Washington’s Headquarters Museum at Morristown National Historical Park

GENERAL INFORMATION

George Washington and his staff used the Morristown mansion of widow Theodosia Ford as their headquarters during the winter of 1779-80. In the 1870s, four businessmen formed the Washington Association of New Jersey and purchased the house, which was still in the Ford family at the time. They ran it as a museum up until the Great Depression hit in 1929. Unable to pay their bills, the men worked a deal to donate the house to the National Park Service. Part of the deal was that the government had to build a separate museum to house their collection of American Revolution memorabilia. The museum was built in the 1930s and is now known as the Washington’s Headquarters Museum. It is located just a short walk from the Ford Mansion.

The Washington’s Headquarters Museum is the best place to start your visit to Morristown National Historical Park. Not only is this the first stop on an automobile tour of the park, but stopping here first makes sense geographically, for the museum is located at the north end of the park. From here your can make your way south to Jockey Hollow and not have to flip-flop back and forth in order to see all sections of the park.

OPERATING HOURS

• July 4^th weekend through Labor Day weekend
  Open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM
• All other times of the year
  Thursdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM
• Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule from the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Morristown National Historical Park.

Interior of the Washington’s Headquarters Museum at Morristown National Historical Park

FEES

There is no fee to enter the Washington’s Headquarters Museum or to tour the Ford Mansion at Morristown National Historical Park.

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

The Washington’s Headquarters Museum is divided into three sections, none of which have much to do with the Continental Army’s winter encampment at Morristown, or Washington’s headquarters for that matter. However, do remember that this collection was put together in the 1870s, which was long before the current Morristown National Historical Park came into being. In fact, the attraction of the Ford Mansion was that “George Washington slept here,” not the Continental Army’s winter encampment.

One section of the museum covers the lifestyles of the rich and famous in the 1700s. The tie-in to the park is to show how people like the Fords lived at the time.

Items owned by wealthy families in the 1700s on display at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum

China and silverware from the 1700s on display at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum

In addition to typical items owned by wealthy people, there are also items owned by George and Martha Washington.

Items believed to have belonged to George Washington

Slippers worn by Martha Washington on display at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum

A second room serves as a general American Revolution military museum, with a slight focus on the events that took place in New Jersey. The bulk of the artifacts is a large collection of weapons.

Military exhibits at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum, Morristown National Historical Park

.50 caliber English Flintlock pistols supposedly captured from a British soldier

A third section of the museum is a room where you can read original documents from the American Revolution. This room was closed for repairs during my visit.

PARK FILM

The full 26-minute version of Morristown: Where America Survived is shown in a small viewing area on one side of the main auditorium (an abbreviated version of the film is shown at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center). This is without a doubt the best way to learn about the history of Morristown during the winter of 1779-80. The film also covers what happened in the spring and summer when the Americans and British fought battles at Elizabethtown and Springfield. The film is a live-action production with a narrator. There are a few shots of muskets and cannon firing, but there are no developed battle scenes or deaths shown. The film is suitable for all ages.

You can watch the full version of the film on the Morristown Documentary web page here on National Park Planner.

Small screening area in the main auditorium at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Neither section of the Washington’s Headquarters Museum is that large, and you can read through all of the information in about a half hour. Add the film to your visit and you’ve spent no more than an hour at the museum. And by the way, even if you watch the park film here on National Park Planner, if it isn’t fresh on your mind, I recommend watching it again at the park.

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