Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Morristown National Historical Park adventure.
Morristown isn't as famous as Valley Forge. Yet this park was an important place during the American Revolution. George Washington's Continental Army spent six months here. The unit drilled, marched and simply tried to stay warm. It was the coldest winter on record.
Soldiers faced starvation, hunger, skimpy clothes, and deadly cold. A lack of supplies hindered relief efforts. Even so, this army was expected to defend the colonies from British attack after temperatures thawed. It was an impossible mission, or so it seemed.
Ford Mansion served as Washington's military headquarters during the winter encampment. Take a tour of this beautiful place. Much of the furnishings and decorations look much as they did in the 1770s and 1780s. The mansion shows you what Colonial life was like in this part of the country. Exhibits highlight the history of Washington's leadership as he kept his wintering troops together no matter what. Without Washington, the troops might have disbanded and given up.
Wick House at Jockey Hollow was Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair's headquarters. Like the mansion, it's beautifully restored to its original grandeur. The grounds of Jockey Hollow feature 27 miles of walking trails and a visitor's center. Museum exhibits showcase what a typical soldier's camp looked like.
Costumed re-enactors make you feel as if you're back in 1780. Summertime is a good time to visit in terms of camping. However, winter truly gives you a feel for what the Continental Army endured for six bitterly cold months.
Historic Morristown sits in the middle of New Jersey's urban sprawl. Campsites offer a respite from the hectic streets of what's basically a suburb of New York City.