New Jersey played a critical role in the allied campaign of the American Revolution as American and French forces moved through the state in 1781 on their way to Yorktown. The route commemorated by the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail passes through a series of New Jersey communities that supported the movement and coordination of the allied armies.
In August 1781, French forces under the command of General Rochambeau and American forces under General George Washington marched south from the Hudson River through New Jersey. As the allied armies advanced, they passed through towns such as Suffern, Paramus, Morristown, Princeton, and Trenton, coordinating movements and preparing for the final phase of the campaign.
New Jersey had already played a key role earlier in the war, with important events such as the Ten Crucial Days and the winter encampment at Morristown shaping the course of the Revolution. During the 1781 campaign, the state once again served as a vital corridor for troop movement, supply, and coordination.
Today, historic sites across New Jersey preserve locations associated with the route of march, encampments, and the broader history of the American Revolution.
Together, these places allow visitors to follow the route of the allied armies and explore New Jersey’s critical role in the campaign that led to victory at Yorktown.
State and Local Historic Sites
These sites interpret the movement of American and French forces across New Jersey in 1781, as well as key locations associated with the Revolutionary War and the broader history of the allied campaign.
Ford Mansion
Jockey Hollow
Princeton Battlefield State Park
Fort Nonsense
Trenton Battle Monument
Washington Crossing State Park
Historic New Bridge Landing
Rockingham State Historic Site
Museums and Cultural Attractions
Museums and cultural institutions across New Jersey preserve artifacts, documents, and stories from the Revolutionary War era. These sites help interpret the movement of the allied armies, the role of New Jersey communities, and the broader history of the American Revolution.
Old Barracks Museum
Princeton University Art Museum
New Jersey State Museum
