Morristown National Historical Park At A Glance...
- The winter of 1779 to 1780 was the coldest on record, and the army came through it here.
- The park is four separate properties around Morristown - you cannot walk from one to another.
- The Washington's Headquarters Museum was designed in 1933 to resemble Mount Vernon.
- Fort Nonsense looks out toward New York City from the hill above town.
- Todays Sunrise: 6:54 am, Sunset: 6:39 pm
- New Jersey Skylands Region Morris County
About 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 encampment.
It is not one place. The park is four separate areas around Morristown, miles apart, and you cannot walk between them - which is the single most useful thing to know before setting out. Each has its own entrance, its own address and its own character:
Washington's Headquarters at the Ford Mansion, in Morristown itself, where Washington spent the Hard Winter. The Washington's Headquarters Museum sits alongside it and is where guided tours of the mansion begin.
Jockey Hollow, the encampment ground - woods, trails, the Wick farmhouse and replica soldier huts marking the Pennsylvania Brigade site. This is the outdoor half of the park.
Fort Nonsense, the site of an earthen fort on the hill above town, with a view toward New York City.
The New Jersey Brigade and Cross Estate Gardens area in Bernardsville, where the New Jersey Brigade camped in 1779 to 1780. The encampment site is preserved and the estate holds several gardens.
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Activities:
- Hiking
- Jogging / Running
- Picnicking
- Walking
Amenities:- Restrooms/Bathrooms
- Parking Lot(s)
- Gardens
- Monument
Trails:- Natural Surface (Dirt/Roots/Rocks)
Park Type:- Historic Area
Attractions:- Museum / Gallery
Contact / Location
Things to See & Do
Washington's Headquarters Museum holds the park's exhibits and its library collection. The building was designed in 1933 to resemble Washington's Mount Vernon.
The Ford Mansion can be seen by guided tour only. Tours start in the museum, and free passes are handed out at the information desk on a first come, first served basis - the park does not take reservations by phone or online, so arrive rather than book.
Jockey Hollow is where to go for the walking, the Wick House and the replica huts. It has its own visitor center and is covered by its own listing.
Fort Nonsense is a short stop rather than a destination - earthworks and a view toward New York.
The Cross Estate Gardens at the New Jersey Brigade area are worth the drive in season, and the encampment ground there is preserved.
Admission & Guidelines
Admission is free, and so are the Ford Mansion tour passes.
Park grounds are open daily, sunrise to sunset. Buildings open Thursday through Monday and are closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1.
Two practical warnings the Park Service gives directly, and both catch people out:
There are no public restrooms at the New Jersey Brigade or Cross Estate Gardens area.
There are no structures and no public restrooms at Fort Nonsense. Plan accordingly for both.
Hours / Season of Operation
Park grounds: open daily, sunrise to sunset, at all four areas.
Buildings and facilities: Thursday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1.
Washington's Headquarters Museum: Thursday to Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Ford Mansion: guided tour only, starting in the museum, Thursday to Monday. Contact the park on the day of your visit for the tour schedule and availability - times are not fixed.
Directions
The four areas have four different addresses, and satnav will happily send you to the wrong one. Decide which you are visiting before you set off:
Washington's Headquarters and the museum - 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ 07960.
Jockey Hollow - 586 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. The Park Service describes this as the approximate address of the entrance.
Fort Nonsense - 16 Chestnut Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, approximate address of the entrance.
New Jersey Brigade and Cross Estate Gardens - 61 Jockey Hollow Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924. Note the town: this one is not in Morristown.
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Nearby Places
- Morristown National Historical Park (~0 miles)
- Frelinghuysen Arboretum (~1 miles)
- Historic Speedwell (~1 miles)
- Mennen Sport Arena (~1 miles)
- Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (~2 miles)
- Morris Plains Community Park And Community Center (~3 miles)
- Whippany Railway Museum (~3 miles)
- Greystone Woods Disc Golf Course (~3 miles)
- Lewis Morris County Park (~4 miles)
- Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms (~4 miles)
- Jockey Hollow (~5 miles)
- Pelican Sport Center (Morris Plains) (~5 miles)
Morristown, New Jersey 07960