Staats House

During the second Middlebrook Encampment of 1778–1779, the Staats House served as the headquarters of General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, Inspector General and Major General of the Continental Army. A former officer under Frederick the Great of Prussia, von Steuben used his military expertise to instill discipline and order in the Continental Army, authoring the Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States—known as the “Blue Book.” While quartered at the Staats House from March to June 1779, von Steuben organized intensive troop drills and hosted a grand military review in May for French ambassador Conrad Alexander Gérard and Spanish agent Don Juan de Miralles. The review was attended by General George Washington and dozens of officers and guests, followed by a formal dinner on the Staats property. After departing in June 1779, von Steuben continued to play a vital role in the war, contributing to the Southern Campaign and helping demobilize the army after the victory at Yorktown.

The Staats House, located in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, is an 18th-century Dutch Colonial home with strong ties to the Revolutionary War. Built by Abraham Staats, a prosperous landowner in the Raritan Valley, the home reflects the architectural style and domestic life of colonial New Jersey. With its broad gambrel roof, central hallway, and deep brick foundation, the Staats House has been carefully preserved to maintain its 18th-century character. Today, it is overseen by the Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc., and serves as a historic site offering educational programs and public events that explore the region’s colonial and military past.