America’s First Historic National Park
Morristown National Historical Park Marks 90th Anniversary
Congratulations to the Morristown National Historical Park and your 90th anniversary. The park was the first national historical park in the country, deemed so by law on March 2, 1933, when then-President Herbert Hoover – on his last day in office – signed the act making it so. As the nation’s first national historical park, said Park Superintendent Thomas Ross, “we paved the way for 62 other national historical parks in the last 90 years,” making the system “the greatest park system in the world.”
Situated on 1,676 acres, including a three-mile tour road, 24 miles of hiking trails, a visitor center, an 18th-century farm, and several reconstructed soldier huts, tours, special events, and re-enactments are held throughout the year. The park came to be after a 1932 report by the National Park Service that recommended the Jockey Hollow site be made a “federal historical reserve.” Two sites were recommended: Jockey Hollow and the Ford Mansion. However, a local civic and business leaders conference drafted a bill for a national historical park. The bill was later signed by Hoover on March 2, 1933, the day before Franklin Roosevelt succeeded him as president.
History
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment of December 1779 to June 1780, where they survived through what would be the coldest winter on record.
Washington twice chose Morristown due to its strategic location, including proximity to New York City, defensible terrain, important communication routes, access to critical resources, and a supportive community.
The park encompasses ground occupied by the army during the vast 1779-80 encampment and the site of the fortification from the 1777 encampment. The Ford Mansion, where Washington made his headquarters, is an important feature of the park and recalls civilian contributions to winning independence.
Jockey Hollow is the name for an area in southern Morris County, New Jersey, farmed in the 18th century by the Wick, Guerin, and Kemble families. The origin of the name is still uncertain, but we’ll keep digging. Jockey Hollow is now a 1,200-acre section of the larger Morristown National Historical Park and contains the Wick House/Farm and the welcome center.
True Fact: Strange that there is no definition for the origins of the name Jockey Hollow.
Mr. Local History
If you visit, walk to the top of the hill in Jockey Hollow that held 200 soldier huts for the Pennsylvania Brigade in early 1780. The Jockey Hollow Encampment was home to 12,000 soldiers. The enlisted huts housed 12 men and were laid out in rows of 8 and 3-4 rows deep. The winter was fierce and claimed the lives of about 100 soldiers. The officer’s huts were larger and housed 1-4 officers, depending on their specific rank. Washington set up his residence at the Ford Mansion, about 5 miles away.
The Ford Mansion at Morristown
The Ford Mansion at Morristown National Historical Park is where General George Washington stayed during the Continental Army’s encampment at Morristown during the winter of 1779-80. The mansion was built by industrialist Jacob Ford between 1772 and 1774. A colonel in the Morris County Militia, Ford died in 1777 of pneumonia that he caught while on duty, so by the time the winter of 1779 rolled around, his widow, Theodosia, owned the house. She allowed George and Martha Washington to stay at the house during the Continental Army’s winter encampment at Morristown from December 1779 until early June 1780.
Stop In for a Visit
Plenty of events are scheduled throughout 2023 to honor the history of the Park and area. History is now an economic tool as well. State Sen. Tony Bucco, R-Morris, said the park had become “an economic engine that spurs tourism. People travel to the country to visit the first National Historic Park at Morristown. But the park doesn’t go it alone. Park partners, including the Washington Association of New Jersey, the non-profit Friends of Jockey Hollow, the town of Morristown, and private donors for their participation, in their roles in helping keep the history alive. The Washington Association donated the Ford Mansion to the National Park Service. Morristown contributed Fort Nonsense.
New Highway Signage
For those who live in the area, it was nice to see new “brown history” signage on Route 287 directing people to Washington Headquarters and the nearby National Park.
Related Mr. Local History Stories
Morristown: Where America Survived
Released in 2009, the program Morristown: Where America Survived is a fantastic look back at what happened at the historic park. It’s about 30 minutes so sit back and enjoy.
