These 7 Towns In New Jersey Have Beautiful Architecture
New Jersey is part of the mid-Atlantic along with New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, a region of the country with a long history and a plentiful supply of charming small towns. Despite extensive suburban development in parts of the state, several notable New Jersey towns have maintained their historic architectural character while adapting to modern times. Before planning your next architectural tour of the “Garden State,” check out these seven small towns that are full of character.
Swedesboro
There was a short-lived New Sweden colony in the mid-Atlantic in the middle of the 1600s, and the town of Swedesboro is a fascinating remnant of that mostly-forgotten time. Following the Swedish log-building tradition, Swedesboro’s Nothnagle House (circa 1640) is quite likely the oldest log building in the United States. While practically a youngster in comparison, the 1784 “Old Swedes” Church is another historic architectural gem that exemplifies Swedesboro’s unique past. Other historic structures mark the march of time from the colonial period through the Victorian era and beyond, making Swedesboro perfect for an architectural walking tour.
South Orange
While not as ancient as Swedesboro’s Nothnagle House, South Orange’s Old Stone House (circa 1680) is one of the oldest homes in New Jersey. While the Old Stone House is in dire shape and in serious need of restoration, the town’s Montrose Street Historic District is loaded with well-maintained 1700s and 1800s landmarks such as the 1894 Village Hall. Time your walking tour to conclude downtown at dusk to get the full charming effect of the classic gaslamps. South Orange is also home to a modern architectural gem and one of the best live entertainment venues in the state, the South Orange Performing Arts Center.
Morristown
Morristown is known as the “Crossroads of the American Revolution” due to its many connections to that critical era. General George Washington spent two wartime winters at the Ford Mansion (circa 1774), which is open to visitors, while his troops camped at what is now Morristown National Historic Park. Morristown is also home to Campfield House (circa 1760), the site of Alexander Hamilton’s wedding, and Speedwell Ironworks, the site of the world’s first successful telegraph system in 1838. Other highlights for your architectural walking tour of Morristown include the Federal-style Macculloch Hall (circa 1810) and neo-Gothic style St. Peter’s Church (circa 1911).
Cranbury
The central New Jersey community of Cranbury has been an important crossroads for some 300 years due to its location about halfway between New York City and Philadelphia. Today, that status is reflected in all the trucking warehouses along the highways but more beautifully in the roughly 200 buildings from the 1700s and 1800s located in the Cranbury Historic District. Start your walking tour at the Cranbury History Center, then explore the town and enjoy architectural gems like the 1897 Old Cranbury School (now the town hall), 1886 Silvers Mansion, and the Cranbury Inn, a town staple since around 1750.
Chatham
Chatham is one of the wealthiest communities in New Jersey, as evidenced by street after street of lovingly restored Victorian homes from the 1800s that you will see on your walking tour. Chatham’s history, however, stretches back all the way to 1710, and earlier architectural must-sees include the William Day House (circa 1780) and the Jacob Morrell House, which George Washington visited in 1781 and which is now a fancy Italian restaurant. Be sure to pair up your architectural sightseeing with some great bird watching at the nearby Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Cape May
Cape May is the southernmost of the famous Jersey Shore beach towns, sitting on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of Delaware Bay. It also has the most historic look and feel of the state’s beach towns, with street after street of restored Victorian homes earning Cape May’s status as a National Historic Landmark and National Historic District. The opulent 1879 Physick House is but one of the architectural highlights awaiting your walking tour, which should also include the pedestrian-friendly Washington Street Mall. Continue your stroll along Cape May’s classic beach promenade, then head to nearby Cape May Point for some of the East Coast’s best birdwatching.
Burlington
The town of Burlington was founded some 350 years ago and originally served as the capital of the short-lived West Jersey Colony. As a result, Burlington has an impressive collection of colonial-era buildings, most famously the Hutchinson-Revell House (circa 1685) that once welcomed a young Benjamin Franklin. Historic highlights continue wherever you walk in Burlington, with other notable houses, including author James Fenimore Cooper’s childhood home (circa 1780) and General Ulysses S. Grant’s home at the end of the Civil War. Check out the High Street district for even more examples of 1700s and 1800s architecture, along with great local shopping and dining options.
People often come to New Jersey with preconceived notions that it is just a collection of bland suburbs of New York City to the north and Philadelphia to the south. Yet the Garden State is so much more, with an impressive collection of small towns that have managed to maintain their historic character. Architectural highlights abound, from crude colonial log cabins to opulent Victorian mansions. So bring along your walking shoes and camera when you make your next visit to small-town New Jersey!
