The Jacobus Vanderveer House, located in Bedminster Township, New Jersey, is a significant historical site from the American Revolutionary War. Constructed in the mid-1770s by James (Jacobus) Vanderveer, the house exemplifies Dutch-American architecture. It served as the headquarters for General Henry Knox during the winter of 1778–79 during the second Middlebrook encampment. Adjacent to the house was the Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment, recognized as America's first military training academy and a precursor to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The Vanderveer House is the only surviving structure associated with this cantonment. Today, it operates as a museum, offering insights into 18th-century Dutch-Colonial life and the Revolutionary War era.
Architecturally, the Vanderveer House retains much of its original 18th-century character, including wide pine board flooring and raised wood paneling above the fireplace in the west parlor. In the early 1800s, a Federal-style addition was incorporated, enhancing the house's symmetry and space. Subsequent 19th and 20th-century modifications introduced features like exterior stucco and roof dormers, which were later removed to restore the house's circa 1813 appearance. The museum now showcases both the original Georgian section, believed to have housed General Knox, and the more spacious Federal addition. The site's preservation and interpretation are managed by the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining its historical legacy
Stories from Jacobus Vanderveer House
A self-educated bookseller and artillery expert, Knox led artillery efforts that forced the British to evacuate Boston and later serving as a trusted officer under General Washington and the first U.S. Secretary of War.
Constructed in the early 1740s, this home acted as the headquarters of Baron Von Steuben during the Continental Army's cantonment in 1779. Today, it stands as one of the few remaining Dutch structures in central New Jersey.
Utilized during the second Middlebrook encampment by the Continental Army, this home served as the headquarters for Nathanael Greene from 1778-1779.