Annual commemorations of the Ten Crucial Days of the American Revolution move from the Delaware River and the streets of Trenton to the comfort of your home this December. Reflecting social distancing regulations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Crossroads Heritage Partners are offering online alternatives to the customary public reenactments that draw thousands of spectators every year. On Christmas Day, Washington Crossing Historical Park will present a pre-recorded reenactment of the historic Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River. Visit the Park’s Facebook page or YouTube chan ..read more

We’ve seen the image all our lives: the boat bringing the brave General George Washington across the Delaware River. For many families, it’s a Christmas Day tradition to witness the reenactment, exactly where it happened in 1776. Some years, river depths are too shallow to carry the replica Durham boats, or sometimes the river runs too swiftly. But when conditions are right, the reenactment offers even more than spectators could hope for. In this recollection of her first experience watching the Crossing, Crossroads’ Communications Coordinator Sue Kaufmann shares how reenactors embody the true ..read more

Through our last Revolutionary NJ Blog entry, historian Earl Cain consulted the works of Atlantic County Historian Rev. Norman Goos to share the contributions of New Jersey’s Patriot seamen in the fight for independence. In this installment, he tells the story of the October 1778 British attack on the privateer center at Chestnut Neck. Everything about the coming attack on Chestnut Neck was planned carefully and secretly, but as with almost all things in the British military in America, nothing was truly secret. George Washington’s spies were everywhere. By early October, word of the impending ..read more

Today, we see the Jersey shore as an ocean playground, but during the Revolution, the story was much different. New Jersey was a seafaring state, and its sailors and ship owners wreaked havoc on Great Britain’s storied naval fleet. As privateers, they supplemented a very small United States navy. In a two-part series, Earl Cain, historian of the Colonel Richard Somers Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, borrows from the works of Atlantic County Historian Rev. Norman Goos to share the important yet lesser-known story of New Jersey’s privateers and their indelible impact on the fight ..read more

Crossroads of the American Revolution is proud to be a part of @250America’s launch of #AmericasInvitation! Join us as we start the countdown to our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by sharing what makes America special to you. Show us your American story through videos, photos, songs, and artwork. Let’s inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past and work together toward a brighter future for the next generation. Together, we can make history and embrace the vibrant tapestry of American life. Share your story https://america250.org/share-your-story/ The post America250 appeared f ..read more

Ewing, NJ (April 11, 2023) – Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) met with U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland to discuss America 250 and the importance of preserving historical heritage sites across New Jersey at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton. As a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, Congresswoman Watson Coleman is working to prepare the nation for the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary milestone with national programs and signature projects. “I’m honored to welcome Secretary Haaland to New Jersey’s 12th District to experience the r ..read more

By Patrick Murray, as published in the Star-Ledger and NJ.com On his “Ask the Governor” show last month, Phil Murphy touted New Jersey’s bid to host the World Cup in 2026. And he made the country’s upcoming 250th birthday a key selling point in his pitch. But has anyone told the governor that New Jersey’s major American Revolution historic sites are not in a fit state to welcome visitors? Ironically, the state is spending $15 million in federal pandemic aid to attract the World Cup. It also appropriated $24 million to bring a French art museum to Jersey City. Regardless of the merits of these ..read more

Warmer days in Revolutionary New Jersey bring the start of a new reenactment season, with historical interpreters donning 18th century garb for events across the state. Between the drills, artillery demonstrations and staged battles, reenactors often welcome the public to visit their camps and chat to get a better understanding of what daily life was like for Revolutionary-era soldiers. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about the women and children who often followed their husbands and fathers into army life, and the tasks they performed to earn their places in camp. After a break du ..read more

January is National Soup Month, which led us to wonder about the various soups and stews that Colonial-era New Jerseyans might have made to sustain themselves through the cold winters of the Revolution. Over the years, chapter members of New Jersey Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) have collected and shared family recipes that reflect the spirit of those hearty dishes. We asked DAR members Pat Sanftner and Jan Hunold to help us source some representative soup recipes, and the two below are among the heartier options they uncovered. Why not try on ..read more

Modern roads and bridges conceal many of the challenges that the Continental and British armies, and their allies, faced as they criss-crossed New Jersey. The Continental Army made an especially precarious retreat in November 1776, faced with the realities of the British approach, rivers to cross and miles of marshland blocking the path. As we mark the 241st anniversary of the times that tried men’s souls, Loyalist historian and Crossroads Advisory Board member Todd Braisted shares the story of that retreat. November 20th, 1776, dawned with five thousand British, German and Provincial Forces c ..read more