Morristown

https://www.nps.gov/morr/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morristown_National_Historical_Park Morristown National Historical Park, headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, consists of four sites important during the American Revolutionary War: Jockey Hollow, the Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense and the New Jersey Brigade Encampment site. The sites are located in Morristown and Harding Township, both in Morris County, and in Bernardsville in Somerset County. With its establishment in March 1933, Morristown became the country's first National Historical Park. Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental army’s winter encampment of December 1779 to June 1780, where they survived through what would be the coldest winter on record. The park also maintains a museum & library collection related to the encampments & George Washington, as well as items relating to pre- and post-Revolutionary America. Morristown National Historical Park is easiest to see by car. There are four different sites throughout the greater Morristown area. Washington's Headquarters Museum / Ford Mansion and Fort Nonsense are located in Morristown. The Jockey Hollow unit with its visitor center and historic Wick House; and the New Jersey Brigade Area are both about 6 miles south of Morristown, Detailed directions can be found on the park website. Jockey Hollow Visitor Center This one story brick and glass structure came to the park during the preparations for the Bicentennial. Inside, visitors will find an information desk, bookstore, a painted mural depicting Jockey Hollow during the 1779 encampment, and a full scale replica of the log huts Continental Soldiers lived in. Guided tours of the nearby Wick Farm House usually begin here. The restrooms can be accessed from the exterior doors, and remain open after the visitor center closes. Washington's Headquarters Museum Built by the National Park Service in the 1930s, the Washington's Headquarters Museum contains numerous artifacts about the American Revolution. There are three galleries, an auditorium, a theater, and the Discover History Center. The museum often hosts special exhibits and programs. Situated just behind the historic Ford Mansion that served as Washington's headquarters for six months, guided tours of the home begin in the museum as well. Enter the parking lots via Lafayette Ave, just before the on-ramp to US-287 South. Please observe the One Way signs around the park. Wick House The Wick House surrounded by colorful fall leaves The Wick House in the fall. Washington's Headquarters Museum The front facade of the Washington's Headquarters Museum The front facade of the Washington's Headquarters Museum, which was designed in 1933 to look similar to Washington's Mt Vernon home. Replica Soldier Huts in Jockey Hollow Four replica wooden soldier huts on a hillside in winter These replica soldier huts represent the location of the Pennsylvania Brigade encampment site in Jockey Hollow Cross Estate Mansion and Gardens The Cross Estate mansion in the springtime The Cross Estate property was the site of the New Jersey Brigade winter encampement in 1779-1780. Today the encampment site is preserved while the estate is host to several beautiful gardens. Jockey Hollow Visitor Center View of the front facede of the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center--a dark brown brick buildings View of the front facade of the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center Wick House Kitchen Garden Garden with flowers and plants and 18th century farm house in background A 18th century style kitchen garden with vegetables and herbs Ford Mansion with Washington Statue White georgian/colonial building with statue of officer on horse in foreground The Ford Mansion where General Washington headquartered during the winter of 1779-80 View from Fort Nonsense Overlook with cannon in foreground Fort Nonsense--the site of an earthen fort during the American Revolution-offers a view toward New York City Ford Mansion A white colonial building with snow in the foreground and a blue sky and trees in the background The Ford Mansion was the headquarters for General George Washington during the "Hard Winter" of 1779-1780 NETN Species Spotlight - Your Flowers, Shrubs, and Plants Native species - birds, insects, plants, etc - need our help. When planning your yard layout, consider adding some valuable native plants to the mix. Red maple flowers NETN Species Spotlight - Wild Turkey Wild Turkeys are one of the most iconic species in America. They have a long, and as it turns out, mythic history. Wild Tom Turkey. Wayne Dumbleton. NETN Species Spotlight - Hermit Thrush The Hermit Thrush's ethereal song is a mainstay of summers in the Northeastern U.S. But climate change could mean its song will only be heard north of the border if warming continues unabated. A Hermit Thrush perches on the forest floor. National Park Forests - More Than a Pretty Picture A study led by NETN shows that eastern National Park forests hold greater complexity and ecosystem function that the surrounding forest. A forest tech measures the size of a tree. Species Spotlight - Red Crossbill The Red Crossbillis one of the most unique and specialized birds of North America. Learn about their traits and habits, and how you may encounter a flock of them during this irruption year. . A Red Crossbill sits on a conifer tree. Citizen Science in the Digital Age With well over 100 citizen-science based apps now available for smartphones, there is no lack of opportunity for people of all ages and affectations to significantly add to the collective knowledge base about many aspects of the natural world. The phrase “there is an app for that” has perhaps never been more true for natural resource monitoring. Students use microscopes to identify pond species at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP Bioblitz. NETN Species Spotlight - Ruby-throated Hummingbird The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only bird of that species that makes its home east of the Mississippi. Learn more about this remarkable bird. A hummingbird feeds on a flower NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Morristown National Historical Park, New Jersey Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. [Site Under Development] statue and mansion NETN Species Spotlight: Monarch Butterfly The monarch butterfly is a majestic insect. Mimicry, migration, and metamorphosis all help to make it the true king of butterflies. But it's numbers have been dropping dramatically in recent years. Learn more about this amazing species and how you can help to save it. Monarch butterfly on a Meadow Blazing Star plant NETN Species Spotlight: Japanese Knotweed Japanese knotweed is a very robust invasive plant species. Learn why it spreads so readily outside of its native Japan, and how the NPS and other groups are trying to control it. Japanese knotweed plant NETN Species Spotlight: Acorn Barnacle Barnacles may at first glance appear to have the most boring of lives. But dig a little deeper into these crafty crustaceans, and you'll learn they are among the most fascinating of seashore creatures. Barnacle feeding close-up NETN Species Spotlight - Northern Short-tailed Shrew The northern short-tailed shrew seems like an impossible mash-up of different creatures. From venomous saliva to echolocation, this tiny predator employs many tactics to satiate an endless appetite. Short-tailed Shrew The Positive Side of Zero For something that essentially represents "nothingness", the number zero carries a lot of weight when collecting data. a stone zero What’s the Buzz? How Bees Interrelate with Birds, Wildflowers, and Deer Ecosystems are complex and intricate and sometimes have a surprising web of relationships. Learn how deer, bees, birds, and wildflowers connect in the park ecosystems of the northeast. A bee pollinates a wildflower Wild, Wacky, and Weird Weather. What the? A look at the difference between weather and climate. A Vermont blizzard. NETN Species Spotlight - Fisher The fisher is a very capable predator of northeastern forests. Learn about the ways this large member of the weasel family makes its living. A large male fisher sitting Species Spotlight - Crazy Snakeworm Because of the scouring action of the ice age, earthworms are not native to the northeast. One species in particular, the crazy snake worm, has the potential to greatly alter the natural forest ecosystems in our region. An earthworm held in a person's hand Species Spotlight - Giant Hogweed Giant hogweed is a particularly nasty intruder across much of the country. Find out how the NPS looks for it in parks, and what to do if you spot one in your yard. A person is dwarfed by a giant hogweed plant. NETN Species Spotlight - Eastern Coyote The eastern coyote is a new predator on the scene. But where did it come from and why is it so much larger than its western cousins? Learn about how this animal came to be and the important ecological niches it is filling in the Northeast. A coyote stares at the camera. Lessons Learned from a Decade of Forest Health Monitoring in NETN After more than 10 years of monitoring forest health in NETN parks, plant ecologist Kate Miller shares here knowledge and insights and current forest conditions and tips on long term forest management. A forest glade Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail e-Newsletter Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, WARO quarterly e-newsletter NETN Field Note: Deer, Worms, and Invasives When too many deer, earthworms, and invasive plant species work i concert, detrimental effects happen to the health of northeastern forests. Forest health monitoring NETN Species Spotlight - Turkey and Black Vultures Vultures have the thankless job of cleaning the environment up of dead animal carcasses. Learn how they are able to do it without getting sick from deadly bacteria. Close-up of a Black Vulture. Doug Greenberg. NETN Species Spotlight - Sharp-shinned Hawk About the size of a Blue-Jay, Sharp-shinned Hawks are aerial acrobats and are the smallest of three North American agile hawks known as the accipiters (ah-sip-it-ers). Learn more about this amazing and oft misunderstood hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk perched on a branch NETN Species Spotlight - Snowshoe Hare Snowshoe hare are perfectly adapted to their cold, snow environments. Even so, a warming climate and a complex predator/prey relationship has a large influence on their overall population. The enormous hind feet of snowshoe hare. NETN Species Spotlight - Ruffed Grouse Ruffed Grouse have evolved many effective and surprising traits that allow them to survive northeastern winters. Ruffed Grouse displaying Lucas Bobay NETN Species Spotlight - Short-tailed Weasel The short-tailed weasel is as energetic as it is resourceful. It has had a reputation of being both virtuous and vile over the centuries. Find out more about the amazing capabilities of this slender member of the weasel family An ermine in full white. Siege of Charleston 1780 The British refocused their efforts to conquer the rebellious American colonies in the South in late 1778. In 1779, a large British expeditionary force sailed for Charleston. The siege of Charleston lasted from March 29, 1780 until the Americans surrendered on May 12. The fall of Charleston marked the largest British victory of the war. Their assumptions of significant loyalist support were not realized, and the campaign became bogged in a civil war in the Carolinas. NETN Species Spotlight - Paper Birch The Paper Birch is undeniably a tree of the north woods. Entwined in lore and legend, it has been a key part of ecosystems and cultures since well before the time of the Neanderthals even. Paper birch trees in winter. NETN Species Spotlight - Serviceberry Though it goes by many names, the serviceberry tree is much loved by people and birds alike. Learn more about one of spring's first bloomers and why you should plant one in your yard. Serviceberries ripening. Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits NETN Species Spotlight - American Woodcock The American Woodcock is a quirky bird. Learn about their habits. and why they are a welcome sight (and sound) each spring in the Northeast, An American Woodcock walks on the forest floor. Species Spotlight - Puffballs Puffballl mushrooms offer many joys - from stomping on them as children to eating them fried with butter. Learn more about this natural history of this fascinating fungi. Puffball emitting spores. Protecting Forest Health: Deer Exclosures One of the main threats to Northeastern U.S. hardwood forests is an overabundance of white-tailed deer - and their appetite for understory plants. A recent study at Morristown National Historical Park shows how fenced deer exclosures can help protect forested areas from high levels of deer browsing, which can enhance forest regeneration and preserve native species. See tips for creating and maintaining effective deer exclosures learned from this study. Green oak saplings. Species Spotlight - Cecropia Moth Cecropia moths are the largest moth in North America. Their fascinating one-year life cycle is one of the most amazing transformations known to nature. Face of a male cecropia moth. Invasion of the Biome Bashers Invasive plants are a concerning and growing issue for eastern national parks. Learn what is spreading, and how some parks are seeing success in managing them. Glossy buckthron The Ford Mansion On Tour The Ford Mansion in Morristown NJ has been famous as Washington's Headquarters for his stay during a winter encampment. However, the house has also been replicated for use in a World's Fair, as a residence for governors, and traveled halfway across the country. A large white mansion patterned after the Georgian style Diane Harris Dayson Diane Harris was initially reluctant to pursue a Park Service career. However, she soon found that national parks were "in her blood". Her 26-year career saw her rise from clerk to superintendent at one of our most iconic national monuments. Diane Dayson wearing the NPS uniform with badge and ranger flat hat. A Revolutionary Life: Washington's Birthday Through the Years Nine short videos chronicle American history through the lens of George Washington's birthday and how it was (or wasn't) celebrated during critical points during his life. graphic, illustration, bust of washington wearing a birthday hat Girl (Guide) Power Just as the contributions of many women have been overlooked in NPS history, so too have the contributions of girls who held officially sanctioned guide positions. Two girl ranger aides speak with a man across a counter. Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Deer Impacts A healthy forest needs to have enough tree seedlings and saplings to regenerate the forest canopy after a disturbance. Analysis of NPS I&M and other long-term datasets makes it clear that many eastern national parks lack adequate tree regeneration due to decades of over browsing by white-tailed deer. Deer impacts I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are negatively impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. Species Spotlight - Eastern Phoebe The return of Eastern Phoebes early each spring is a soul-satisfying, calendar-turning event after a long northeastern winter. Eastern Phoebe Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration Species Spotlight - Deer Tick Deer ticks are an increasing problem in the northeast. Learn more about why they are increasing, the way they spread Lyme disease, and how to prevent getting a tick bite. And there are also lizards. Warm lizard. Ranger Roll Call, 1940-1949 Only a small number of women held temporary ranger positions in national parks during World War II. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, national monuments in the Southwest, and historical sites in the East continued to employ more women. Although a few women veterans benefitted from post-war veteran hiring programs, most veterans were men and permanent positions became even more difficult for women to get. Catherine Byrnes and Barbara Dickinson stand outside modeling the NPS uniform. Ranger Roll Call, 1950-1959 In the 1950s, women in uniform continue to work as guides, historians, and archeologists. Few women had permanent positions. A handful of women began to get seasonal ranger-naturalists positions at large national parks for the first time in two decades. Ann Livesay in her NPS uniform standing in front of a low wall at the edge of the Grand Canyon. St Patrick's Day 1780 in Jockey Hollow The Continental Army soldiers wintering in Jockey Hollow suffered through a miserable season of starvation and uncertainty. They were afforded no relief from the work of camp, even for holidays, except one... A red flag depicting a stylized harp and "The Independence of Ireland" Species Spotlight - Dragonflies Dragonflies have incredible powers of flight and vision. Learn how they use these to catch just about anything they want on the wing. Dragonfly nymph. Recipes for 18th Century New Jersey The people of North America prepared their foods in different ways according to their culture, class, and region. A sampling of recipes used in New Jersey around the time of the American Revolution offers a glimpse into the foodways of the past. Green beans in a basket and sliced fruit covered in cheese cloth sit on a table outside Species Spotlight - White Ash White ash trees are an integral part of the forests of the Northeast, and they are under grave threat of ceasing to exist as a mature canopy species in the near future. The culprit is a tiny invasive insect called the Emerald Ash Borer. Learn more about the current state of ash trees in the region, and learn how to help slow the spread of this destructive forest pest. White ash seedling Species Spotlight - Oaks Oaks appear so often in the story of humanity that it could scarcely have been written without them. Learn more about this amazing trees species and how it has shaped cultures across the world. A white oak branch with acorns Species Spotlight - Flying Squirrels Tiny and cute, flying squirrels are efficient gliders with a few surprises tucked away under their furry sleeves. A Southern Flying Squirrel. 50 Nifty Finds #11: Carving a Place in NPS History Few employees have left as visible a mark on National Park Service (NPS) exhibits as John A. Segeren. His work has been enjoyed by generations of park visitors who never knew his name but appreciated his intricate wood carvings and playful animal figures displayed in parks throughout the system. A master woodcarver described by former President Lyndon B. Johnson as "a legacy to this country," Segeren carved out his own place in NPS history. Round wooden plaque with bison, globe, and waterfall Species Spotlight - Red Fox Legendary for their cunning cleverness, red fox are equally at home in the trackless wilderness as they are in a tract-housing development. It has established itself world-wide, and it's very particular set of skills makes it a nightmare for hapless meadow voles. A Red Fox. Species Spotlight - Black Bear Bears have endured a paradoxical reputation for centuries. At once being associated with cuddly teddy bears and the helpful Smokey Bear, as well as a ferocious, blood-thirsty beast. As we learn more about their mind-boggling biology however, they may start to occupy a new niche in the popular mind - that of a natural marvel. A sitting black bear Species Spotlight - Woodland Box Turtle Box turtles have evolved the familiar turtle shell to near perfection, holding the ability to close of its head and legs within its hinged under shell. A turtle supports the Earh on its back Historic Horse and Footbridge Restored by Student Interns and NPS Staff Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School graduates, National Park Service employees, Mather High School Success Via Apprenticeship (SVA) members, and Student Conservation Association (SCA) interns, with their group leader, completed a horse and footbridge restoration project at Morristown National Historic Park. A young man using a hammer Eastern Parks Reduce Herds to Benefit Forests, Deer, and People National parks protect a small but critical part of eastern U.S. forests. They’re now responding to an accelerating crisis as overabundant white-tailed deer coincide with a profusion of invasive plants. two people stand next to a fenced off area full of lush vegetation. Species Spotlight - Moose Moose have long been revered animal by native peoples. In recent decades it has been suffering from a combination of warming winters, parasitic brainworms, and winter ticks. Biologists across its range are working on ways to hwlp. A moose in thick forest. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.