New Jersey occupies a unique spot in the national consciousness and has become most famous in recent years as the setting for popular television shows such as “Jersey Shore” and “The Sopranos.” However, as one of the oldest states in the Union, New Jersey claims a large number of historic sites and notable places. The most famous places in New Jersey encapsulate many of the traits than define American culture and history.
It Happened Here
- New Jersey was a prominent location throughout the American Revolution, and there are many historic sites associated with the founding fathers. Two notable houses, Rockingham House in Kingston and Wallace House in Somerville, served as General Washington’s headquarters for portions of the conflict. The oldest lighthouse in the United States, in Sandy Hook, survived numerous attacks from British forces. In Lakehurst, visitors can view the crash site of the famed Hindenburg and visit a museum dedicated to the aircraft. American poet Walt Whitman spent the final decade of his life in Camden, and his restored home serves as a museum and memorial to the great writer.
Good Times in Jersey
- Residents of New Jersey know how to have a good time, and two of the state’s most famous places are devoted to recreation. Atlantic City offers an intense collection of activities. The oldest boardwalk in the country features a nightly 3-D light show. The HQ Beach Club at Revel, a swimming pool lounge, provides a unique spin on dance clubs. Atlantic City's boardwalk is lined with casinos, including Caesars, Trump Taj Mahal, Bally's and the Tropicana. Atlantic City is just a part of the other great New Jersey recreational space, the Jersey Shore, which offers miles of white sand beaches from Sandy Hook to Cape May and one of the most celebrated club cultures in the world. Visitors can enjoy exceptional people watching and explore a vast array of bars and eateries, but should be aware the coastline suffered significant damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Oddball Attractions
- New Jersey prides itself on its individual character, and the state’s left-of-the-dial attractions provide an example of this. Margate Beach offers oceanfront scenery and features Lucy the Elephant. This 65-foot-tall wooden elephant has served many functions, most famously as a saloon, and now persists as a National Historic Landmark. Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Beemerville pays tribute to roadside museums. Space Farm’s most famous resident, Goliath the bear, died in 1991, though visitors can still view his stuffed corpse. The Edison Museum and Memorial Tower in Menlo Park features the World’s Largest Light Bulb. Train aficionados should not miss Northlandz in Flemington, an extensive model railroad attraction.
The Great Outdoors in Jersey
- Notable outdoor sites in New Jersey offer an excellent opportunity for some fresh air. Liberty State Park contains the dock that once welcomed overseas immigrants, and guests can still catch a ferry to Ellis Island. Monmouth State Park celebrates one of the largest battles of the American Revolution and features miles of rural landscape with a Revolutionary-era farmhouse. Princeton State Park memorializes what many consider the fiercest battle of the war and features the famed Mercer Oak, where General Hugh Mercer fell during the battle. For some ocean air, make a visit to Cape May, the oldest seaside resort in the country. The quaint town features an 1859 lighthouse, historic inns and Victorian architecture.
