of the earliest mining areas in Colonial America. Features include guided nature hikes, hiking trails, self-guided tours and interpretive/nature trails. Remains of mining still exist in the southwestern section of the park.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8–dusk
Location: Teabo Road, Rockaway
Telephone: 973-829-8666
www.morrisparks.net
Mt. Tabor Historical Society
The Mount Tabor Historical Society restores and preserves the history of New Jersey’s first “camp
meeting” site. Founded in 1869 as a Methodist camp meeting site, a tent community was set
up each summer for ten days. Eventually a summer resort and then a year-round residential
community was established at Mt. Tabor. Each fall the society sponsors an historic house tour to raise
funds for continued preservation and educational programming.
Hours of Operation: Sunday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Also by appointment
Location: 31 Simpson Avenue, Mt. Tabor
Telephone: (973) 586-1564
www.mounttabornj.org
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts
explores 18th and 19th century American history, with a focus on New Jersey. Housed in the beautiful 1900 James Library and drawing on its collection of over 8,000 artifacts, METC offers something for visitors of all ages including a Museum Shop.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 4
Sunday 12 – 5
Location: 9 Main Street, Madison
Telephone: 973-377-2982 extension:10
www.metc.org
O
Obadiah LaTourette Grist and Saw Mill
Obadiah LaTourette Grist and Saw Mill, Built in 1750 by Philip Weise, the mill is currently being restored by the Washington Township Land Trust.
Hours of Operation: Most Saturdays 10 – 2
or by appointment.
Location:12 East Mill Road (Rt. 513), Long Valley
Telephone: 908-876-4478 or 908-876-5986
www.washtwpmorris.org/stone/historic/grist.html
R
Ralston Cider Mill...
experience the last authentic vestige of the once thriving cider and applejack industry in New Jersey.
Location: 336 Mendham Road West, Mendham
www.ralstoncidermill.org
S
Schuyler-Hamilton House
This colonial home of Dr. Jabez Campfield, was used by General Washington's personal physician, Dr. John Cochrane. Washington’s aide, Colonel Alexander Hamilton courted house guest Betsy Schuyler here. The home is now owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Hours of Operation: Sunday 2 -4
Location: 5 Olyphant Place, Morristown
Telephone: 973-539-7502
www.rootsweb.com/~njmcdar
The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
Craftsman Farms is the only house Gustav Stickley, the foremost spokesman for the American Arts and Crafts Movement, designed and built for himself. Stickley, known for his Mission furniture, revolutionized American decorative arts.
Hours of Operation: April – November 15th
Wednesday – Friday 12 – 3
Saturday – Sunday 11 – 4
Location: 2352 Rt. 10 West at Manor Lane, Morris Plains
Telephone: 973-540-1165
www.stickleymuseum.org
W
Whippany Railway Museum
Contains exhibits related to railroad memorabilia and features full-size historical railroad equipment and rolling stock.
Hours of Operation: April–October, Sunday 12 – 4
Location: Rt. 10 W & Whippany Rd., Whippany
Telephone: 973-887-8177
www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net
|
