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Category: Independence Day

  • Independence Day Picnic at the Dey Mansion

    My family and I made it out to the historic Dey Mansion’s Independence Day Picnic on July 11th, celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The event was originally planned for the Fourth of July but was postponed to the following weekend because of the scorching heat. This was a wonderful event for the whole family, and if you’ve been following my blog, you’ve seen that my family and I have made it out to the Dey Mansion for other events over the past few years.

    History

    Located in Wayne, New Jersey, the Dey Mansion is a historic home with an important connection to the American Revolution. Built in 1770, the home belonged to Colonel Theunis Dey and his family. Today, the mansion is preserved as a historic site where visitors can learn more about life during the Revolutionary era and New Jersey’s role in the war.

    The Dey Mansion is best known for serving as General George Washington’s headquarters during two separate periods in 1780. Washington stayed at the mansion during the summer and again in the fall while the Continental Army was stationed in northern New Jersey. From here, Washington conducted military business and helped direct the Continental Army. Today, visitors can tour the mansion and walk through the same rooms once used by Washington and members of his staff.

    Our Day

    The Independence Day Picnic kicked off at 11:00 AM, and my family arrived around 11:15. One great aspect of the event was that there were complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks, and beverages. Nobody can turn down a free lunch, and it was quite generous of the organizers to provide this to visitors. We ate shortly after we arrived.

    There was also a great band called MPack playing live music. They performed many well-known cover songs, which created a nice atmosphere for the picnic.  Check out their Facebook page here.

    The Dey Mansion

    My family and I walked inside the Dey Mansion and toured the different rooms throughout the home. It is quite remarkable to think that General George Washington himself stayed here during the Revolution. We were informed that many members of Washington’s entourage stayed at the Dey Mansion and that there were constantly people coming and going while he was headquartered here.

    Walking the Grounds

    My family and I then made our way back outside. We observed the cooking demonstrations taking place in the Summer Kitchen, checked out the blacksmith demonstrations in the Forge, and made our way through the Herb Garden. We also visited the encampment with Heard’s Brigade, where I was able to speak with a couple of reenactors who are becoming familiar faces at history events throughout New Jersey. My children also enjoyed playing colonial games.

    The Declaration of Independence

    At 12:30 PM, there was a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration is always a powerful document to hear read aloud, especially when you consider its meaning and just how revolutionary and radical its ideas were in 1776. The crowd reacted with boos to the many abuses and usurpations committed by the king, and with shouts of “Huzza!” when hearing the rights and freedoms of the new nation declared. Check into my social media pages in the coming days for videos of the reading.

    Following the reading of the Declaration, my children worked on a colonial craft while I made another round across the grounds. I was able to watch the 35th Regiment of Foot conduct military drills. A little while later, my family and I wrapped up our time at the Dey Mansion and headed home.

    Final Thoughts

    Events at the Dey Mansion never disappoint. Despite the heat on the Fourth of July, I’m happy that the Dey Mansion was able to reschedule the event. It was truly an immersive experience walking the grounds of the Dey Mansion and getting a glimpse of life in the 18th century. As our country celebrates its 250th birthday, events like this are a great way to connect with the history of the American Revolution and the people and places that helped shape our nation.

    Make sure to check out my Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube pages for videos of the event!

    Check out my previous blog posts about the Dey Mansion: HERE

    Visit the Dey Mansion’s website for upcoming events. Also, make sure to check out their Instagram and Facebook pages.

    Visit the sites of the Heard’s Brigade and the 35th Regiment of Foot, who are dedicated to participating in local historical events and helping bring history to life.

  • Ken Burns’ The American Revolution

    I just finished watching Ken Burns’ PBS documentary The American Revolution, released this past November—perfect timing as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The documentary spans six episodes, each two hours long. I found it both highly informative and deeply engaging.

    I appreciated how the series moves beyond the traditional Revolutionary War narrative we often encounter in textbooks. It devotes significant time to the perspectives of Native American tribes, African Americans, and women, offering a far more inclusive and nuanced story. The documentary incorporates an extraordinary number of primary sources, giving voice to a wide range of individuals who lived through the Revolution—from lesser-known figures to towering names such as George Washington and John Adams. The documentary also does an excellent job chronicling the military campaings of the war, highlighting the Revolution’s many ups and downs.

    The Revolution is presented as both a global and deeply personal event. The series explores the international ramifications of the conflict while simultaneously zooming in on its impact on small towns and families. It powerfully highlights the reality that this was  a civil war marked by acts of cruelty committed by both Patriots and Loyalists against one another.

    The documentary truly offers something for everyone—those looking to learn the foundational storyline commonly taught in schools, as well as viewers seeking a more complex and inclusive interpretation that brings lesser-known stories to the forefront. The twelve-hour format allows the series to explore a wide range of topics and grapple with the many complexities of the conflict, all while maintaining a clear chronological structure that is easy to follow.

    Finally, the documentary addresses the aftermath of the war and the writing of the Constitution, emphasizing that it took many years for the United States to begin living up to the Revolution’s ideals of liberty and equality. The developments that followed would not have been possible without those revolutionary principles. The American Revolution was one of the most significant events in human history, paving the way for later revolutions around the world and standing as the first successful example of a democratic government overthrowing a monarchy.

    This documentary is a masterpiece and a must-watch. Check out this link for more info: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution

  • Independence Day at Washington’s Headquarters- Morristown, NJ

    My family and I made it out on the Fourth of July to Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown, NJ for the public reading of the Declaration of Independence. This was our first time attending this yearly event.

    The festivities began at 12pm with demonstrations by reenactors of the 2nd New Jersey regiment. The regiment did a fantastic job showing the crowd how to stand in a line, reload their muskets, and how to use the bayonet. They thoroughly explained the use of muskets in the Revolutionary War, as well as the uniforms and limited supplies of Continental soldiers.

    The 2nd New Jersey regiment’s demonstrations lasted nearly to 1pm. At that point there were a few speakers including Thomas Ross, the Superintendent of Morristown National Historic Park. He described the rehabilitation projects taking place at the park, including to the Ford Mansion, as well as to the museum. These projects are in preparation of the 250th anniversary of the Revolution.

    Another speaker who addressed the crowd was Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill who represents New Jersey District 11. She described New Jersey’s importance to the Revolution and praised the efforts to preserve New Jersey’s history.

    At 1pm, Ranger Tom Winslow read the Declaration of Independence. The audience was encouraged to give shouts of “Huzzah!” when he read words/ phrases favorable to freedom and independence. The audience was encouraged to shout “Down with King George!” Or “Down with Tyranny!” when he read the many grievances listed against the king.

    Finally, the program concluded at about 1:30 and my family went in and visited the museum. Representative Mikie Sherrill met and spoke with visitors, while the reenactors also took photos. My family and I really enjoyed our patriotic Fourth of July in Morristown, and would love to come back again! Check out my social media sites in the coming days for videos of the event, including drills, discussions of the revolutionary soldiers, speakers, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

    Below are links to organzations who helped run the event or were in attendance.

    Morristown National Historic Park

    Washington Association of New Jersey

    Revolution NJ

    Friends of Jockey Hollow

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