There is more to preserve of NJ’s Revolutionary War history
As a Monmouth County native with ancestors who served in the Continental Army, I have a great appreciation for New Jersey’s Revolutionary War history. Rightfully known as the “Crossroads of the American Revolution,” our state played a critical role in that seminal conflict. Ben Franklin called New Jersey “a keg tapped at both ends,” with its unique positioning between the nation’s capital in Philadelphia and the British stronghold of New York City. Thus, the Garden State is home to some of the most significant engagements of the Revolution. It was in New Jersey where, against all odds, the heroic actions of Gen. George Washington and the fledgling Continental Army helped turn the tide of the war, leading to an American victory over the mighty British forces.
Recently, I attended the Battle of Monmouth’s 245th-anniversary reenactment, an annual event sponsored by the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The commemoration drew some 11,000 people to the state park. Throughout the weekend, hundreds of living historians encamped and re-created the battle, allowing visitors of all ages to be transported through time and witness what life was like during the largest battle ever fought in New Jersey. On a scorching and humid June 28, 1778, 14,000 Continentals under the command of Washington attacked a 17,000-man British army moving across New Jersey toward safety in New York City. The Battle of Monmouth was a major turning point in the Revolution, demonstrating that American forces could withstand a concentrated attack by the best soldiers in the British army. Given British Gen. Sir Henry Clinton’s subsequent reluctance to meet the Americans on the field of battle, it also marked the last major engagement in New Jersey.
The ability to have these reenactments and preserve the Garden State’s hallowed grounds is made possible by the steadfast support of dedicated partners such as the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Princeton Battlefield Society, Crossroads of the American Revolution, and the American Battlefield Trust among others. As the president of the Sons of the American Revolution, Monmouth Chapter, I am thrilled to hear that the trust is seeking state funding from the New Jersey Legislature to help preserve Revolutionary War battlefields throughout the state — and ecstatic that our own Sen. Vin Gopal is championing the cause.
While much of the Monmouth Battlefield is preserved as part of Monmouth Battlefield State Park, the American Battlefield Trust, in collaboration with the state park and historians, has identified additional battlefield that could be preserved and added to the park. Additional land preservation opportunities exist at the Princeton Battlefield and elsewhere in New Jersey. In an era of rampant development, acting swiftly prevents these historic treasures from being lost forever.
With America’s 250th commemoration only a few years away, in 2026, there is no better time for New Jersey to invest in the battlefields that helped establish and shape our nation. State funding for battlefield protection will create an enduring legacy of preservation that outlives the Semiquincentennial anniversary. It can also be matched with federal battlefield acquisition grants from the National Park Service and private donations from the trust and other nonprofit groups. This funding will let the state accommodate and benefit from the anticipated wave of heritage tourists expected at the Monmouth Battlefield and other Revolutionary War sites throughout the state.
Historic sites like Monmouth, Princeton and our other battlefields serve as economic engines for the state, drawing tourists from throughout the country. Before COVID, heritage tourism was drawing 9.9 million visitors to New Jersey each year, generating more than $3.6 billion for the state economy. The influx of visitors expected for the Semiquincentennial should enable New Jersey to easily eclipse that record, especially given the enthusiasm of the crowds I recently witnessed during the annual event at Monmouth.
By preserving these hallowed grounds, New Jersey can highlight the pivotal role that it played in securing our nation’s independence, serving not only as an invaluable educational tool but also as an economic stimulant for the state. I am hopeful that as the budget was being finalized, the legislators in Trenton recognized the unique opportunity before them to invest in our state’s historic battlefields and preserve the legacy of the brave patriots who sacrificed so much so that we could live here in freedom.