What Is Morristown National Historical Park?
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the Continental Army’s coldest and most desperate winter camp during the American Revolution!
What Makes It Historical?
George Washington liked Morristown a lot! With the Watchung Mountains and Great Swamp lying between him and the British, he decided this would make a perfect winter camp for his soldiers. He set up a fortification on a nearby hill in 1777 to keep watch over Morristown until he returned. When he did, in November 1778, he brought 2,000 soldiers and settled them onto Henry Wick’s 1400-acre farm. There, they cut down 600 acres of trees and built cabins to pass what turned out to be the coldest winter on record!
No fewer than 20 major snowstorms slammed their encampment in December alone! That not only brought in the cold, but also cut off crucial supply lines, leaving most of the soldiers without sufficient food or clothes! Smallpox also struck, and General Washington had to resort to giving everyone the still-experimental smallpox vaccine, which ended up saving the day!
Two mutinies happened here in May 1780 and January 1781 but were both snuffed by commanding officers. The rest of the soldiers had stuck it out through terrible conditions and were, at last, ready to take on the British with new ferocity. Their first engagement took place on June 23 at Springfield, and they turned the British back! From there, the Continental Army was back on the move, and the Morristown camp was deserted!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Morristown National Historical Park!
- Donate to Morristown National Historical Park!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
There are four units in America’s first national historical park:
Washington’s Headquarters
- 30 Washington Pl
Morristown, NJ 07960
Fort Nonsense
- 300 ft south of the intersection of Chestnut and Ann Streets
Morristown, NJ 07960
Jockey Hollow
- 586 Tempe Wick Road
Morristown NJ 07960
Jersey Brigade Encampment and Cross Estate
- 61 Jockey Hollow Rd
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
When Should I Visit the Park?
Hours vary seasonally, but the grounds are always at least open from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM! The visitor center and Washington’s Headquarters Museum are open from 9:30 AM until 5:00 PM!
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