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Contact: Thomas E. Ross, Superintendent, 973-539-2016 x210 Morristown, NJ – A grand and engaging new gallery for visitors, especially school children, will open in Morristown National Historical Park in late 2016/ early 2017. The Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) and Morristown National Historical Park (NHP) are pleased to announce the donation of $1.347 million to Morristown NHP. The donation will be used for the production and installation of the “Discover History Center” (DHC) interactive gallery in the park’s Washington’s Headquarters Museum. The Washington Association’s donation helps fulfill an agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) to collaborate on the planning, design and fabrication of the DHC. Washington Association of New Jersey and Morristown NHP invite members of the press to attend a presentation of the gift on:
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 9:30 am
Washington Headquarters Museum
30 Washington Place
Morristown, NJ
The DHC will invite multi-generational groups and families to explore the stories of the American Revolution and Morristown, New Jersey’s significant role in it. The DHC will be an immersive environment that will provide visitors with engaging, hands-on and multi-media experiences. In addition to the DHC exhibition space, the project also includes completing exhibition galleries on the museum’s entry level, creating a dedicated theater space for the park’s orientation film, renovations to the visitor information area and museum store, as well as wayfinding signage throughout the museum.
The Washington Association’s $1.347 million donation is in addition to the $250,000 the association has already expended on the planning and design of the exhibits. All of the donated funds were raised from local, state, and national donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations who have given generously to the WANJ’s “Our Noble Cause” capital campaign to make these exhibits a reality. The total DHC/exhibit gallery project cost is $2.7 million, with the balance of the project funding coming from the NPS.
The DHC/exhibit gallery project is a continuation of the 2005-2009 $5.3M rehabilitation of the Washington’s Headquarters Museum project which included the construction of a new library and archives wing, installation of a new HVAC system, historic rehabilitation of the auditorium, new elevator, upgraded fire detection and suppression system and exterior building envelope rehabilitation. The DHC/exhibit gallery project is expected to be contracted by the NPS in early 2016 with an anticipated grand opening in late 2016/ early 2017.
- NPS -
For two critical winters of the American Revolution, 1777 and 1779-80, General George Washington chose the Morristown, New Jersey area as the Continental Army’s main winter encampment. Because of its strategic location, the area continually served as the military capital throughout the war. During the 1779-1780 Jockey Hollow encampment, over 10,000 soldiers endured the war's most severe winter.
The Washington Association of New Jersey was founded in 1874 to preserve the Ford Mansion, where George Washington made his Morristown headquarters, and to protect historic documents and artifacts associated with General Washington and the Continental Army’s activities in Morristown. The WANJ was incorporated in the State of New Jersey in 1874 and is a now a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It is one of the oldest historic preservation organizations in the United States.
Morristown National Historical Park was established in 1933 to preserve and commemorate the story of the Continental Army struggling to survive in and around Morristown, New Jersey during the American Revolution. In the park’s enabling legislation the Washington Association of New Jersey is named as an advisor to Morristown NHP.
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Last updated: August 21, 2015