Want to check out NJ Revolutionary War sites this July 4th? Find historic sites near you

Editor's note: This article was published in April 2022.

New Jersey has long been known as the crossroads of the American Revolution, but historians say it's more accurate to say the Garden State was in the crosshairs of the War of Independence.

New Jersey has numerous historic war sites, but until recently, there was no central location that listed all of them.

Little Falls resident Al Frazza compiled the list, first on a website, and most recently in a book. All important historic Revolutionary War sites in the state are included in the effort, which he first thought would take a few months but actually turned into a seven-year journey.

Frazza's compilation of sites is very timely, historians say, as the country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

Passaic County Historian Ed Smyk is grateful for Frazza's work to bring to life the struggle for liberty waged by the country's forefathers.

"He's done a tremendous service," Smyk said. "He's a private citizen enlarging our knowledge and is beneficial to the general public."

The long list includes Morristown's Jockey Hollow, sites in Princeton, Trenton and Monmouth where significant battles were fought, and locations in Rifle Camp in Woodland Park and the fort and visitor center in Fort Lee.

While some of the sites were easy to find, such as the location of the Pompton Mutiny or the Federal Hill Rebellion in Bloomingdale, others required a bit of investigating.

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Frazza began to assemble the list of sites in 2009 and completed it in 2017.

"I had thought it would take a few months," he said. "I didn't know it would turn into a seven-year, 10,000-hour project."

He hopes people will connect with their towns and state in the role they played in the Revolution.

"I want people to know what happened right where they are standing," he said.

When it comes to the Revolutionary War, people think Boston, Yorktown, Saratoga and Trenton are the most significant sites, but they need to know that all of New Jersey played a part, Frazza said.

James Lewis, a historian with the Morristown & Morris Township library's North Jersey History & Genealogy Center, said Gen. George Washington spent more time in New Jersey during the war than in any other colony.

"There were more battles in this state, but it seems no one remembers us," Lewis said.

Frazza last month published his book: "State of Revolution: My Seven-and-a-Half-Year Journey Through Revolutionary War New Jersey."

The book alternates between stories of the Revolutionary War and Frazza’s experience exploring the state — including some humorous anecdotes of his journey.

For New Jerseyans, the book and website draw on evidence scattered all around the state, the historic homesteads, battlefields and roadside signs.

Frazza's website provides directions to the various locations and a few surprises.

New Jersey's historic sites

Frazza's Revolutionary War website is broken down by counties and municipalities. The list links to more detailed information.

In Bergen County, the list begins with Alpine's Palisades Interstate Park Huyler's Landing on the Hudson River, which commemorates General Cornwall's crossing of the Hudson River from New York City on the night of Nov. 19, 1776. The county's last entry is Westwood's Bogert's Mill Site at Mill Street and First Avenue, the site of the earliest grist mill in this area and one of Washington's stops.

In Passaic County, the list includes Bloomindale's Federal Hill Historic Site, the site of the Pompton Mutiny on Route 511 and Union Avenue, Wayne's Dey Mansion on Totowa Road, another of Washington's encampment sites, and, among dozens more, the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park on McBride Avenue and Spruce Street, where George "Washington, Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton and aide-de-camp James McHenry picnicked by the Great Falls during the Revolutionary War on July 10, 1778," according to the website.

Morris County has dozens of important war sites, with the most found in Morristown, including a number of cemetery locations, the Green at the center of town, the Morristown National Historical Park and the Ford Mansion and Washington Headquarters Museum at 230 Morris Ave.

The Sussex County list includes a handful of sites such as Andover Iron Works, known for the "high quality of iron they produced," the website read. The iron was used for weapons.

Frazza also lists obscure facts about the state's part in the war.

Greenwich, part of Cumberland County, had its own tea party in 1774. In Manahawkin, the Affair at Cedar Bridge occurred almost a year after the British surrendered at Yorktown.

Frazza said his most pleasant discovery was learning about the various skirmishes along the Watchung Mountains, which served as the boundary between the British and American troops and where Washington kept an eye on the enemy.

"I liked how a geological feature formed millions of years ago played such an important role," he said.

Matt Fagan is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: fagan@northjersey.com

Twitter: @fagan_nj 

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Full list of NJ Revolutionary War sites: Visit one near you