Trail Sites

Liberty Trail Historic Sites

Discover the myriad of sites across The Liberty Trail where significant cultural and Revolutionary history unfolded. From military ruins to meticulously restored mansions, immerse yourself in the footsteps of our nation’s history-makers.

States of Interest:
New Jersey
Historic Site
South Bound Brook, NJ
New Jersey
Historic Site
Morristown, NJ

The Arnold Tavern, constructed in the mid-18th century, served as Washington's headquarters from January - May 1777

New Jersey
Historic Site | Historic House
Princeton, NJ

A hidden gem in the borough of Princeton, the Bainbridge House was constructed in the mid-1760s and stands as a hallmark of colonial architecture...

New Jersey
Historic Site
Elizabeth, NJ
New Jersey
Historic Site
New Brunswick, NJ
New Jersey
Historic Site
Union, NJ

The Caldwell Parsonage is a site of tragedy outside of the battlefield of Connecticut Farms & Springfield. The events that transpired that day still...

New Jersey
Historic Site
Elizabeth, NJ
New Jersey
Historic Site
Springfield, NJ
Filter By:
States of Interest

Liberty Trail History Makers

The Revolutionary War was a war unlike any other — one of ideas and ideals, that shaped “the course of human events. Explore the history and personalities from this pivotal time in American history.
Biography

While serving as a drummer in the Revolutionary War, young Stephen Tainter witnessed Burgoyne’s surrender and the failed Newport siege.

Biography

When British forces besieged Charleston, Lincoln was forced to surrender over 5,000 men. Denied honors of war in surrender, Lincoln was paroled and returned to Washington’s army. After the Battle of Yorktown, Lincoln accepted the surrender from the British, allowing him to have revenge for his defeat in Charleston.

Biography

Johann Ewald, a Hessian captain, served in several significant Revolutionary War battles, including White Plains, Bound Brook, and the failed attack on Fort Mercer. He later fought at Yorktown, where he surrendered with the British forces. His detailed wartime diary and maps provide invaluable insights into his experiences in America.

Biography

Carl von Donop, a Hessian colonel, sought glory in the American Revolution but blundered at Trenton—possibly distracted by a "beautiful widow." To redeem himself, he led a doomed assault on Fort Mercer in 1777, suffering fatal wounds. Arrogant and unpopular, his American dream ended in defeat by the Delaware River.

We invite you to visit the preserved locations along the Liberty Trail and to immerse yourself in the extraordinary events that determined the fate of a nation.
Historic Site |
Elizabeth, NJ
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ Forgotten Victory Trail Jonathan Dayton, a soldier of the New Jersey Line and later a signer of the Constitution, is buried at Saint John’s. His father...
Historic Site |
Ringwood, NJ
Ringwood Manor Iron Complex Waterwheel Historical Marker Database During the Revolutionary War, Ringwood Ironworks produced arms and equipment for the Continental Army. The complex's iron mines...
National Park | Fort/Outpost
Morristown, NJ

Fort Nonsense if one of four sites that compose Morristown National Historical Park. Atop a hill, it functioned as a defensive observation post for those encamped at Morristown.

Battlefield | State/County Park
Princeton, NJ

After crossing the Delaware, George Washington's ten-day campaign culminated in a decisive victory at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, proving his army could defeat the British. The battle saw Washington's forces overcome initial setbacks to rout the British and shift the momentum of the war

Historic Site |
Elizabeth, NJ
The Nathaniel Bonnell House was built in 1682. Historical Marker Database The Bonnell House is the oldest house in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and one of the oldest residences in the state. It stood on...
National Park | Historic House
Morristown, NJ

The mansion once housed George Washington, who utilized it as his headquarters in the freezing winter of 1779.

Historic Site | Gardens & Grounds
Morristown, NJ

Now a quiet park in the center of urban Morristown, this green once served as the training and parade grounds of the Continental Army during its 1777 winter encampment.

Historic Site |
Ho Ho Kus, NJ
The Hermitage Historical Marker Database The Hermitage played a role in the Revolutionary War, standing at the center of a region torn between Patriot and Loyalist control. During the conflict, the...
Historic Site |
Somerville, NJ

This parsonage was constructed in the 1750s and housed the reverend of the Dutch congregation in what is now modern-day Somerville.

State/County Park | Historic House
Basking Ridge, NJ

Once a sprawling manor complex in the New Jersey countryside belonging to Major General William Alexander, all that remains are two extant structures and the cellar of the original home.

Historic Site |
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...
National Park | Historic Site
Morristown, NJ

Morristown National Historical Park marks the site of the Continental Army’s 1779-80 encampment under George Washington. It symbolizes America’s fight for independence and Washington’s leadership in uniting the army, remaining a lasting symbol of resilience and patriotism.