The Cooper Gristmill, Chester (Morris County)

The Cooper Gristmill was built in 1826 and is one of the remaining restored water-powered mills in New Jersey. It's located in Chester. The mill, with its water wheel, power shafts, gear and 2,00-pound millstone, is a living example of the state's economic transition from agriculture to industry.

 

The Paterson Falls, Paterson (Passaic County)

The Great Falls of Paterson rise 77 feet on the Passaic River. One of the United States' largest waterfalls, it played a significant role in the industrial development of New Jersey starting in the earliest days of the nation. It was formed at the end of the last ice age approximately 13,000 years ago when the river found a new route around the north end of the Watchung Mountains, carving spectacular falls through the underlying basalt. In 1778, Alexander Hamilton visited the falls and was impressed by its potential for industry; later as Secretary of Treasury, he selected the site as the nation's first planned industrial city. In 1792, Paterson was established centered around the Great Falls. From humble mills rose industries that changed the face of the United States.

 

Ocean City Fishing Pier, Ocean City (Cape May County)

The Ocean City Fishing Club opened its first pier and clubhouse in 1916. It is presently the only on-ocean fishing pier in the city and it is one of the most photographed sites in Ocean City. The pier extends 635 feet southeast from the boardwalk.

 

Wheaton Mansion, Millville (Cumberland County)

The west bank of the Maurice River once was home to the Cargill Granary, a once global supplier of chicken feed. One believed reason why the granary was abandoned was due to the difficult navigation around the river dike; large barges found it challenging to get up the river and to turn around. The area was also known for sand mining for over 50 years. Stone ruins of a late 1700's house can also be found, which was known as the Wheaton Mansion; it was a local favorite for World War II soldiers from the nearby airbase to stop for a hot, homecooked meal. It was inhabited until the 1980's, and seems to have experienced a fire at one point; the remaining wood is charred and brittle.

 

Historic Smithville Park, Eastampton (Burlington County)

Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton, with its centerpiece circa 1840 Greek Revival Mansion is set in one of the few remaining “intact” Victorian Industrial-era villages in the region. Filled with history and some fascinating, homegrown architecture, Historic Smithville Park has experiences to offer visitors from all walks of life. With access to a beautiful stretch of the Rancocas Creek, Smithville Lake, and hiking trails, this park provides 280 acres of upland forest, wooded wetlands, and historic village for hiking, canoeing, fishing, picnicking, historical tours, wildlife observation, and biking

 

The Glen Rock, Glen Rock (Bergen County)

Glen Rock is named for a 570-ton boulder, believed to have been deposited by a glacier, that stands at the northern end of Rock Road, the town's main street. Called Pamackapuka, or Stone from Heaven, by the Delaware Indians, it served as a base for Indian signal fires and later as a trail marker for colonists. In 1921 a bronze plaque was installed on the rock in memory of residents who died in WWI, and it was declared a landmark by the State Office of Historic Sites in 1964.

 

Lambert Caste, Paterson (Passaic County)

Lambert Castle, originally called Belle Vista, is located within the Garret Mountain Reservation in Paterson. The building was built in 1892 as the home of Catholina Lambert, the owner of a prominent silk mill in the City of Paterson Constructed in the Medieval Revival architectural style, Mr. Lambert's dream was to build a home reminiscent of the castles in Great Britain. President William McKinley and Vice President Garret Hobart visited the castle in 1898. After Lambert's death in 1923, his family sold the building to the City of Paterson, which sold it to Passaic County a few years later

 

Tear Drop Memorial, Bayonne (Hudson County)

"To the Struggle Against World Terrorism" is a 10-story sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli that was given to the US as a gift from the Russian government in memorial to the 9/11 attacks. It sits right at the end of the Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne.

 

The Hermitage, Ho-Ho-Kus (Bergen County)

The Hermitage is a Gothic Revival house built in 1847-48 in Ho-Ho-Kus from designs by architect William H Ranlett. Members of the Ronsencrantz family owned the estate between 1807 to 1970. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark for the excellence of its architecture.

 

Spring Lake Pedestrian Bridge, Spring Lake (Monmouth County)

The wooden pedestrian foot bridge over Spring Lake

 

Maurice River Bluffs Preserve, Millville (Cumberland County)

The Maurice River Bluffs Preserve is named for its majestic rounded cliffs overlooking the Maurice River. This 500-acre preserve offers hilly terrain not often found in south Jersey, and it's a crucial stopover habitat for migrating and breeding birds. The preserve also hosts productive freshwater ponds and unique plan community, including New Jersey's largest contiguous wild rice marshes. It also includes six miles of hiking trails.

 

Asbury Park Boardwalk, Asbury Park (Monmouth County)

James A Bradley, New York brush manufacturer, founded Asbury Park in 1871. Shortly after, a beach boardwalk was constructed featuring an orchestra pavilion, public changing rooms, and a pier extending into the Atlantic Ocean. This attracted entrepreneurs, entertainers, and tourists from all over. As Asbury Park's popularity increased, the size and offerings of the boardwalk expanded; in the 1920's, the Paramount Theater and Convention Hall ushered in a new era of music and performing arts.

 

Colgate Clock, Jersey City (Hudson County)

The Colgate Clock is large clock facing the Hudson River in Jersey City. It was once perched at the top of the Colgate Plant in Jersey City, and was built in 1926.

 

Island Beach State Park, Berkeley Township (Ocean County)

Island beach State Park has been shaped by storms and tides; it's a narrow barier island stretching 10 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. Miles of sand dunes and white sandy beaches offer habitat to maritime plans and diverse wildlife that is almost the same as it was thousands of years ago. Island Beach State Park contains outstanding examples of plant communities such as primary dunes, thicket, freshwater wetlands, maritime forest and tidal marshes. The state's largest osprey colony, as well as peregrine falcons, wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and migrating songbirds are found here. Island Beach is nationally known as a unique resource with over 400 plants identified, including the largest expanse of beach heather in New Jersey.

 

Prallsville Mills, Stockton (Hunterdon County)

The Prallsville Mills are significant as a representation of an early 19th to early 20th century village industrial complex that has not been affected by the late 20th century suburban growth. The building structures date back to circa 1790. John Prall, Jr., a local businessman and veteran of the American Revolution, turned the small gristmill operation into an industrial complex that included the milling of linseed oil and lumber. After his death in 1831, the mills and surrounding land were sold to William Hoppock and John Wilson and significant advances in transportation took place under their ownership. Two most important improvements, a canal and a railroad, crossed this site and served the industry's commerce needs. Hoppock and Eilson executed a deed with the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company in the 1830's to locate the canal on the property. and in the 1850's the Belvidere and Delaware Railroad, ran alongside the canal. It ceased operations in 1969

 

Battery 223, Lower Township (Cape May County)

This massive concrete bunker built as a military struct during World War II is still sitting on the beach in Cape May. The walls measure seven feet thick, and it was constructed on top of thick wooden pilings. It is assumed that the bunker once held munitions. It was built in 1942, and a sister bunker stands across the bay in Lewes, Delaware.

 

High Point State Park, Montague (Sussex County)

High Point, the summit of the Kittatinny Ridge, rises 1,803 feet above sea level — the highest elevation in the state of New Jersey. Atop the mountain’s summit is the High Point Monument, dedicated to New Jersey’s veterans. This monument and the more than 16,000 acres that comprised High Point State Park were the generous gifts of Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser in 1923.

 

Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark (Essex County)

The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark is the fifth-largest cathedral in North America; it's the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Construction began in 1899 and finished in 1954. It's a French Gothic Revival style.

 

Victor Victori's Multiplism Statues, Rutherford (Bergen County)

Seven golden statues are "striving to capture the mysteries of the gods while reflecting on humanity" in Victori's now signature style of painting, "Multiplism." This artistic movement strives to capture a simultaneous image of the subject's various connected movements or to depict the shifts in emotion expressed by an individual. The artist is retired and lives in Rutherford.

 

Cathedral of the Air, Lakehurst (Ocean County)

Conceived by the National chaplain of the American Legion, the Cathedral of the Air was erected in 1932 to serve as a place of worship for the nearby military base, but also to do something considerably more rare: commemorate the history of aviation on it’s incredible stained glass windows. Shining from the colorful stained glass are beautiful depictions of humanity’s quest to reach the heavens. It begins with the myths of Pegasus and Icarus’ wax wings. The 18 panels then gradually lead along the history of human flight, from experimentation with lighter-than-air travel such as zeppelin airships to the Wright Brothers pioneering airplane flight. The chapel is located near the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, a join base with Fort Dix.

 

The Red Mill, Clinton (Hunterdon County)

The Red Mill was an operational mill between 1810 and 1928. Built as a wool mill, it eventually expanded to grinding feed, flour and stone plaister, as well as selling chestnut wood for rails, grinding grist, graphite and talc. The ownership of the mill was sold several times until it was sold to the Clinton Water Supply Company and it ceased operations. 

St Mary's Episcopal Church, Burlington (Burlington County)

St. Mary's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal parish in Burlington. The original church was built in 1703. It was supplemented with a new church on adjacent land in 1854. It is a National Historic Landmark. It is the first and oldest Episcopal congregation in New Jersey.

 

Kipp's Castle, Verona (Essex County)

Kipp's Castle in Verona is a 9,000 square foot mansion that replicates a medieval Norman castle. The estate spans eleven acres of land on the ridge of First Mountain, and provides views of New York City. The exteriors of both the castle and the 6,000 square foot, two story carriage house are constructed of local trap rock trimmed with sandstone. The interior of the castle consists of thirty distinguished rooms of varying shapes which include vaulted ceilings and six ornate fireplaces.

 

Gingerbread Castle, Hamburg (Sussex County)

The Gingerbread Castle was originally a fairy tale themed amusement park located in Hamburg, New Jersey. The castle was designed in 1928 by the Austrian architect and set designer Joseph Urban. It was commissioned by F.H. Bennett, who was the owner of F.H. Bennett Biscuit Company in New York City. Bennett bought the New Jersey property in 1921 to expand his operations and open the Wheatsworth Mills. Bennett was inspired to create his version of a fairytale castle on the property after seeing Urban’s set design work at a performance of “Hansel and Gretel” at the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to this, Bennett drew a lot of his inspiration for the castle from his fond childhood memories of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The castle opened in 1930 and quickly became a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, by the early 1980s, the castle began its decline from a beloved amusement park to a decrepit castle. Throughout the years, the castle and its surrounding property have gone through many transformations, including being a nightclub and at another point a haunted house. In 2004, New Jersey resident Frank Hinger purchased the property and began to restore the castle with assistance from grants, fundraisers, and loyal fans of the castle. Despite his noble efforts, the property became too expensive for him to fully revitalize. A real estate developer bought the property, including the castle and the former Wheatsworth Mills factory. The developer made promises to continue with the restoration efforts, but so far nothing has been done. The castle is decaying and falling into a severe state of disrepair. The property is currently fenced off with an alarm system, but it can still be seen from the road. 

 

Princeton University, Princeton (Mercer County)

Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. The institution moved to Newark in 1747, then to the current site nine years later. It was renamed Princeton University in 1896.

 

The John Fell House, Allendale (Bergen County)

The historic John Fell House is named in recognition of Founding Father, John Fell, a revolutionary war patriot, who purchased the property in Allendale in 1766. The house is located on the march route of Rochambeau's army, on its way in 1781 to Yorktown, Virginia and the Siege of Yorktown that would decide the American Revolutionary War. The house is operated by the Concerned Citizens of Allendale and sits on 2.8 acres of land which includes the stately home, the Gothic Revival Barn, wetland and old-growth trees.

 

The Blue Hole, Monroe Township (Gloucester County)

The Blue Hole is located in the Pinelands of Gloucester County. It's a clear blue body of water in the middle of a dense forest, with many similar lakes in its vicinity. The water has hot and cold spots, averaging 58-60 Fahrenheit. The lake's color is unusual as most lakes and ponds in the area are brownish. The Blue Hole is circular and about 70 feet across. It has largely been abandoned though local continue to visit and use it as a party spot. There is also quicksand in the immediate vicinity.

 

Battleship New Jersey, Camden (Camden County)

The USS New Jersey (BB-62) was launched in 1942 and earned the most battle stars for combat action than any other Iowa-class battleship at the time. It was the only US battleship providing gunfire support during the Vietnam War. During WWII, it shelled targets on Guam and Okinawa, and screened aircraft carriers conducting raids in the Marshall Islands. During the Korean War, she was involved in raids up and down the North Korean coast. She was decommissioned 1968. In the 1980's as part of the 600-ship Navy program, the New Jersey was modernized to carry missiles and recommissioned for service. In 1983, she participated in US operations during the Labenese Civil War and was decommissioned for the last time in 1991

 

Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne (Passaic County)

Laurelwood Arboretum is 30-acre botanically diverse property located in Wayne. Laurelwood features woodland trails and gardens, wildlife, two ponds, streams and hundred of varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas, and other unusual species of plants and trees. Gravel paths wind and connect through the arboretum, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers, hikers, runners, birdwatchers, artists and photographers

 

Holmdel Horn Antenna, Holmdel (Monmouth County)

The Holmdel Horn Antenna is a large microwave horn antenna that was used as a satellite communication antenna and radio telescope during the 1960's at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Holmdel. It was associated with the research work of 2 radio astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. Using this antenna in 1965, Penzias and Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation that permeates the universe; this was one of the most important discoveries in physical cosmology since Edwin Hubble demonstrated in the 1920's that the universe was expanding. It provided the evidence that confirmed the "Big Bang" theory of the creation of the universe. In 1978, Penzias and Wilson received the Nobel Prize for Physics for their discovery.

 

The White Hill Mansion, Fieldsboro (Burlington County)

The White Hill Mansion is Fieldsboro was built in 1722 by Robert Field. Field was a successful merchant and an advocate of the American Revolution, but in 1775 he mysteriously drowned in the Delaware River. After Field's death, his young wife Mary was left the house where she also cared for their three children. During the Revolutionary War, Mrs. Field was reported by her loyalist neighbors as a rebel supporter after she had dinner with American naval Captain Tom Houston and his officers. Soon after her home was invaded by the British in search for hidden soldiers. In 1777, General Washington put orders for Colonial Captain Thomas Read and Captain John Barry to dock the American ships at White Hill. Mrs. Field eventually ended up marrying Commodore Thomas Read in 1779 and he made White Hill Mansion his home until his death in 1788. The home remained a private residence even housing a U.S. Senator, entrepreneurs, and rum runners. In 1923, Heindrich and Katrina Glenk turned it into Glenk's Mansion House Restaurant. The restaurant served New Jersey's upper-class for the next 50 years. In 1999, the property had fallen into disarray and there was talk of it being abolished. The local community seeking the preservation of the home came to rescue and by 2012 it was placed on the New Jersey State Register of Historic Places. It is reportedly haunted with sightings of a featureless “shadow man” and other incidences including ghost chatter, sounds of children playing in the nursery, and sounds of footsteps at the stairs in the middle of the night

 

The Dey Mansion, Wayne (Passaic County)

The Dey Mansion, located in Wayne, played an integral role in the American Revolutionary War. Built by Colonoel Theunis Dey in 1770's it served as Washington's Headquarters on several occassions. During his stay Washington and his advisers stayed in the mansion; he also had numerous visitors including Benedict Arnold. It is here where Washington learned that the French allied support had landed in Newport, Rhode Island, and during his stay at the Dey Mansion General Benedict Arnold's treason became evident.

 

The Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove (Monmouth County)

The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove was constructed in 1894. The wooden building rests on bridge-like steel trusses laid on stone foundations and it features numerous "barn door" entrances with colored glass, dormers, and panels that open for ventilation.. Originally the Auditorium was claimed to hold 10,000 people, but over the years many of the smaller wooden seats were replaced, reducing the capacity to 6,250 people. The Auditorium has superb acoustics resulting from its barrel-vaulted wooden ceiling; famed conductor Leonard Bernstein once compared it to Carnegie Hall. The illuminated Memorial Cross was placed on the Auditorium's front façade at the end of WWII in 1946. It houses a pipe organ that is one of the 20 largest in the world.

 

Ramapo Valley County Reservation, Mahwah (Bergen County)

The Ramapo Reservation located in Mahwah is a very popular Bergen County Park. Many visitors walk around Scarlett Oak Pond, a former gravel quarry. The park offers wide varieties of hikes, from scenic waterfalls to challenging mountain trails along the eastern tier of the Rampo Mountains. Several of its trails connect Ringwood State Park to the west, Ramapo Mountain State Forest to the southwest, and Camp Glen Gray to the south, making possible a wide variety of rugged day-long hikes.

 

Washington's Crossing State Park, Titusville (Mercer County)

On December 25, 1776, the icy waters of the Delaware River provided the setting for one of the pivotal events of the American Revolution. The Continental Army had little to celebrate that Christmas and seemed beat by hunger and cold. After crossing the rough winter river at night, General George Washington and the Continental Army landed at Johnson’s Ferry, at the site now known as Washington Crossing State Park. At 4 am, they began their march to Trenton where they defeated the Hessian troops in an unexpected attack. This battle was quickly followed by the Second Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777, and the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777.

 

Weehawken Dueling Grounds, Weehawken (Hudson County)

The Weehawken Dueling Grounds is the location of where Vice-President Aaron Burr shot and killed former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Burr and Hamilton had a strong dislike for each other for years prior to the duel, but tensions reached a boiling point when Burr alleged Hamilton defamed his character during Burr's 1804 New York gubernatorial race. A duel was scheduled for July 11, 1804 in Weehawken, New Jersey.

 

Cheesequake State Park, Old Bridge (Middlesex County)

Cheesequake State Park's uniqueness lies in its geographical location. Not only is it situated in the middle of the urban north and the suburban south, it lies in a transitional zone between two different ecosystems. Open fields, saltwater and freshwater marshes, a white cedar swamp, Pine Barrens, and a northeastern hardwood forest are the main characteristics of the park.

 

Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May (Cape May County)

The Cape May Lighthouse was built in 1859 and continues operation to this day. It is the third fully documented lighthouse to be built at Cape May Point; the first was built in 1823 and the second in 1847, but the exact locations of the first two lighthouses are now underwater due to erosion. There are 199 steps to the top of the Lighthouse; the view at the top extends to Cape May City and Wildwood to the north.

 

Iviswold Castle, Rutherford (Bergen County)

Originally built in 1868 by the New York newspaperman and land developer Lloyd W. Tomkins, this structure was a two-story home. But after David Brinkerhoff Ivison, president of the American Book Company, bought it in 1887 he turned the building into a three-story turreted mansionwith25 rooms, including a music room and a carriage porch. In the 1930's and indoor pool was installed on the second floor, the walls of which can still be seen in parts of the castle. It was bought in the 1970's by Farleigh Dickinson University and they built a campus around it.

 

Brooksbrae Terracotta Brick Factory, Manchester Township (Ocean County)

In its heyday, the Brooksbrae Brick Company had the ability to produce thousands of bricks a day; however, many doubt the factory ever reached operational status. The owner of the factory, William J. Kelly, died in 1908 before the factory was up to full speed. Due to complications within his will, all of Kelley's assets were frozen, halting all of the facilities' operations. In 1915, railroad workers from Central Railroad of New Jersey went on strike near Brooksbrae. To avoid any damages to the factory, a caretaker was assigned to watch over the property. One winter night, the elderly caretaker and his wife lit a fire in the stove to warm up the residence. However, they didn't check or clean the chimney's flue causing a massive fire, killing the couple. After the issues with Kelley's will were resolved, the factory was sold. Due to the deaths on the property the factory was left incomplete. The area is now a popular graffiti and art spot.

 

Hacklebarney State Park, Chester (Morris County)

Hacklebarney State Park has the freshwater Black River as its centerpiece, cascading around boulders in the hemlock-lined ravine. Two tributaries, Rinehart and Trout Brooks, also course their way through the glacial valley, feeding the Black River. This park is a favorite place for avid anglers, hikers and picnickers, yet in the 19th century the park was a mined iron ore site.

 

Lake Solitude Dam, High Bridge (Hunterdon County)

The Lake Solitude Dam (Waterfall) was originally constructed in 1859 to provide hydro-power and hydro-electric power to the Taylor Iron and Steel Company. This dam structure is the earliest example of a steel reinforced dam, and the last remaining example of a buttress dam left in the state of New Jersey.

 

Mary Ellis Burial Site, New Brunswick (Middlesex County)

The Mary Ellis grave is marked by an 1828 gravestone located in the parking lot of movie theater in New Brunswick. The Mary Ellis grave is one of several on the small plot, all the interred being interrelated. After Mary Ellis's burial, the family home and property eventually became part of a developed shopping center. The grave remained in what became a parking lot for many businesses. It rest about seven feet above the level of the parking lot ever since the site was re-graded for development.

 

Princeton Battlefield State Park, Princeton (Mercer County)

The Princeton Battlefield in Princeton is where American and British troops fought each other on January 3, 1777 in the Battle of Princeton during the American Revolutionary War. The battle ended when the British soldiers in Nassau Hall surrendered. This success, following those at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776 and the Battle of the Assunpink Creek the day before, helped improve American morale

 

Lucy the Elephant, Margate City (Atlantic County)

Lucy the Elephant is a 6-story elephant, constructed of wood and tin sheeting in 1881 by James V. Lafferty in Margate City. Originally named Lucy Bazaar, Lucy was built to promote real estate sales and attract tourism. Lucy is the oldest surviving roadside tourist attraction in America. In 2020, Lucy began allowing overnight stays as an Air BNB and marked the first time Lucy had been inhabited by humans since it was rented as a home in the early 1900s.