News
The Old Barracks Announces New Exhibit "All Is Threatened and Endangered...": New Jersey in the French & Indian War
The Old Barracks Museum is mounting an exhibit exploring New Jersey’s little known, yet, extraordinary role in the vast conflict for empire.
The exhibit will examine: the building of five barracks in New Jersey to house British “regulars” and introduce those occupants, their concerns, lifestyles, and specific histories; the role of the Lenape/Delaware people of New Jersey and nearby Pennsylvania in the French & Indian War; and the campaigns of the New Jersey regiment, the famous “Jersey Blues”.
Artifacts exhibited will include: three original engraved powder horns that belonged to privates in the Jersey Blues; the portrait of Jersey Blues’ Colonel Peter Schuyler; the only surviving “Pine Tree Flag”; an original woven red silk officer’s sash along with an original officer’s fusil and red wool officer’s waistcoat; an original Lenape dugout canoe; excavated Lenape tools, and pipes; reproduced paintings, by artist Domenic Serras, of the Jersey Blues 1762 expedition against Havana, Cuba; photos from the early 20th century Trenton Barracks before its restoration and the Perth Amboy Barracks before its destruction; the Spanish bronze, 4 pounder cannon that was captured at Havana.
Exhibit's Grand Opening is November 21st, 2009.
The French & Indian War Exhibit was made possible due to a Special Project grant awarded to the Old Barracks from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division in the Department of State; a Special Project grant in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders; and generous donations from the Society of Colonial Wars in New Jersey along with private individual donations.
About the Old Barracks
In 1758, during the French and Indian War, the Old Barracks was constructed by the Colony of New Jersey. British soldiers were housed here until 1776. In December, 1776, American forces, retreating from a year-long series of defeats in New Jersey, crossed the Delaware southward into Pennsylvania to escape the British army. Then, on Christmas night, American troops under General Washington re-crossed the river north into New Jersey, winning a stunning victory the next morning over British and Hessian troops housed in the Old Barracks. This success, together with victories at a second Battle of Trenton and at Princeton in the subsequent ten days, marked the turning point of the American Revolution. Independence would be gained in 1781.
At the conclusion of the Revolution, the Barracks housed American troops and also served as a military hospital. The building later fell into disrepair, until in 1902 it was purchased by local preservationists, and then by the State of New Jersey in 1914. It was fully restored in 1915-1916 and again in 1995-1998.
Today, the Old Barracks retains its original 1758 structure. Open daily, 10 AM Ôtil 5 PM, the award-winning Old Barracks staff provides daily tours and interpretations of American colonial life. The building also offers a museum of artifacts and weapons, as well a marvelous gift shop.
Contact
Richard Patterson
Director, Old Barracks
609.396.1776
barracks@voicenet.com
