Houses

Historic houses in New Jersey reflect centuries of styles and building materials. Our houses range from the earliest settlements to the modern day.

Neighborhoods and communities

Historic communities reflect the diverse heritage of their residents. The people who live, work and raise families in a community shape its character.

Revitalizing these neighborhoods and main streets is critical to sustainable growth.

Farms and landscapes

Agriculture has always been important to the state economy and culture heritage. From early Native Americans to the present day, we have farmed the Garden State’s lands. Our innovative farming techniques and plant hybrids are famous outside our borders.

Beyond fields and farms, New Jersey has a wealth of other historic landscapes. Tourists can now visit formal gardens and other immaculate outdoor spaces. Public parks share the beauty of nature with residents and visitors.

Industrial sites

New Jersey’s location on the Eastern seaboard makes it a strategic transportation hub. We connected our industrial and economic centers through generations of transportation technology. New Jersey played a role in everything from early railroads to the modern interstate.

This rich transportation heritage attracted and encouraged inventions in other industries. Our historic labs were the birthplace for innovations in chemistry, electronics and communications.

Public buildings

Many historic public buildings are treasured landmarks. They represent important eras in the state’s history and continue to serve us. For instance, the Works Progress Administration built or created artwork for schools, city halls and post offices throughout the state.

Regardless of style or age, these buildings show an attention to design and detail that all residents can appreciate. Their preservation is an important part of responsible government stewardship.

Archaeological sites

Native Americans lived in New Jersey as early as 11,000 years ago. They expanded throughout the state to locations we are still rediscovering today. New Jersey’s archaeological resources also include thousands of sites associated with

• Historic communities
• Farmsteads
• Industrial properties
• Underwater maritime sites

Significant resources from the recent past

Change shaped the 20th century. Successive waves of immigrants shaped our culture, food and entertainment. City residents expanded into the suburbs by train, then car. The rise of the automobile created our modern highways and roadside economies. Air travel connected us further to the world and, in turn, welcomed visitors. Radio, television and the internet broadened our mass entertainment.

These changes from the recent past shaped our lives and culture. Identifying and interpreting the best examples expands our cultural heritage.

Strength in diversity

New Jersey has a rich heritage of cultures and peoples. Their stories shaped our landscape and our present culture. They give meaning to our historic buildings, sites and communities. By preserving and sharing these stories, we can inspire newly arrived residents today.

The forging of a nation

New Jersey is one of the original thirteen colonies. Its pivotal location also placed it in the center of the American Revolutionary War. From 1775 to 1783, critical battles and events in the war unfolded across New Jersey. After the war, our state remained an important player in the new nation’s development.

Scientific and cultural revolutions

New Jersey is an integral part of our nation’s scientific, social and cultural history. Our state witnessed major breakthroughs in multiple scientific fields. Key figures for social change, like suffragists Alice Paul and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, called New Jersey their home.

New Jersey also pioneered cultural shifts that are less lofty but still part of modern life. Coastal communities hosted the first wave of what has become one of the most popular forms of recreation in this country — the shore vacation. The state’s transportation networks and manufacturing power turned it into the “Diner Capital of the World.”