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Colonial
life is alive in New Jersey
One
of the original thirteen English colonies in North
America that formed the basis of the United States,
New Jersey has a rich and intriguing colonial
history.
Before
the arrival of the Europeans, the Lenape Indians
occupied the land between the Hudson and the Delaware.
Early in the 1600s, both Holland and Sweden claimed
the land. In 1664 the English swept aside these
other claims and established a colony they named
New Jersey, which remained under the rule of the
English Crown for the next 112 years.
The
New Jersey colony was remarkably diverse, with
peoples from England, Scotland, Holland, Sweden
and Africa. There were many different religious
persuasions, including Dutch Reformed, Quakers,
Presbyterians, Church of England, Catholics, and
Lutherans. This remarkable diversity has continued
to characterize New Jersey in the centuries since
the end of the colonial era in 1776.
Experience
New Jersey’s colorful history. Visit historic
homes, churches and other places throughout the
state for a taste of the period preceding the
American Revolution.
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3
Front Street, Hancock's Bridge, NJ 08038
(856) 935-4373
Judge
William Hancock built this brick house in
1734. A notable feature is the decorative
patterned brickwork on the end wall of the
house.
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PO
Box 496, Kingston, NJ 08528
(609) 683-7132
www.rockingham.net
In
1783, while the Continental Congress was
meeting at Nassau Hall in nearby Princeton,
Congress rented Rockingham from the widow
of Judge John Berrien for use by General
George Washington from August 23 to November
10, 1783. Martha Washington joined him at
Rockingham.
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1209
Main Street, River Edge, NJ 07661
(201) 487-1739
In
1783, the Steuben House was presented to
Baron Von Steuben in gratitude for his assistance
to the colonies during the Revolutionary
War. The house contains a fine collection
of colonial and early New Jersey furnishings
owned by the Bergen County Historical Society.
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71
Somerset Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 725-1015
The
Wallace House was completed in 1776 as Hope
Farm for John Wallace, a successful Philadelphia
merchant. General Washington leased the
house for use as his headquarters during
the Middlebrook Winter Encampment, December
11, 1778, to June 3, 1779. The house is
one of the best and most original examples
of Georgian architecture in New Jersey.
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Sandy
Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area,
National Park Service Park
Open All Year sunrise to sunset.
Sandy Hook Visitor Center daily 10 am --
5 pm.
Phone (732) 872-5970
www.nps.gov/gate
Sandy
Hook Lighthouse was constructed in 1764
in response to a petition by a group of
New York merchants to the Colonial Assembly
of New York in 1761 after the occurrence
of several shipwrecks on the invisible and
dangerous sandbars surround the hook. It
has continued to serve as an aid to navigation
since then. The lighthouse was restored
in spring 2000. The Lighthouse is open for
tours by volunteers of the NJ Lighthouse
Society on weekends, 12 noon to 4 pm from
April through December. Lighthouse tours
are also offered daily in July and August,
2004, 12 noon to 4 p.m. through a grant
from the Sandy Hook Foundation.
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Exhibits
and Facilities: Visitor Center is in
the historic 1894 Spermaceti Cove Life-Saving
Station. Exhibits on the natural history
of the area, and exhibits on the history
of the U.S. Life Saving Service (later became
the US Coast Guard.) Bookstore, restrooms
and visitor information. |
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