Military Park

Newark, NJ

Looking southeast at the southwestern section of Gutzon Borglum's Wars of America statue in Military Park.

Jim Henderson

Laid out in 1666 by Puritan settlers led by Robert Treat as the “Middle Commons,” the park served as a militia training ground and was used for musters and drills throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Served as a troop training site during the French and Indian War. Continental Army officers camped here; Washington’s forces passed through Newark during the 1776 retreat. The park was used again to recruit soldiers during the Civil War and World War I.

A large bronze and granite sculpture created by Gutzon Borglum, the same artist behind Mount Rushmore, features 42 figures and 2 horses, representing Americans from various conflicts up to World War I. Borglum described the park's layout as a "great spearhead," with a Tudor sword symbolizing the nation’s call to arms.

What's Nearby

Explore more of The Liberty Trail by visiting these nearby attractions.

Historic Site

A large bronze monument shows soldiers and civilians in dramatic motion, with horses and figures emerging from a rugged base in an outdoor urban park.

Military Park

Newark, NJ 07102

Military Park

Historic Site

This is a sketch of a cannon stationed on a battlefield.

Battle of Connecticut Farms and Liberty Hall

Union, NJ 07083

8.305023035344

Battle of Connecticut Farms and Liberty Hall Museum

Historic Site

Historic House

Liberty Hall

Union, NJ 07083

Former home of NJ's first elected governor

8.305023035344

Liberty Hall

Historic Site

A red historic house with white trim and twin brick chimneys stands behind a flagpole and walkway lined with bushes.

Boxwood Hall State Historic Site

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

9.0757890225759

Boxwood Hall State Historic Site

Historic Site

A two‑story yellow colonial house with dark brown trim and twin brick chimneys stands behind a small front porch and brick walkway.

Nathaniel Bonnell House

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

9.0826068485202

Nathaniel Bonnell House

Historic Site

A tall brown stone Gothic‑style church tower with pointed arches and ornate spires rises above trees under a bright blue sky.

Saint John’s Episcopal Church

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

9.1884846621202

Saint John’s Episcopal Church

Historic Site

A tall brick church with a white clock‑tower steeple rises above a fenced grassy area with trees under a bright blue sky.

First Presbyterian Church and Elizabethtown

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

9.357072386211

First Presbyterian Church and Elizabethtown Academy

Historic Site

A colonial era militia statue enclosed by a circular black fence stands in a small plaza with an American flag behind it, surrounded by multi‑story city buildings under a bright blue sky.

Minuteman Statue

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

9.4094734279255

Minuteman Statue

Historic Site

A light‑stone courthouse stands behind a grassy area with a tree, a small cannon monument, and a historical marker noting the site of an early borough courthouse built before the Revolution.

Cannon at Elizabeth Courthouse

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

9.4357093821186

Cannon at Elizabeth Courthouse

Historic Site

A kiosk with informational signs stands in a grassy park beside a street, with tall buildings rising in the background.

Union Veterans Honor Roll Park

Union, NJ 07083

10.133396676388

Union Veterans Honor Roll Park

Battlefield

Connecticut Farms and Springfield

Union, NJ 07083

Militia & Continentals push back a Hessian incursion

10.196385670497

Connecticut Farms and Springfield

Historic Site

A bronze plaque mounted on a stone surface commemorates a June 23, 1780 battle where Americans delayed advancing British forces near Springfield.

Vauxhall Bridge Battle Marker

Millburn, NJ 07041

10.397868804491

Vauxhall Bridge Battle Marker

Historic Site

Caldwell Parsonage

Union, NJ 07083

10.414462772099

Caldwell Parsonage

Historic Site

A tan colonial‑style house with dormer windows, brick chimneys, and a columned porch stands behind trimmed hedges and a stone retaining wall, with an American flag flying beside it.

Hessian House

Millburn, NJ 07041

10.527419355629

Hessian House

State/County Park

Historic Site

Elizabethtown Point

Elizabeth, NJ 07206

10.60555469642

Elizabethtown Point

Historic Site

Lafayette Tour Marker, Staten Island, New

Staten Island, NY 10302

11.204067313343

Lafayette Tour Marker, Staten Island, New York (NY-120)

State/County Park

Battlefield

Paulus Hook

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Patriot morale is restored in New Jersey

11.456346793014

Paulus Hook

Historic Site

A bronze memorial plaque mounted on stone honors Colonel Israel Angell, featuring an engraved tribute letter from George Washington.

Col. Israel Angell Memorial and Rahway River

Springfield, NJ 07081

11.687079020448

Col. Israel Angell Memorial and Rahway River Bridge

Battlefield

State/County Park

Historical Marker in Millburn, NJ, that details the "Forgotten Victory" of 1780

Battle of Springfield

Millburn, NJ 07041

11.708354982042

Battle of Springfield

Historic Site

A red‑roofed informational sign stands beside a split paved walkway in a green park, with flowers, trees, and a small bridge in the background.

Taylor Park and the Forgotten Victory Trail

Milburn, NJ 07041

11.714685453416

Taylor Park and the Forgotten Victory Trail

Historic Site

A bronze plaque mounted on a stone surrounded by greenery commemorates a June 23, 1780 militia action that halted a British advance toward Morristown.

Last British Thrust Marker

Millburn, NJ 07041

11.902560545843

Last British Thrust Marker

Historic Site

Historic House

Cannonball House at Springfield Battlesite

Springfield, NJ 07081

12.007192393261

Cannonball House at Springfield Battlesite

Historic Site

A yellow colonial‑style house with green shutters and a steep dark roof stands behind a leafless tree, with a stone walkway leading to its green front door.

Cannonball House at Springfield Battle Site

Springfield, NJ 07081

12.007192393261

Cannonball House at Springfield Battle Site

Historic Site

A white wooden church with a tall clock‑tower steeple and red doors stands behind a stone‑bordered lawn with a lamppost and statue.

Springfield Presbyterian Church

Springfield, NJ 07081

12.277366854747

Springfield Presbyterian Church

National Park

Historic Site

Federal Hall

New York, NY 10005

Site where Washington took the first oath of office

13.879842464784

Federal Hall | National Memorial New York

Historic Site

Museum

Fraunces Tavern Museum

New York, NY 10004

Visit New York's Revolutionary past

13.906249310288

Fraunces Tavern Museum

Historic Site

Four Chimneys Marker

Brooklyn, NY 11201

15.256945553335

Four Chimneys Marker

Historic Site

Museum

Center for Brooklyn History

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Part of the Brooklyn Library with Rev War Resources

15.725531554843

Center for Brooklyn History

Historic Site

Historic House

Old Stone House

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Explore Revolution Brooklyn from 1776 - 1783

17.227216922015

Old Stone House

Historic Site

Battlefield

The Green-Wood Cemetery

Brooklyn, NY 11232

17.289981642434

The Green-Wood Cemetery

Historic Site

Fort Wadsworth

Staten Island, NY 10305

Historic Fort under British Occupation 1776-1783

17.741144175855

Fort Wadsworth

Historic Site

Museum

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn, NY 11238

Museum in Brooklyn with Rev War collections

18.925157969032

Brooklyn Museum

Battlefield

Harlem Heights

New York, NY 10027

Confident British forces are checked in battle

19.055131935505

Harlem Heights

State/County Park

Historic House

Dey Mansion

Wayne, NJ 07470

Washington's HQ before the winter camp at Morristown

20.451158136206

Dey Mansion

Historic Site

Historic House

Hamilton Grange

New York, NY 10005

Home of Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton

20.811362821314

Hamilton Grange

Historic Site

A tan historic building with green shutters and a columned porch stands along a brick sidewalk, shaded by large trees and marked by a streetlamp flying an American flag.

Stage House Inn

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

21.694098239751

Stage House Inn

Historic Site

Historic House

Morris Jumel Mansion

New York, NY 10032

22.126950920616

Morris Jumel Mansion

Battlefield

Fort/Outpost

Fort Lee

Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Cornwallis pushes American forces into New Jersey

22.127477187084

Fort Lee

Historic Site

A black cannon sits atop a small stone structure with a glass window, surrounded by green trees under an overcast sky.

The Battle of Short Hills

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

22.324691115488

The Battle of Short Hills

Historic Site

Historic House

New Bridge

River Edge, NJ 07661

Site along Washington's Retreat route from NY

22.58792285963

Historic New Bridge Landing

Battlefield

Fort Washington

New York, NY 10033

Last American stronghold of Manhattan

23.264191719753

Fort Washington

Historic Site

A wooden entrance gate stands at the Old Barracks Museum, built from two tall posts and a horizontal beam. Beyond the gate, a gravel path leads to historic stone and brick buildings with red trim, surrounded by trees and greenery.

New Jersey Brigade Area

Morristown, NJ 07960

25.77356335557

New Jersey Brigade Area

National Park

Historic House

Ford Mansion

Morristown, NJ 07960

25.802317869983

Ford Mansion

Historic Site

Historic House

Drake House

Plainfield, NJ 07060

Washington's HQ prior to the battle of Short Hills

26.179705699716

Nathaniel Drake House

Historic Site

Early 20th century post card depicting the First Presbyterian Church in Morristown, NJ

Morristown Church

Morristown, NJ 07960

26.950625702472

First Presbyterian Church

Historic Site

Gardens & Grounds

Morristown Green

Morristown, NJ 07960

Where France committed to the cause of Independence

27.001395533154

Morristown Green

Historic Site

Arnold's Tavern

Morristown, NJ 07960

Washington's HQ for the first Morristown encampment

27.07065411293

Arnold's Tavern

National Park

Fort/Outpost

Fort Nonsense

Morristown, NJ 07960

27.444021643831

Fort Nonsense

Historic Site

Historic House

Governor's Mansion

Perth Amboy, NJ 08861

Mansion of Benjamin Franklin's Loyalist son, William

27.553049584662

Royal Governor's Mansion

Historic Site

Historic House

Front yard of the Van Cortlandt Mansion photographed by Ryan Ng

Van Cortlandt House

Bronx, NY 10471

Historic home occupied by both British & Patriots

28.625361793454

Van Cortlandt House

State/County Park

Historic House

Valentine-Varian House

Bronx, NY 10458

The Bronx's 2nd oldest house and site of skirmishes

28.839543498915

Valentine-Varian House

Battlefield

State/County Park

Huyler's Landing

Alpine, NJ 07620

Site of Cornwallis' landing in New Jersey

30.064584721179

Huyler's Landing

Historic Site

A large brick Gothic‑style house with steep gables and tall narrow windows stands among mature trees on a grassy lawn.

The Hermitage

Ho Ho Kus, NJ 07423

30.103413933822

The Hermitage

National Park

Historic Site

Morristown

Morristown, NJ 07960

Site of two Continental winter encampments

30.460096891873

Morristown

State/County Park

Historic House

Original outbuilding of Lord Stirling's Manor in New Jersey

Lord Stirling's Manor Site

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Private estate of Lord Stirling

30.779810890372

Lord Stirling's Manor Site

State/County Park

Historic House

Philipse Manor Hall

Yonkers, NY 10701

Historic home of the Philipse Tory family

31.509008436043

Philipse Manor Hall

National Park

Historic Site

Jockey Hollow

Morristown, NJ 07960

31.525984360441

Jockey Hollow