Ongoing historical research on a variety of topics.
Views: 2,352“It’s the most extensive 250th Exhibit List we’ve seen for New Jersey.“ This free statewide exhibit list is open to all New Jersey organizers to share information about America’s 250th-anniversary exhibits happening across the Garden State. From local History… Read More »New Jersey and America’s 250th Exhibits
Views: 1,288Mr. Local History Jersey Ice Boat Time Machine SeriesJoin us as we look back at stories written about great ice yachts and those who made them iconic names in the sport. This 1898 story describes ice yachting as the… Read More »1898: ICE YACHTS: KING OF WINTER SPORTS
Views: 1,637In 1888, a fast and ambitious ice yacht named Rocket was built to race on the frozen reaches of the Navesink River at Red Bank, New Jersey. At a time when ice boating was one of winter’s great spectator… Read More »Historic Rocket Ice Yacht Reborn on the Navesink
Views: 7,552 Participating in the Olympics is a great accomplishment. Winning an Olympic medal is the pinnacle for some. With the 2026 Winter Olympics underway, who from New Jersey is going, and who has a chance to win or place?… Read More »New Jersey’s Historic Olympians – Who Shined in 2026?
Views: 4,486Although the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy and the Riverton Yacht Club are on opposite sides of New Jersey, both claim to have been founded in 1865. Published sources currently give the Riverton Yacht Club the bragging rights… Read More »New Jersey’s Oldest Yacht Club is RYC – But is it Riverton or Raritan?
Views: 2,111From early shore and lake recreation to organized racing, New Jersey’s sailboat culture grew out of everyday life on the water. While formal club racing began with the New York Yacht Club in Hoboken with John Cox Stevens, yachting… Read More »Sailing New Jersey- Yacht Clubs-Trophies- History
Views: 2,444If you asked most American sailors to name the most recognized burgee in the country, the answer is almost always the New York Yacht Club burgee. That recognition comes straight out of history. Founded in 1844, the New York… Read More »The New York Yacht Club Actually Started in New Jersey
Views: 1,626If you asked most American sailors to name the single most recognized burgee in the country, the answer is almost always the burgee of the New York Yacht Club. That recognition comes straight out of history. Founded in 1844,… Read More »The America’s Cup and a New Jersey Angle
Views: 1,549“It’s time the Garden State Honors the Legends & Super Heros of New Jersey Iceboating.” Based on numerous interviews and research about the history of New Jersey iceboating, we hope that our New Jersey Legends of Iceboating list of… Read More »New Jersey Iceboating Legends & Super Heros
Views: 4,922How exciting to announce that the cold is back and there’s ice on our lakes, rivers, and bays across New Jersey. In fact it’s so cold, we have to pray to the snow gods to slow down the delug… Read More »Iceboats Flock to New Jersey Ice Again – Historic Winter Times
Views: 1,204America’s 250th anniversary is not coming soon. It is already underway. Across the country and here in New Jersey, America 250 and NJ250 programs have begun the long, multi-year commemoration leading to 2026, inviting the public to engage with… Read More »Podcast Corner: Honoring Jersey & American History for the 250th Anniversary
Views: 3,200The Best of the Best We Don’t Kow Why – But We Keep Finding Great Jersey Food Stories To Write About
Views: 1,566On January 24, Westfield, New Jersey, hosted a special America250 edition of its popular community program Build Westfield in LEGO, bringing families and residents together for a creative celebration of local and national history. Held at Westfield High School,… Read More »Westfield Builds a Lego Town to Celebrate America’s 250th
Views: 2,749A Memory of a Class Field Trip to Philadephia We love Jersey history, but Philly is right next door. In 2026, the United States marks 250 years since independence was declared. That declaration did not happen in a museum… Read More »Where IS the Declaration of Independence? Where it Should Be
Views: 1,039For 5 years and more than 650 posts, Mr Local History has been telling the stories of Basking Ridge, the Somerset Hills, Somerset County, and eventually communities across New Jersey. What started local grew wider, but the goal stayed… Read More »Mr. Local History Research That Surprised Even Us
