New Jersey Historic Trust

New Jersey Historic Trust The New Jersey Historic Trust was created by law in 1967 to preserve New Jersey's historic resources across the state.

The Mission of the Trust is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that save our heritage and strengthen our communities. The Historic Trust seeks to achieve its mission by serving as:
- A leading voice for preservation at the state level
- A catalyst for preservation and community revita

lization activities
- A full partner in state policy development
- A technical and financial resource for the stewardship of historic properties

The New Jersey Historic Trust has accomplished much since its creation in 1967. Millions of dollars have been invested and hundreds of buildings having been restored, but there are still many additional historic preservation needs to be addressed. The preservation and revitalization of historic neighborhoods and communities have become as important as the preservation of individual sites. Sprawl, development, and demolition are eroding New Jersey’s historic buildings, sites and countryside. In 2006, to begin addressing these challenges, the Historic Trust set for itself the following goals:
- Establish stable sources of funding to support activities that contribute directly to the preservation and use of New Jersey’s heritage resources.
- Increase visibility for heritage preservation and its ability to contribute to the vitality of New Jersey’s economy and communities.
- Support effective collaboration among all state-level preservation related endeavors to maximize the public benefits from these efforts. The Trust intends to advance historic preservation in New Jersey through state policies, funding programs, and education initiatives.

The West Cape May historic district features a well-preserved collection of late 19th and early 20th-century buildings, ...
09/01/2026

The West Cape May historic district features a well-preserved collection of late 19th and early 20th-century buildings, primarily residential structures. These buildings showcase various architectural styles popular during that era, providing a visual timeline of the area's development. The historic district reflects the borough's growth and development, particularly during its transition from a rural farming community to a seaside resort destination. This transformation occurred alongside the broader development of Cape May as a popular vacation spot. The development of these historic homes and buildings is closely tied to the economic growth of West Cape May, illustrating the prosperity brought by tourism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The West Cape May Historic District has been certified as eligible for listing on the NJ Register of Historic Places and it is also included in the Cape May Historic District which is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The Borough of West Cape May was awarded a 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant that will help fund the preparation of revised Design Guidelines and an Intensive Level Survey.

Old Town Hall, a fine example of a combined fire station and town hall, was constructed when Woodland Park separated fro...
08/25/2026

Old Town Hall, a fine example of a combined fire station and town hall, was constructed when Woodland Park separated from Little Falls in 1914. The building was designed to house the municipality’s fire apparatus, equipment storage, and police station on the ground floor, and town offices and council chambers on the second. The building straddled the emerging central business district and adjacent suburban residential areas, which is seen in the articulation of the architecture. The architect, William T. Fanning, prominent in Paterson, chose the Craftsman style, a popular residential style at the time, but with proportions and regular patterns often seen in civic institutions, making this a fine example of a Craftsman style civic building. Old Town Hall retains a high degree of architectural integrity on the exterior and interior and retains its original relationship with the property and surrounding neighborhood.

Old Town Hall functioned as a municipal building and fire station until 1955, by which time the fire department had relocated to a different building. By 2004 a new building had been constructed to meet the needs of both the police department and the township, leaving Old Town Hall vacant. By 2018, the building was in a state of ruin and being considered for demolition. The Little Falls Historical Society intervened by entering into an agreement with the Township of Little Falls to spearhead the rehabilitation of the building as a community center and is presently engaged in a long-term lease with the Township allowing them to make capital improvements.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant will help fund rehabilitation of the first floor including restoration of the tin ceiling, structural repairs and upgrades, installation of new and historically appropriate doors and windows, and upgrades to existing utilities.

The General Godfrey House is listed on state and national registers due to its association with Brigadier General Edward...
08/20/2026

The General Godfrey House is listed on state and national registers due to its association with Brigadier General Edward S. Godfrey, who served with Custer at Little Bighorn and in the Spanish American War. Though the house dates to the mid-18th century, its significant period is 1907-1932, when General Godfrey lived there after marrying into the Emley family. The house remained in the Emley family for six generations before being sold in 1932, and has undergone no major changes since Godfrey's death that same year.

New Hanover Township recently completed the second phase of much needed exterior repairs that addressed additional areas of vulnerability caused by ongoing water infiltration as well as failing roof drainage and finishes. The project was funded by a 2024 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant.

Built in the 1870s, 204 West State Street stands as a rare example of preserved Victorian architecture in Trenton's Stat...
08/18/2026

Built in the 1870s, 204 West State Street stands as a rare example of preserved Victorian architecture in Trenton's State House Historic District. While most buildings along "Pride of Lions Row" have been converted to offices with modernized interiors, this structure has retained its original character for over half a century since contributing to the district's National Register listing in 1976. The building showcases eclectic Victorian-era design through its distinctive exterior features: stepped brickwork, terra cotta decorative frieze, and a recessed entrance adorned with wrought iron railings. The use of brownstone—uncommon in Trenton—sets Pride of Lions Row apart along State Street and provides a striking contrast to the contemporary government buildings nearby.

Inside, historic details remain beautifully intact. A Craftsman-style oak staircase ascends to the fourth floor, wire-glass skylights illuminate the interior, and multiple fireplaces feature decorative tiles and firebacks manufactured in Trenton. The front porch displays additional locally made tiles, highlighting the city's industrial heritage.

Originally constructed as a residence, the property served that purpose for over a century before the League of Women Voters acquired it in 1985. The State House Historic District earned State Register designation in 1975 and National Register recognition in 1976, with 204 West State Street contributing to the district's architectural and historical significance. A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant will help fund the preparation of a Preservation Plan.

The Historic Preservation Continuing Education Program at Rutgers–Camden offers flexible, accessible training in preserv...
08/13/2026

The Historic Preservation Continuing Education Program at Rutgers–Camden offers flexible, accessible training in preservation techniques using the historic landscapes of Camden and Philadelphia as living classrooms. Open to everyone from preservation commissioners and planners to building owners, museum volunteers, and curious community members, the program connects participants with working professionals to learn how to thoughtfully integrate historic resources into modern environments. This non-degree certificate can complement related fields like architecture, history, or planning, and offers maximum flexibility—participants can take classes in any order, at their own pace, without formal Rutgers enrollment, or even attend individual workshops without committing to the full certificate.

Fall 2026 registration is now open! https://march.rutgers.edu/continuing-education/

Fort Mott State Park in Pennsville, Salem County, is a former military fortification on the Delaware River that now serv...
08/11/2026

Fort Mott State Park in Pennsville, Salem County, is a former military fortification on the Delaware River that now serves as a historic and recreational site. The U.S. government purchased the land in the 1830s, initially calling it "The Battery at Finn's Point." Construction began in 1872 as part of a three-fort defense system for the Delaware River but stalled in 1876 due to funding shortages.

Following a national coastal defense review by the Endicott Board in 1885, new construction began in 1896 with state-of-the-art weaponry, including large-caliber disappearing guns with ranges of seven to eight miles. The fort was officially named Fort Mott in 1897 to honor Major General Gershom Mott, a Mexican-American and Civil War veteran.

Troops were stationed at Fort Mott from 1897 to 1922. However, with the construction of Fort Saulsbury, Delaware before World War I, Fort Mott became obsolete. Between 1922 and 1943, only caretakers remained, and the guns were eventually dismantled for scrap or relocation. Declared surplus property in 1943, the fort was purchased by New Jersey in 1947 and opened to the public as a state park on June 24, 1951.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant will help fund the preparation of a Master Plan for the rehabilitation of the West Tower.

Ever wanted to explore New Jersey's cultural heritage? The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office created LUCY—short fo...
08/06/2026

Ever wanted to explore New Jersey's cultural heritage? The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office created LUCY—short for "Look Up Cultural-resources for Yourself"—to help you do exactly that.

LUCY is an interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tool managed by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. This free, user-friendly platform lets anyone explore documented historic properties throughout the state, including individual buildings, structures, historic districts, and significant property features.

Get started today https://dep.nj.gov/hpo/tools/lucy/.

All aboard at the 1890 Oradell Train Station - a Queen Anne gem! 🚂 This Nationally Registered operating passenger railro...
08/04/2026

All aboard at the 1890 Oradell Train Station - a Queen Anne gem! 🚂 This Nationally Registered operating passenger railroad station has been welcoming commuters for over a century—and still serves NJ Transit riders today. A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant will help fund the preparation of construction and design documents for future restoration.

Launched in 2017 by the New Jersey Historic Trust, Journey Through Jersey is the state's first website dedicated solely ...
07/30/2026

Launched in 2017 by the New Jersey Historic Trust, Journey Through Jersey is the state's first website dedicated solely to promote heritage tourism, and to support and improve quality visitor experiences at the state’s many and diverse historic sites. The website allows visitors to browse visitor ready historic sites nominated by the community, travel itineraries, annual events, educational resources, and blog posts! Is your site visitor ready? Nominate it today! 👉www.journeythroughjersey.com/resources/ -nomination-form

Situated on forty acres of protected land, the Case-Dvoor Farmstead in Raritan Township is an important survivor from Hu...
07/28/2026

Situated on forty acres of protected land, the Case-Dvoor Farmstead in Raritan Township is an important survivor from Hunterdon County’s rural past and possesses significance under Criteria A and C for agriculture and architecture for the period circa 1798 to 1940. Featuring a complex of seven buildings ranging in date from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries, the farmstead illustrates the evolution of the region’s farm culture and building practices within that period. Subsequently, through archaeological investigations, the farmstead has been noted to have significance related to Native American occupation.

The earliest building in the complex is the Farmhouse, constructed in 1798. It is of vernacular Georgian design and has retained much of its original character despite renovations in the late-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries resulting in Victorian and Colonial Revival embellishments typical of those periods. The Hunterdon Land Trust has owned and operated the property since 1999.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grant will help fund repointing of the 1798 farmhouse’s northern and southern exterior stone walls.

Address

101 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ
08608

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+6099847079

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