Morristown National Historical Park - Washington's Headquarters

After we left Hopewell Furnace we headed north.  We weren't completely sure of the route we were going to take, all we knew for sure was that we didn't want to drive through New York City due to the traffic.  The question was which bridge over the Hudson we would take.  We were heading north along Interstate 287 when we saw a sign for Morristown National Historical Park.  We'd been hoping that we'd make it to Connecticut in enough time to visit Weir Farm National Historic Site, the only national park in the state, but we'd come to realize that we'd never make it in time.  Therefore we decided to take the next exit off of the interstate and circle back around to Washington's Headquarters Museum.  We didn't plan this stop, but it turned out to be a fun one, and a welcome break during a rainy afternoon.  We didn't get to tour the headquarters, but we did visit the museum building.  The building was first completed in 1937 and was inspired by the design of Mount Vernon.  It has been expanded twice since it originally opened and "includes an auditorium, museum store, research library, curatorial storage and administrative offices."

Of course the first thing we discovered was that there was plenty more to see at Morristown and I was said we wouldn't have time to see it this trip.

The gift shop had a rather large Hamilton section, which I believe is directly attributable to the recent popularity of the Hamilton musical and the fact that Hamilton spent time at Morristown during the Revolution.

Morristown's connections to the American Revolution and George Washington were recognized and commemorated years after the war.  The Washington Association of New Jersey donated the Ford Mansion and the extensive collection of muskets, cannons, swords, paintings, maps, books, and documents on display here to Morristown National Historical Park.  Through these artifacts and manuscripts, you can hear the voices of the people of the American Revolution and appreciate the sacrifices made by people in New Jersey and other colonies in the cause liberty.
--from exhibit signage

Of course the exhibits started off with a cannon, because what would a Revolutionary War site be without a cannon?  ;-)

The first of the two Georges, King George III of Great Britain.

We had seen something of George Washington's earlier exploits during our first stop of the trip at Fort Necessity, though it was a much more mature and experienced Washington on display here.

The battlefields in New Jersey were very important to the Revolution.  As the colony was located between the major cities of Philadelphia and New York City controlling the area was vital to both sides in the conflict.  According to the signs "[t]he role of the artillery in these battles, and those to come, can not be underestimated.  Revolutionary field guns, especially those that were captured, gave the Continental Army both tactical and psychological advantages over their opponents."

Later on in the trip we stopped by Saratoga National Historic Site.

After a while we headed downstairs and discovered the Discovery History Center.  This area was highly interactive

This display encouraged people to learn more about the pillars that supported Washington's efforts during the war.

First you see the various titles.

Then you can learn about the people that fulfilled these roles.

At this display you could open the red doors in the upper portion and see more about the tasks involved in organizing the military.  Then if you opened a corresponding drawer below you could see one or more related artifacts.

This replicated hut showed what winter life would have been like for many in the army.

This display featured a game and a neat way to keep the game pieces (two dice) contained so that they were accessible for all visitors.

How would you like to camp through a winter that saw twenty-seven snowstorms?

Even more interactive elements were visible here, ranging from answers that were hidden under lids to clothes that could be tried on to a display explaining the different activities performed by soldiers throughout their day.

This display graphically explained the diminishing value of a continental dollar as the war went on.  In 1775 it could purchase 100 bushels of corn, but by 1780 was worth only 2.5 bushels!

Back upstairs we visited the last gallery and saw an exhibit about American Style.
In early America, wealthy households imported most of their clothing, fine china, glassware, furniture, and other household goods from England.  The American Revolution changed the economy as well as the government and ushered in uniquely American forms of gentility that provided opportunities for upward mobility and higher standards of living.
--from exhibit signage

Our time at this site served to whet our appetites for a future visit where we can explore more of the park.  All of the photos above and a few more can be found in this album.  After leaving the park we headed north around New York City and to our hotel in Connecticut.

~Matt

Fort Necessity National Battlefield - Part II

The battle of Fort Necessity was actually fought over several sites that are now preserved as a part of the National Battlefield.  After visiting the fort we visited three other locations.  The first place we went to was Mount Washington Tavern.

The Mount Washington Tavern was one of the many taverns located along the National Road, the first highway built by the Federal government. The tavern, constructed in the 1830s, was in operation during the heyday of the National Road. James and Rebecca Sampey and their family owned and operated this imposing brick and stone building. The Mount Washington Tavern catered to stagecoach clientele and was serviced by the Good Intent Stagecoach Line. This tavern owes its name to George Washington, who, as a young man, fought a battle nearby. He returned 15 years later to initiate the purchase of the land which he owned until his death in 1799.
--from Fort Necessity NB website (pdf file, all quotes below about tavern are from this document)

The bar room was described as being frequently mostly by men who gambled, smoked and talked.

 "Ladies did not frequent the barroom. Their reputations would have been tarnished if they had entered this setting."

The parlor was described as the finest room in the tavern where everyone could enjoy reading, conversation, and entertainment.

 In the dining room guests "were allowed to eat as much as they liked, but were often hurried as other coaches would be arriving with hungry travelers waiting for a hot and hearty meal. The price of a meal was about 25 cents in the mid 1800s."

Both of the older kids enjoyed looking into the kitchen.  I think they especially liked seeing the dolls under the window.

When we looked at the bedrooms upstairs I made sure to point out the chamber pots and to explain what they were used for.  "Spending the night in a tavern would not be one of the highlights of the trip.  Beds were shared with strangers and it was possible to have two or three bed mates during the niht.  Travlers would arise at all hours to get an early start on the road and another tired wayfarer could crawl in that vacant place in the bed."

This was a fascinating exhibit where uncovered graffiti was left exposed to view.  "During removal of non-historic wallpaper, graffiti from the tavern period was uncovered.  Several signatures and numeric equations were revealed.  One signature bears the date of July 28, 1839.  Speculation is these people were building tradesmen leaving their mark for posterity on the finished structure."

Outside the tavern were a few signs and exhibits, including one about the National Road, which later followed the trail that Washington and Braddock took into the area they considered wilderness.

After leaving the tavern we drove down the road to see Braddock's grave.

From the parking lot you walk down to the level of the old road before climbing back up to the tomb.

However, if you turn to the right at the bottom and walk down the path you'll find the spot where Braddock was first buried in the middle of the road.  The story is that he was buried there so the whole army could walk over the grave and obscure its location so that the French or their native allies wouldn't be able to find and dig up the body.

The current grave is a large monument erected in 1913.

The last location we visited was Jumonville Glen.  Sadly due to the rain we didn't get to walk all the way down the path, though I find it interested that the signage described a rainy night in 1754 when 22-year old George Washington scouted out the French camp in this area.

The whole trail was marked, but I'm not entirely sure how far down it we walked before we had to turn back to make sure we didn't get too wet.

We did see some ferns and mushrooms along the path.

But we did find a monument to "Washington's first battle" before we turned back.

All of these photos (and a number more) can be found in my Fort Necessity album.

~Matt

Fort Necessity National Battlefield - Part I

I had several weeks of vacation that I needed to use up before the end of the fiscal year, so in June we left on a big trip to the East Coast, up to Maine, and across to Niagara Falls.  I decided to maximize the number of national parks that we could visit along the route.

The first sited I wanted to see was one that we had passed years ago while on the way home from seeing Fort McHenry.  Driving through Pennsylvania we saw a sign for Fort Necessity, but had so many miles left to drive in the day that we couldn't justify a stop.  Ever since then it was on my list of sites I wanted to visit.  For this trip we drove through Ohio and Pennsylvania just so we could go by Fort Necessity.

The Opening Battle of a World War.  The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal of French power from North America. The stage was set for the American Revolution.
--from Fort Necessity NB website

I was quite anxious to enter the first National Park site of our three-week long trip.

 A number of exhibits inside the visitor center explain the causes and actions of the war.

As I think I've mentioned before I've always enjoyed models of historical events.
Who killed those cows and horses?

In their opening attack, the French targeted the Virginia Regiment's livestock first, to leave their enemy without food supplies or a quick get-away.
--from exhibit signage

 It was obvious where you were supposed to go to start touring the exhibits.  Straight ahead led to that area while a door to the right of this spot led to the walkway to the recreated fort.

Prelude to War.  Daybreak, May 28, 1754 - After slogging all night through a dense, rain-soaked forest, George Washington, his Indian guides, and 33 fellow British colonial fighters arrive at a narrow glen miles from Fort Necessity.  There, 35 French soldiers are rising from their camp.  The two sides are not at war.  But a battle is about to begin.
--from exhibit signage

These displays were about the various participants in the conflict with a drawing of a representative of the group, a written description, and an audio segment that you could listen to.

 After visiting many Revolutionary War sites in the National Park service it is strange to visit a site where the redcoats are the good guys, ;-).

The French and Indian War (or the Seven Years War) truly was a world war as the conflict raged from Europe, to America, to India, and beyond.

We headed outside after going through the exhibits and stopped by a playground area that included a couple of photo opportunities.  I think they were planning for at least one parent to take pictures because each display had at least one figure without a hole for you to put your face into.

 This wagon looked to be something fun for kids to play on, but it was wet after a recent rain so we didn't let the kids play too much as we didn't want to have to deal with drying them off.

 After leaving the playground we headed on the trail to the fort.  It was a nice asphalt trail that would have been easy to navigate with a stroller if we had been so inclined.

 The forest was very green and lush, especially because of the recent rain.

 After a while we came to a clearing that contained the recreated fort.

These signs around the edge of the clearing were very helpful as they indicated where the treeline had been in the 1750s

 After walking for a while further we got close to the fort.

Once you get this close to the fort you realize how small it is.  And yet several hundred men sheltered in a fortification this size and attempted to fight off the French assault.

 There was a small structure inside the fort.

After we left the fort we headed back to our car to drive to a couple other areas of the park.  I'll post about those next time as I think this post is long enough.

~Matt