My family and I visited the First Oval Office Project at the Dey Mansion in Wayne, NJ on Saturday, July 19th. The event, which ran all weekend, was curated by the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia and featured a replica of George Washington’s War Tent from the American Revolution. This wasn’t our first time experiencing the tent. In July 2023, as I shared in my post “Washington’s War Tent and the Ford Mansion,” we attended the First Oval Office Project at Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown, NJ. We also had the chance to see the original tent at the Museum of the American Revolution during our trip to Philadelphia in February 2024. You can read more about that trip [HERE]. This recent visit was another great opportunity to see history come to life and engage with historical reenactors.
George Washington’s War Tent
The War Tent on display at the Dey Mansion was a reproduction of George Washington’s original field tent, which has been preserved and is now housed at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. After Washington’s death, the tent was passed down through Martha Washington’s descendants until it was acquired in 1909 by Reverend W. Herbert Burk, the founder of the museum’s collection. While the original tent can be viewed at the museum, visitors aren’t permitted to go inside it. This full-scale replica was created to give people a sense of what it was like inside Washington’s mobile headquarters during the Revolutionary War. It served as both a workspace—where he and his aides handled military business and correspondence—and a place to sleep while on campaign.
Our Day
Demonstrations
We arrived at the Dey Mansion a little before 10:30 a.m. and began by exploring several of the programs and demonstrations happening on the mansion grounds. Our first stop was a demonstration on 18th-century weaving, followed by a visit to the blacksmith’s shop, where the historical reenactors shared fascinating insights into the techniques and tools used by blacksmiths during the Revolutionary era.
Second New Jersey Regiment, Helm’s Company
Next, we made our way to the front lawn and explored the dining tent. At 11:00 a.m., the 2nd New Jersey Regiment, Helm’s Company, performed military drills—including standing in formation, loading and firing muskets, marching, and executing a bayonet charge. It’s been a privilege to see Helm’s Company at several recent events, including the Battle of Monmouth Reenactment and Lafayette’s Visit to Morristown. After the demonstration, the reenactors answered questions from the audience and posed for photos.
Arts and Crafts/ Presentations
Following the drills, I took a few photos of Washington’s War Tent but planned to return later once the crowd had thinned out. Meanwhile, my children enjoyed doing arts and crafts, which were run by the Passaic County Arts Center. I also attended a demonstration on 18th-century fabric dyeing, and later listened to a reenactor give a detailed presentation on Revolutionary War weaponry. He spoke about muskets, rifles, swords, musket balls, and even primitive hand grenades. His depth of knowledge was evident when addressing spectators’ questions.
Washington’s Tent
Later, I returned to Washington’s War Tent for a more in-depth look. Just like during our previous visit, it was a great experience to step inside the tent and hear reenactors describe what daily life was like for Washington and his aides while on campaign. It served as a vivid reminder that—despite his leadership and status—Washington endured many of the same hardships as his soldiers. This stood in contrast to the relative comfort he would have enjoyed while staying at the Dey Mansion.
What made this visit to The First Oval Office Project unique was the addition of the dining tent—it was even larger than Washington’s War Tent. The reenactors throughout the event were incredibly informative and passionate about sharing their knowledge. Their dedication to bringing history to life was evident in every conversation.
Food was available on-site, with hamburgers and hot dogs offered for just $2 from The Dawg House in Totowa. My kids were also thrilled to grab ice cream—also $2—which was a welcome treat on a warm day. Having food on site made things especially convenient around lunchtime. After their treats, the kids enjoyed petting the horses brought by some of the reenactors.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a fantastic day at the Dey Mansion. The Dey Mansion, the Museum of the American Revolution, the 2nd New Jersey Regiment, and all the reenactors and site staff did a wonderful job creating a truly immersive historical experience. It was also great to connect with reenactors I’ve met at previous events. It’s always a pleasure to meet people who are so enthusiastic about sharing their love of history and committed to making it engaging for all ages.
Please stay tuned to my Instagram and Facebook accounts as I will be posting videos of the event.
If you’d like to read about our tour inside the Dey Mansion from this past February 2025, check it out [HERE].
Learn more about the organizations involved in this event:
Museum of the American Revolution
Check out related blog posts below:
Benevento's History Blog 