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If you plan to visit this area I would begin my day at Washington's Headquarters (Ford Mansion & Museum). It's a National Park so all passes apply. If you do not have a pass it's $4. This will be the highlight of your day. Next I would visit Fort Nonsense, three miles south near the center green. Fort Nonsense is on a hill overlooking the town. Built in the Spring of 1777, it protected the town of Morristown from enemy attack. Morristown was a vital army supply center. Local rivers powered iron furnaces which made cannon balls, shells, kitchen implements and chain links like the one forged at the Ringwood Iron Furnace. The chain link stretched across the Hudson River near West Point to block enemy ships. The Hill was also part of the Beacon Alarm System used by the Continental Army. Nearby beacons included one at Pompton, Morris town, Pluckemin and Freehold. Fort Nonsense is also a National Park but admission is free. The park offers many information boards describing what I have already stated and more. I think people who enjoy history will find this worthwhile. There is ample parking and the terrain is easy to navigate with lots of shade trees and quiet. After you leave Fort Nonsense which is an under an hour experience I suggest you go another three miles south to Jockey Hollow encampment ground to finish the day of Revolutionary War history. It is also a National Park and is free.
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 :-)
We went here as part of our visit to Morristown National Historical Park. The fort, which sits on top of a hill, is easily accessible from downtown Morristown. I liked the view from the top. It was good, but not great, as there's a lot of trees limiting what you can see. But I have to give them credit, the view is in the direction of New York City and you can see some of the taller buildings in the distance. As for the fort, there's a canon, and a short path which follows where a wall used to be. The whole area is wooded, which was nice but there's simply not much to see or do here. I probably wouldn't go back again. read more
13 years ago
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. read more
6 years ago
If you plan to visit this area I would begin my day at Washington's Headquarters (Ford Mansion & Museum). It's a National Park so all passes apply. If you do not have a pass it's $4. This will be the highlight of your day. Next I would visit Fort Nonsense, three miles south near the center green. Fort Nonsense is on a hill overlooking the town. Built in the Spring of 1777, it protected the town of Morristown from enemy attack. Morristown was a vital army supply center. Local rivers powered iron furnaces which made cannon balls, shells, kitchen implements and chain links like the one forged at the Ringwood Iron Furnace. The chain link stretched across the Hudson River near West Point to block enemy ships. The Hill was also part of the Beacon Alarm System used by the Continental Army. Nearby beacons included one at Pompton, Morris town, Pluckemin and Freehold. Fort Nonsense is also a National Park but admission is free. The park offers many information boards describing what I have already stated and more. I think people who enjoy history will find this worthwhile. There is ample parking and the terrain is easy to navigate with lots of shade trees and quiet. After you leave Fort Nonsense which is an under an hour experience I suggest you go another three miles south to Jockey Hollow encampment ground to finish the day of Revolutionary War history. It is also a National Park and is free. read more
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 :-) read more
Beautiful national park! Walk or drive up the hill, catch your breath or park your car and enjoy the gorgeous view. It is a great place to bring a picnic blanket and enjoy time with your sweetheart or catch up on some reading. It isn't crowded, perfect to experience nature ..Only down fall is the walkway is gravel not paved making it difficult terrain for wheelchair users or other with mobility limitations. read more
14 years ago
