New Jersey Historic Trust

06/04/2026

The First Presbyterian Church, built in 1727 as Trenton's first dedicated house of worship, was occupied by Hessian troops during the Revolutionary War, with Colonel Johann Rahl and other Hessian soldiers reportedly buried in the cemetery. The original building was replaced in 1806 due to its ruinous condition, and then again in 1839 with a larger structure designed by Hotchkiss & Thompson and built over the existing cemetery, with signatories including President Martin Van Buren, New Jersey Governor William Pennington, and Trenton Mayor Charles Burroughs. The cemetery contains graves of important political, economic, and civic leaders from the early years of the nation and features mortuary art spanning the 18th and 19th centuries; the property has become a tourism destination and is designated as one of 150 Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey in preparation for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026.

A Discover NJ History License Plate grant was awarded to 120 East State to support website updates and enhancements, development and implementation of a digital outreach strategy, purchase of a literature display rack, and a banner promoting participation in the W3R route.

06/02/2026

Washington Crossing State Park commemorates General George Washington's historic Christmas night 1776 crossing of the icy Delaware River, during which boats and ferries spent nearly ten hours transporting troops, horses, and cannons through a severe storm of sleet, hail, and snow. After landing at Johnson's Ferry, the Continental Army endured a grueling nine-mile march to Trenton, arriving in the early morning of December 26 to surround, defeat, and capture over 900 Hessian mercenaries in a critical morale-boosting victory. The site will be featured in a thematic webisode series alongside other State and National Register-listed Revolutionary War sites including Fort Lee Historic Park, New Bridge Landing, Old Barracks, Mill Hill Historic District, Princeton Battlefield, and Morristown National Historical Park.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation grant will help fund the production and edits of 10 educational webisodes to be integrated into the 7-12 grade curriculum; and website updates to host the webisodes.

05/28/2026

The Liberty Hall estate was the home of the first governor of the State of New Jersey, William Livingston, who built the fourteen room Georgian-inspired country home in 1772. The building and grounds have undergone significant alterations over the years, including substantial Victorian additions to the main house and er****on of several outbuildings. The brick carriage house was built in the late nineteenth century by the Kean family, relations of the Livingstons, a family still active in politics in New Jersey, and residents of the house until the 1960s. The carriage house was expanded in the early 20th century to provide a car shed. The building compliments the picturesque nineteenth century landscaping and arrangement of outbuildings to the west of the main house. Liberty Hall Museum opened in 2000.

A Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation grant will help fund in-kind replacement of HVAC systems in the Ice House and a generator that powers the main Museum.

05/26/2026

Constructed during World War II, Millville Army Air Field is considered the nation’s first “defense airport.” The Millville Army Air Field Historic District is comprised of twenty-four buildings and two hangars. The district is significant for its associations with military history and the development of air travel. The advanced combat fighter training techniques taught at Millville made a significant contribution to the war effort. Building 31, while similar to standard barracks construction, functioned as a standard squadron supply building. The current main museum building was historically the base headquarters building. Following the war, many of the buildings were converted to apartments for veterans returning from the war effort. Use of the buildings as apartments ended during the 1970s and many building were converted to other uses or were vacated.

The base headquarters building was converted to the Millville Army Airfield Museum in 1988 and continues to serve as the primary museum building housing exhibits and the organization’s offices.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation grant will help fund the production of a visitor orientation video.

05/21/2026

Hone your history and historic preservation knowledge at the New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference—a two-day gathering of professionals, volunteers, and history enthusiasts from across the state.

Expect inspiring workshops, site tours, and educational sessions led by preservation professionals and local history experts, plus plenty of opportunities to connect and collaborate! 🎟️ Attend one day or both—flexible ticket options available!

👉 Learn more: https://www.njpreservationconference.org/

05/19/2026

Old Eagle Tavern was erected in the mid-eighteenth century by Robert Waln, a Philadelphia merchant who purchased Trenton Mills. The Georgian style building served as a hotspot for political, civic, and social activity. From the mid-1760s to the early 1800s the structure serves as an important social and residential hub and was used by British and Hessian soldiers in 1777. Throughout the nineteenth century, Old Eagle Tavern was one of Trenton’s best-known hostelries, catering to locals and was a popular stop for travelers between New York and Philadelphia. It continued as a restaurant well into the twentieth century but has been vacant since 1989.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation grant was awarded to the Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA) to help fund exterior rehabilitation, HVAC replacement, and ADA accessibility.

05/14/2026

During Preservation Month, brush up on common preservation myths from historic designations to historic preservation commissions. Read “Dispelling Common Myths” to help you organize your local historic preservation endeavors. 📖www.nj.gov/dca/njht/documents/Dispelling%20Common%20Myths.pdf

05/12/2026

The Allen AME Church is a contributing structure to the Cape May Historic District. It is one of the few remaining and recognizable structures of Cape May’s historic African American community that was displaced by urban renewal in the 1960s. The building served as a church for 130 years, and congregation members included people who were formerly enslaved and their descendants. The pipe organ dates from 1926 and is a well-preserved example of church organs from the era. Now home to the East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC), founded in 1980 to resurrect plays from America’s theatrical past.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation grant will help fund a condition assessment and construction documents for interior rehabilitation including restoration of the historic organ and platform, installation of theater seating and lighting, as well as external rehabilitation to construct a green room.

05/04/2026

📣 We are hiring! 📣

The New Jersey Historic Trust is seeking a full-time Historic Preservation Specialist to join our team. Applications will be accepted until May 18, 2026.

To view the employment opportunity in detail and to apply, please visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/njht/about/board-staff/

04/29/2026