Washington Association of New Jersey
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The Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) was founded to acquire and preserve Washington’s Headquarters at the Jacob Ford Mansion. The New Jersey legislature chartered it in 1874. It also serves as the not-for-profit advisory and fundraising body for the Morristown National Historical Park (MNHP). The main structure in the park is the Jacob Ford Mansion, where Washington headquartered in the winter of 1779-1780.
In 1933, the WANJ conveyed the headquarters, Jockey Hollow and Fort Nonsense to the federal government, and Congress established the MNHP as the country’s first national historical park. John Russell Pope (architect of the National Gallery of Art and the Jefferson Memorial) was commissioned to design a museum building, which was erected in 1935. The Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) is one of the oldest historic preservation organizations in the nation.
Washington Association of NJ Objectives
- To act with the National Park Service in the preservation of the property known as Washington’s Headquarters. This property is located in Morristown, as a memorial to George Washington, and commemorative of his associate officers. It is also commemorative of the heroism and fortitude with which the Continental Troops withstood the severe hardships and suffering. Specifically, of the winters of 1777 and 1779-1780 while encamped in and about Morristown
- To engage and assist in the collection and preservation of the following things connected with the Revolutionary War:
- papers
- documents
- paintings
- relics
- books
- objects of interest
- To engage in such other activities as may be deemed desirable and proper for the purpose of perpetuating the memory of George Washington and those who were associated with him in the Revolution and the founding of the Republic
- To raise funds sufficient to carry out the above purposes
