Historic Sites in Central & Southern New Jersey
Smithville, Lambertville and the Howell Living History Museum
Feb 18, 2009
The rolling hills and woodlands of New Jersey provided safety, bounty and shelter for early settlers. As a result these areas took on a key role in the early development of the United States. The history of that struggle is visible today for visitors who know where to look.
Historic Smithville and The Village Greene
Fifteen miles north of Atlantic City, Historic Smithville and the Village Greene present visitors with the recreation of a traditional 18th century town & village green filled with over 60 boutiques/shops, and cafes. Cobblestone streets and gentle walking paths wend their way through town. The historic Smithville Inn, a former farmhouse built in1787 on an old stagecoach route now offers hearty fare in a traditional setting.
Smithville’s year-round calendar of events includes auto shows, civil war reenactments and seasonal celebrations, making this historic attraction an excellent choice as either a short stopover or the location for a major event.
Lambertville and the Surrounding Area
Established in 1705, Lambertville, just across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania has had a front row seat for many of the founding moments in the history of the United States. From Washington’s crossing to several key battles, Lambertville has seen it all.
Today, the streets of Lambertville are lined with Victorian houses and Federal row homes. Buildings that were once factories are now artist studios, galleries, and shops. From Lambertville Station on the Delaware Raritan Canal to the historic Lambertville Inn, this quaint town that has seen so much unfold around it has now become a center of art, culture and commerce.
Five miles outside of Lambertville, Washington Crossing State Park, marks the spot where, on Christmas Day 1776, George Washington and his troops came ashore from Pennsylvania ready to take on Hessian troops, followed shortly thereafter by the Second Battle of Trenton and later the Battle of Princeton.
A few miles further south in Trenton, history buffs will enjoy a tour of the Old Barracks Museum. Built in 1758 during the French and Indian War, the barracks served as winter headquarters for British soldiers and Hessian mercenaries during the Revolutionary War. Today, the barracks offer a detailed portrait of life during the American Revolution, complete with tours of the soldiers’ and officers’ living quarters. A state and national historic landmark, this museum contains the last remaining freestanding barracks (in the U.S.) from the revolutionary period.
Twenty-three miles from Lambertville, just outside the town of Princeton, sits the Princeton Battlefield and Clarke House Museum. Guided tours covering only a small portion of this 220-acre farm offer details of what many consider to be the fiercest battle of its size fought during the American Revolution.
Living History and the Agrarian Way of Life
Just a few miles outside of Lambertville the Howell Living History Farm offers its visitors the chance to experience the farming life circa 1900. As a working farm for over 200 years (now in the ongoing process of restoration) this 130-acre farm encourages visitors to ask questions. Though the farm’s educational mission may mean that they’ll be asked to help out.
The farm’s 45 tillable acres are worked using tools and techniques representative of the years 1890-1910. Most buildings are either original or faithfully restored to reflect a turn-of-the-20th century farm, and the animals on the farm are modern descendants of breeds raised in the area at the start of the 20th century.
For history buffs, families with children, and the idle curious alike, southern and central New Jersey offer travelers a laundry list of historic attractions, towns with history and enough points of interest to fill any vacation.
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