Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winter on record. The park also maintains a museum and library collection related to the encampments and to George Washington, as well as items from both pre- and post-Revolutionary America.

Riding guide

Park map

Trails

No trails synced for this park yet.

Campgrounds

No campgrounds listed for this park.

Points of interest

• Bettin Oak Monument

  POI

  Local tradition claimed Capt. Bettin, killed during the Pennsylvania Line mutiny in 1781, was buried near a black oak tree which became known as the “Bettin Oak.”

• Cross Estate Water Tower

  POI

  The stone water tower looms over the Cross Estate. It was used to pressure water through the plumbing of the house. Though the tower was rendered obsolete by an electric motor, the tower itself is still a monument to a bygone time.

• Fort Nonsense

  POI

  Originally referred to as “the Hill” or “Kinney’s Hill,” Fort Nonsense commanded the heights of Morristown. The function of the Fort was as an observation and alarm post, and a place of retreat for guards stationed in the town. The British never made an attack on Morristown, however, and the fortified hilltop was never used. It was common for a small fortification such as Fort Nonsense to be built for the protection of military encampments and strategic military depots.

• Fort Nonsense Beacon

  POI

  The supposed former site of a signal beacon on a prominent hill in Morristown, NJ.

• Fort Nonsense Marker

  POI

  This stone marker was placed here in 1888 by the Washington Association of New Jersey to mark the site of Fort Nonsense.

• George Washington Equestrian Statue - Morristown

  POI

  The statue of George Washington sits just across the street from the private home he used as his headquarters for an uncommonly hard winter during the Revolutionary War.

• Grand Parade

  POI

  The Continental Army used the Grand Parade ground for a variety of purposes, including troop assemblies, reading of general orders, and inspections.

• Guerin House

  POI

  Historic home of Joshua Guerin, blacksmith and member of the state militia, located near the winter encampment of the Continental Army in Jockey Hollow near Morristown, New Jersey.

• Jockey Hollow Cemetery Monument

  POI

  This historic marker describes a cemetery for soldiers in Jockey Hollow. Recent scholarship suggests that such a cemetery was unlikely to exist according to common military practice at the time.

• Morris Aqueduct Company Vault

  POI

  This brick vault was part of a series of ponds, trenches, and vaults owned and operated by the Morris Aqueduct Company, in order to bring fresh clean water from the hills to their subscribers in Morristown.

• Morristown Life Guard Marker

  POI

  This simple marker denotes where the log huts of George Washington's Life Guard once stood during the Continental Army's use of Morristown as a military headquarters and encampment site. Washington's quarters, the Ford Mansion, stands today across the street.

• New Jersey Brigade - Hut Ruins

  POI

  This site marks the expected location of the New Jersey Brigade's hutting and encampment site during the Continental Army's winter quarters in 1779 and 1780. Little remains of the huts apart from conspicuous piles of stones and the possible remnants of soldiers' trash pits.

• Path to Victory Wayside

  POI

  This wayside marks that the French army under Rochambeau passed through Morristown - and many other sites - along with the American army on their way to and from the climactic siege of Yorktown.

• Pennsylvania Line Huts

  POI

  These reproduction soldier huts show the living conditions of the Continental Army soldiers encamped in Jockey Hollow during the Revolutionary War.

• Stark's Brigade

  POI

  This historical marker sits on a slope away from the center of the Jockey Hollow encampment. It denotes the presence of Stark's Brigade, of the Continental Army, here during the 1779 Hard Winter encampment.

• Wick Farm House

  POI

  Henry Wick built this Cape Cod Style house around 1750. His 1,400 acre farm, most of which was covered by forest, made him the largest landowner in Morristown. During the winter of 1779-1780 the Continental army encamped on Mr. Wick's property, constructing log huts to endure the worst winter in living memory. The Wick family hosted General St. Clair in their home during this time.

Things to do

• Drop By Fort Nonsense in Morristown

  Fort Nonsense, located in downtown Morristown, is often overlooked by park visitors, but since this small piece of the park boasts one of the best views in the area. It’s also the only officially designated picnic areas of the park. Drop by Fort Nonsense for a picnic and take in the views of the Morristown and the Watchung Mountains. If you look hard enough, on a clear day you just might see Freedom Tower (World Trade Center 1) in New York City peeking up from the horizon.

  Duration: 15-30 Minutes

• Experience Jockey Hollow

  Come explore Jockey Hollow! Check out the Visitor Center, drive, walk, or bike the 3-mile tour road loop, or hike some of the over 27 miles of hiking trails.

• Explore the Cross Estate Gardens and Hike to the NJ Brigade Encampment Site

  You can go in any order once you arrive at the New Jersey Brigade Encampment Area and Cross Estate Gardens. The hike is approx. 1 mile to reach the encampment site (note: it is downhill going out, uphill coming back).

• Go on a Guided Tour of the Ford Mansion

  The Ford Mansion can be seen by guided tour only so take advantage of the opportunity when you can! Explore the home that George Washington made his headquarters during the winter encampment of 1779-1780. Discover how the Ford family adjusted to the changes to their household during what would become the coldest winter in recorded U.S. history.

  Duration: 45 Minutes

• Visit Washingtons Headquarters Museum in Morristown NJ

  The museum is a free of charge, self guided tour.

Visitor centers

• Jockey Hollow Visitor Center

  This one story brick and glass structure came to the park during the preparations for the Bicentennial. Inside, visitors will find an information desk, bookstore, a painted mural depicting Jockey Hollow during the 1779 encampment, and a full scale replica of the log huts Continental Soldiers lived in. Guided tours of the nearby Wick Farm House usually begin here. The restrooms can be accessed from the exterior doors, and remain open after the visitor center closes.

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• Washington's Headquarters Museum

  Built by the National Park Service in the 1930s, the Washington's Headquarters Museum contains numerous artifacts about the American Revolution. There are three galleries, an auditorium, a theater, and the Discover History Center. The museum often hosts special exhibits and programs. Situated just behind the historic Ford Mansion that served as Washington's headquarters for six months, guided tours of the home begin in the museum as well.

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Directions

Morristown National Historical Park is easiest to see by car. There are four different sites throughout the greater Morristown area. Washington's Headquarters Museum / Ford Mansion and Fort Nonsense are located in Morristown. The Jockey Hollow unit with its visitor center and historic Wick House; and the New Jersey Brigade Area are both about 6 miles south of Morristown, Detailed directions can be found on the park website.