This realistic Morristown National Historical Park Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this park.

Morristown is a lesser known park that has house museums, military installations, gardens, and viewpoints.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Morristown is a park in the middle of the same name town in New Jersey. Architecture, history, military, and outdoor enthusiasts alike could find something of interest in this park.

The park has houses that date back to the middle of 18th century. There are well maintained gardens with colorful plants. Cabins, collections, and exhibits are present. And scenic views round up the list.

This Morristown National Historical Park Guide covers all four park units. You will learn about the sights at Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense, Jockey Hollow, and Cross Estate.

1. Ford Mansion

Ford Mansion is a crown jewel of the park. This Georgian style mansion dates back to the 1770s. The house was a family residence until the American Revolutionary War.

George Washington made the house his headquarters during the winter of 1779-1780. Ford Mansion served in this status for about 6 months, which makes it one of the longest serving headquarters.

Other notable Washington’s headquarters include the Longfellow House in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Isaac Potts House in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Ford Mansion became a house museum in 1870s. It was one of the first house museums in the United States. A group of locals preserved the house before the National Parks Service took over.

You could explore Ford Mansion from the outside at your own pace. But you should join a guided tour to see the interior of the house first-hand. Stop by the museum and get a free ticket.

2. Washington’s Headquarters Museum

The Washington’s Headquarters Museum acts as a visitor center for anyone wishing to tour Ford Mansion. Knowledgable park rangers could answer your questions and put your name for the next tour.

The museum is also a great place to see the exhibits from the American Revolutionary War. Historic furniture pieces and household items are also on display.

The museum itself is a beautiful historic building. It dates back to the 1930s. The building has some similarities with George Washington’s Mount Vernon mansion in Virginia.

3. Fort Nonsense

Fort Nonsense is the closest park unit to Ford Mansion and Washington’s Headquarters Museum. It refers to a fortification atop of the hill that now overlooks Morristown.

The redoubt dated back to 1777. It included trenches, a guardhouse, and a beacon to alarm other units. At its peak, Fort Nonsense looked a bit like Fort Niagara and Kastellet in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Fort Nonsense was a secondary line of defense that would serve the troops in case of a retreat. In the end, the fort did not see any fighting.

This fact led to a birth of a local legend. Many soldiers believed that there was no military reason to build this fort. They often referred to it as Fort Nonsense. And this unsightly name stuck.

When you arrive at the top of the hill of Fort Nonsense, you might be expecting to see a fortress. But almost no fortifications survived to this day.

There is just one cannon atop of the hill. You could also read a few exhibits that display where the fortifications used to be. Fort Lee does a much better job recreating the fort from the Revolutionary War.

You might feel that Fort Nonsense stayed true to its name to this day. But do not jump to conclusions too quickly. It is still a good idea to make a quick stop at Fort Nonsense.

You could get hilltop views of Morristown. A keen eye would see landmarks from miles away. And you could enjoy amazing fall foliage thanks to a grove.

4. Jockey Hollow

Jockey Hollow is the third unit of the park. You need to drive from Fort Nonsense on a narrow country road to get there. Keep in mind that some roads in Jockey Hollow are one way only.

You might not have high expectations after visiting Fort Nonsense. In this case, you are in for a surprise. Jockey Hollow has a large visitor center with a ranger station, gift shop, and a few exhibits.

This unit also covers a large area that includes the Grand Parade and the Wick House. Both played an important role during the American Revolutionary War.

5. Grand Parade

It is a good idea to stop at the Grand Parade first when visiting Jockey Hollow from Morristown. This way, you could use the one-way roads to your advantage.

The Grand Parade refers to an open field in Jockey Hollow. It was an administrative center of the camp. Daily assemblies, military court, and executions took place at the Grand Parade.

Unless you are a military history geek, you might not find an idea of visiting an open field very appealing. Thankfully, the park restored two administrative log cabins.

You could go inside these cabins now. You just need to cross an entire field from a parking lot. See for yourself if the cabins are worth this effort.

6. Wick House and Garden

The Wick House is another historic attraction in Jockey Hollow. This 1750 farmhouse is just a short walk from the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center. A paved path to the house is flat and accessible.

The Wick House belonged to the largest landowner in the area in the 1770s. Open fields, working farm, and a forest attracted the Continental Army.

The farm and the forest provided supplies to the soldiers. And the house was the winter quarters of General St. Clair. It is impressive to see the original house still standing after nearly 275 years.

The 2,000-person soldier camp left a mark on the property. A lot of trees were cut down for building supplies and firewood.

You could explore the interior of the Wick House at your own pace or join an infrequent guided tour. Furniture pieces in the house show the general quarters.

Park volunteers are often present in the Wick House. This is your chance to learn more about the crafts of that time.

There is a small but well maintained garden next to the Wick House. You could still find fruit, vegetables, and berries grown in this garden.

7. New Jersey Brigade Area

Once you finish exploring Jockey Hollow unit, you could choose to visit the New Jersey Brigade Area. This is the last unit of the park. It is 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Jockey Hollow.

The New Jersey Brigade arrived in Morristown later than other troops. By that time there was no room for another camp at Jockey Hollow. The troops moved and built their cabins a few miles south.

This area is somewhat similar to both Fort Nonsense and Grand Parade. There are no cabins left in the New Jersey Brigade Area. You would need to rely on exhibits and your imagination when visiting this unit.

It is worth noting that the exhibits are a good walk from any parking lot. A hike from the Cross Estate parking lot is a 1.5-mi (2.4-km) round trip hike. A hike from Jockey Hollow is a 5.1-mi (8.2-km) loop.

It might be too much of an effort to see a few exhibits in a forest. You might prefer to get a similar experience with a much shorter walk at Fort Nonsense.

8. Cross Estate

The New Jersey Brigade Area alone might not be a good reason for a hike. But you should still consider taking a trip to the nearby Cross Estate. This is a free park you could enjoy at your own pace.

There is plenty to see at the Cross Estate. You could admire the 1905 mansion from the outside. The Water Tower is another beautiful structure. It looks nothing like the one in Ramapo Mountain State Forest.

The Cross Estate Gardens are gorgeous in the spring and early summer. You will find formal and native gardens and a mountain-laurel alley at the Cross Estate.

There are guided tours of the Gardens each Wednesday. The park suggests a donation of $10 per person if you take the tour.

This setup is a bit similar to New Jersey Botanical Garden next to the Skylands Manor in Ringwood State Park. You could also visit the Estate during the annual plant sale if you would like to buy some plants.

9. Speedwell Lake

As you make your way back to Morristown, you should make a stop at Speedwell Lake Park. This park has a human made lake and a paved path on the lakeshore.

The stone dam ensures a steady flow of water. As a result, it is very easy to capture reflections in the lake. Speedwell Lake Park is a perfect place to enjoy fall foliage.

If the views alone are not enough to lure you into visiting this park, check out the park history. The Factory Building at Historic Speedwell was the place of the first telegraph demonstration.

You could now tour the Factory Building at your own pace. The exhibits and information boards will tell you more about the telegraph technology and the history of Morristown.

Continue with this Morristown National Historical Park Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Morristown National Historical Park

The name of the park gives away its location. Most sights of this park are in Morristown and Morris Township in New Jersey.

But there are some exceptions. Jockey Hollow and Wick House are in Harding Township to the south. New Jersey Brigade Area and Cross Estate are in Bernardsville Borough.

When you search the park name, Google Maps bring you to the Washington’s Headquarters Museum and Ford Mansion.

You could take public transport if you plan on visiting Morristown from New York City. Board a Morristown line (MNE) train.

A train ride from New York Penn station to Morristown station takes 1 hour and 17 minutes. A one way adult ticket is $14.

It is possible to go from Ford Mansion to Fort Nonsense on foot. But you need a car to reach Jockey Hollow and New Jersey Brigade Area. It takes at least half a hour to drive between the park units.

Out-of-state visitors could fly to any of New York City area airports. But Newark Liberty (EWR) airport is by far the closest. You could reach the park from Newark in less than 30 minutes by car.

A drive from LaGuardia (LGA) and JFK goes through Manhattan or toll bridges. It takes at least 3 times as long. You might also have to pay toll on the way back to return your rental car in New York.

Where to Stay near Morristown

There are lots of places to stay thanks to the park location in the residential area. Your budget per night and preferences determine what hotel you should choose.

Hyatt Regency Morristown is in the center of the town. It is about halfway between Ford Mansion and Fort Nonsense park units.

Best Western PLUS Morristown Inn is a bit further south, closer to Interstate Highway I-287. It is also a solid choice when visiting Morristown National Historical Park.

You need to drive further to Parsippany-Troy Hills and Rockaway to find more affordable places to stay. Sonesta ES Suites Parsippany Morris Plains offers a balance between price and distance to the park.

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Rockaway and Homewood Suites by Hilton Dover – Rockaway are also good choices. They are 20 minutes northwest from the park.

The location of these places to stay could also be a good reason to visit other sights in the area. You could stop by Waterloo Village Historic Site, Hurd Park, or even Delaware Water Gap.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Morristown National Historical Park does not charge entrance fees. You could visit the park and all of its units for free. This is one time you could leave your America the Beautiful annual pass at home.

The grounds of all park units are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All park buildings are closed on Thanksgiving Day. The park visitor centers and museums have shorter opening hours throughout the year.

This applies to the Washington’s Headquarters Museum, Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, and Wick House. They are open from Thursday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

You could only visit Ford Mansion on a guided tour. The tours run at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. when the Washington’s Headquarters Museum is open.

The tour spots become available on the day of the tour. While the tour is free, you still need to get a ticket at the nearby Museum.

The park encourages the visitors who failed to get a ticket, to explore Ford Mansion online. While the pictures are beautiful, they do not do this house museum justice. Try to tour it in person if you can.

You could visit the Wick House on a self guided tour from Thursday to Sunday. There is also an option to join a free guided tour of this building.

But there is no set tour schedule. It is best to check with a park ranger at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center when you arrive.

New Jersey Brigade Area is part of the Cross Estate Gardens. The Cross Estate is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (summer) or until 5 p.m. (winter).

Takeaways: Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park is a nice destination to visit in Morris and Somerset Counties of New Jersey. The park has a combination of house museums, gardens, and scenic viewpoints.

Morristown is close to major highways (I-287, I-280, I-80, and I-78) and New York City metro area. As a result, it is easy to take an educational day trip to Morristown on a weekend.

There are a few things to remember when planning a trip to Morristown. You should try to visit from Thursday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. And not all units are equal in this park.

Unless you enjoy military history, you might not find the Grand Parade and New Jersey Army Brigade Area enlightening.

But any history lover should make a stop at Ford Mansion, Washington’s Headquarter Museum, and Wick House. Fort Nonsense and Cross Estate are good places for scenic views.

Morristown is hardly a must-visit park for out-of-state travelers. But Ford Mansion is worth a short detour from Interstate Highway I-287.

Take a look at this Morristown National Historical Park Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!