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    Fort Nonsense

    3.9 (9 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Fort Nonsense Photos

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    Fort Nonsense showing the original guard house.
    Lisa D.

    Before breaking camp in late May, Washington wanted to secure Morristown as a supply base. On May 14, 1777 he ordered the construction of a fortification with a redoubt on a hill bordering Morristown so "...that it may serve as a retreat in case of necessity." Originally referred to as "the Hill" or "Kinney's Hill," it commanded the town. The main function of the Fort was as a place of retreat for guards stationed in the town. The British never made an attack on Morristown, however, and the fortified hilltop was never used. It was common for a small fortification such as Fort Nonsense to be built for the protection of military encampments and strategic military depots. Washington's men dug trenches, raised embankments, built a guardhouse for 30 men, and fortified the crown of the hill with an earthwork redoubt (retreat or stronghold). As early as the 1790s the hill was called Fort Nonsense. A legend had grown that Washington had set his men to fortify the hill simply as a way of keeping troops busy. This explanation is very unlikely. In addition to the earthworks, it is believed that the Morris County Militia was instructed to build a beacon of between 18 and 20 feet high. It was to be constructed of a loose frame of logs with smaller combustibles filling the center. Such beacons were in fact found extending from the Hudson Highlands and all through northern New Jersey. The beacon system was used on June 7, 1780 and again on June 23 when the British crossed into New Jersey. Records tell of area militia responding to the alarms in June and engaging the British at Springfield NJ. Today only a large stone sits on Fort Nonsense, but when you look across the town, you can see the river and Manhattan, a vantage point that explains the forts location. It's a quiet spot with a picnic table under a tree. Great place to rest, relax, read, or enjoy nature.

    Sign where the private road begins
    Chris L.

    This flyspeck of a National Park is located half a mile and 150 vertical feet up the road from the intersection of Ann & Chestnut streets. If you drive you're done in three minutes. Walk up instead, and from the top you can almost see Ohio, Columbus! Stupid joke, but seriously you get a great view of Morristown, and if you have good eyes on a clear day you can just about see the New York skyline through the trees. The outline of old Fort Nonsense is traced in stones set into the ground, nothing else really to see but the great view. Picnic tables at the top too. Only a few spots to park but since it's generally empty that's plenty :-)

    Looking back at parking lot

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    Ford's Mansion - The main bedroom inside the mansion.

    Ford's Mansion

    4.4(13 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    4/3/26 Visit: Ford's Mansion is just one of many New…read moreJersey's historical sites. The tour is Free! Erik was our tour guide. We started out at the Washington Headquarters Museum. (In the museum, there's a video on Washington's stay in the winter of 1779-80. It'll give you an excellent overview, either before or after your tour). We then walked up a hill to Ford's Mansion. *It's a bit of a hike up the hill. In the mansion, George Washington had established his headquarters during the winter of 1779- 1780. During this winter, there was approximately 96 inches of snow. (I'll never complain about snow again). LOL... The Continental Army camped out about miles away at Jockey Hollow. The home is well preserved and maintained. After the tour of the home, we walked back to the museum. The museum was really wonderful to explore. The museum has a wonderful gift shop. Parking availability is in a small lot and on the street. Whether you're a history buff or not, think you'll enjoy the visit to Ford's Mansion.

    PROS: Absolutely amazing! This building is all original and displayed properly. The land is…read morelandscaped well and the tour guide Fred was somewhat friendly. Free parking as well CONS: Almost all of the furniture inside are replicas and you can only come into this building on a tour and not on your own OVERALL: Any history enthusiast will enjoy this house tour! It's free admission, free parking, and there's a lot to see

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    Ford's Mansion - Inside Ford Mansion.

    Inside Ford Mansion.

    Ford's Mansion - Inside Ford Mansion.

    Inside Ford Mansion.

    Ford's Mansion - A cot bed folded up.

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    A cot bed folded up.

    Mayo Performing Arts Center - Tonight's program

    Mayo Performing Arts Center

    3.9(100 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Arts & culture abound in the Garden State, particularly in the state's rare gem of Morris County…read more Nestled on South Street in the heart of Morristown, the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) stands as a beacon for art lovers and music enthusiasts alike. With its rich history dating back to 1937, this establishment has transformed from a movie theater into a vibrant hub for performing arts boasting an assortment of exciting events year-round that features everything from in-person concerts and comedy shows to livestreams and virtual events. Walking through its doors feels like stepping into another world--one filled with anticipation and excitement. My partner and I were lucky to obtain tickets via an online market reseller (the Tickets Center) at Left Orchestra, row P, for last night's performance of Riverdance 30. Upon entering this warm and inviting venue as first-timers with an orchestra and the balcony section, we were greeted by the staff and waited for the doors to open 30 minutes before the start of the show. The bar on the main floor had alcohol, soda, chips, and other light snacks. Our cushiony seats were comfortable, providing a clear view of the stage and a great sound system. The show was a fusion of traditional and contemporary Irish as well as international dance. The music is choreographed with stunning costumes and cutting-edge visuals, bringing its magic to audiences. Prices were comparable to the area and artist. Parking was offered via the online market reseller, and I purchased it. The location was a 15 min walk, and we were okay with that. It was so easy to enter and exit without the congestion. However, the QR scan ticket provided by them was not able to be scanned at the destined location machine. As a result, I had to pay twice. When communicating with this reseller, they refused to refund, as it was a final sale. We had an amazing time and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great night out by contacting directly the Mayo PAC and not Tickets-Center.

    Last night, my husband and I went to The Nutcracker at Mayo Performing Arts Center. It was a…read morecollaboration between the NJ Ballet and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO). We attend NJSO concerts, but this was our first time seeing the New Jersey Ballet. The entire experience at Mayo was wonderful. We drove into Morristown and parked at one of the nearby municipal lots. Going through security went alright and ticket scanning went without a hitch. It was a packed house and very crowded. Ushers helped us find our seats in row J, where we had a good view of the stage. Seats were comfortable, too. The show was about two hours with a 20 minute intermission. There are concessions on both the first and second floor. It was a cold night, so we bought hot drinks to warm up before the show - a $3 hot tea for him and my $6 "snow queen special" hot cocoa (it was worth the $). People working at concessions on the 1st floor were nice and kept it moving. With this kind of performance, the orchestra was in the pit and the dancers were on the stage. MPAC's space has good acoustics. The stage sets and lighting design exceeded any expectations I may have had. Photography and video recording is prohibited during performances, and it appeared from my seat that audience members complied. The Nutcracker was fantastic! It won over two grinches like us last night; we both said how we should go again if it runs at MPAC next year. MPAC surpassed any expectations we had last evening and we hope to see other acts/shows during the 25/26 season (and recommend you do also).

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    Mayo Performing Arts Center - Blind Boys of Alabama

    Blind Boys of Alabama

    Mayo Performing Arts Center - Terry Fator tonight!

    Terry Fator tonight!

    Mayo Performing Arts Center - Excellent Show!

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    Excellent Show!

    Fort Nonsense - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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