State National Parks of New Jersey
Where will your adventure lead you?
Gateway National Recreation Area
Created in 1972, Gateway is located in the outer New York-New Jersey Harbor, protecting more than 26,000 acres of land and offering an array of recreational, cultural, and natural experiences. More than 330 species of birds and 71 species of butterflies live within the park or stop over at Gateway during their seasonal migrations. Gateway's buildings, landscapes, and archaeological sites offer great samples of America's coastal defenses from the Revolutionary War through the Cold War.
Morristown National Historical Park
This park preserves the winter camp site where George Washington stationed his troops during the Revolutionary War in 1779-1780. During these difficult months, the Continental Army became a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice; living in drafty wooden huts, these underfed and undersupplied men survived what was then the coldest winter on record, growing through countless hardships into a disciplined military force. Under Washington’s command, these troops eventually won the country's independence from the British.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is home to one of the country's most spectacular waterfalls—a 260-foot-wide, 77-foot drop that rushes through the Passaic River Gorge and is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. These astounding falls made Paterson the ideal site for one of America's earliest industrial parks—a thriving manufacturing district developed in part by founding father Alexander Hamilton and run for decades on the area's abundant hydropower.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
This historical park preserves Thomas Edison's home and his last and largest laboratory, which was constructed in 1887. Visitors can walk through Edison's chemistry lab and machine room, see a whole room devoted to various phonographs and sound equipment he and his employees invented, and even see a reproduction of the world's first film studio. The laboratory displays many of Edison's 400,000 existing artifacts and prototypes, providing special insight into his process of invention. Glenmont, the Edison home, contains most of its original furnishings and provides insight into the domestic life and partnership between Thomas and his wife Mina.