Throughout the long years of the American Revolution (1776-1783), no state contributed as much to the fight for Independence as New Jersey.
Following his famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Night, 1776, General George Washington went on to win the key battles of Trenton and Princeton in “Ten Crucial Days” that saved the Revolution. It was at Monmouth in June of 1778 that the Continental Army outlasted the British in the longest, hottest battle of the war. Through the hard winter of 1779-80 at Morristown, Washington’s army survived the coldest, longest winter of the century. And in 1783, when news arrived that the Treaty of Paris had been signed and independence was won, it was delivered to the Continental Congress, then seated in Nassau Hall in Princeton.
The Garden State truly has an unparalleled Revolutionary history to tell, and the nation’s 250th birthday provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do just that. It’s time to remind New Jerseyans of this heritage and encourage people from around the world to visit and learn more about it. To get ready, a partnership was created in 2018 between the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution, Inc. to plan the commemoration of this landmark anniversary in New Jersey. This official state commemoration is called RevolutionNJ.
RevolutionNJ has been working to advance the role that history plays in public discourse, community engagement, education, tourism, and scholarship in New Jersey. Through a series of initiatives that explore the history of the American Revolution, its context, and its legacy, RevolutionNJ is galvanizing diverse audiences statewide into embracing the enduring value and relevance of history.
RevolutionNJ has developed signature programming that includes: “Tavern Talks,” where participants engage with historical reenactors at microbreweries around the state; a “RevNJ Race Series” of 5K runs and fun walks at historic sites; “Revolutionary Lives,” a traveling exhibition exploring the lives of everyday people who experienced the Revolution; “History Pinned,” in which participants visit museums to collect pins and win a prize; “Revolutionary Acts,” a new performance series created in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Monument Lab; the “Garden State Roots” podcast; and the “Liberty Trail NJ App” that guides visitors through pivotal historic sites around the state.
Working with the New Jersey Department of Education, RevolutionNJ has also created “Revolutionary Schools,” which is enriching K-12 social studies instruction by integrating local history, civic engagement, and hands-on learning.