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As the United States marks its 250th birthday in 2026, Somerset County has some of the best Revolutionary War history in New Jersey. Washington’s army spent two encampments in the Middlebrook area, and his final wartime headquarters still stands in Franklin Township. Here is where to see that history in Somerset County today.
Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage
Where: Parking lot at 71 Somerset Street, Somerville
George Washington used the Wallace House as his headquarters during the second Middlebrook encampment, returning in February 1779 with Martha Washington and leaving on June 3, 1779. Next door, the Old Dutch Parsonage dates to 1751 and was home to Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, who helped found Queen’s College, now Rutgers. Admission is free; call 908-725-1015 for current hours.
Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage
Rockingham State Historic Site
Where: 84 Laurel Avenue, Franklin Township (Kingston area)
Washington stayed at Rockingham from August 23 to November 10, 1783, while Congress met in Princeton, and he wrote his Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States here on November 2. The house has been moved three times and now sits beside the Delaware and Raritan Canal. This fall the site hosts Saturday talks on the house’s 300 year story, including November 14, 21 and 28 and December 5 at 1:30 pm.
Washington Camp Ground
Where: Middlebrook Road, Bridgewater, just north of Route 22
This preserved ground marks the Middlebrook encampments of May to July 1777 and the winter of 1778 to 1779. A Thirteen Star Flag flies here 24 hours a day, and local tradition holds that the first official American flag was unfurled at Middlebrook after Congress passed the flag law in June 1777. The Washington Camp Ground Association hosts an annual July 4 program.
Abraham Staats House
Where: 17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook
Built around 1740, the Staats House served as the headquarters of Baron von Steuben during the second Middlebrook encampment, beginning in March 1779. Von Steuben is remembered as the drillmaster who trained the Continental Army. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Jacobus Vanderveer House
Where: Just off Routes 202 and 206, Bedminster
This Dutch farmhouse is tied to General Henry Knox and the Continental artillery encampment at nearby Pluckemin in 1778 and 1779. Today it is a museum and community gathering place. Its Colonial Christmas weekend, November 27 to 29, 2026, is a festive time to see it.
Washington Rock State Park
Where: Washington Rock State Park, Green Brook
In June 1777, Washington used this rock outcrop on the Watchung ridge as a lookout to track British forces under General William Howe. The state bought the site in 1913 to mark those events, making it one of New Jersey’s oldest state parks. The overlook offers a sweeping view across the valley.
Washington Rock State Park history
Why Somerset County Mattered
The Watchung ridge gave the Continental Army a natural shield and a clear view across the plains toward British held territory. That is one reason Washington camped at Middlebrook twice, once in the spring of 1777 and again through the winter of 1778 to 1779, with generals quartered in farmhouses across what are now Somerville, Bridgewater, South Bound Brook and Bedminster. Many of those houses survive, and several are open to visitors.
250th Anniversary Extras
Look for special programming tied to the 250th this year. Rockingham’s Welcome World to George Washington’s Rockingham program introduces the site with reproduction artifacts, and Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough is marking the anniversary with a special beer and a monthly lecture series.
Plan a History Day
- Start at the Wallace House in Somerville, then drive to the Washington Camp Ground and Washington Rock.
- Save Rockingham for a Saturday program day in Franklin Township.
- Call ahead: many historic houses keep limited or seasonal hours.
More in Somerset County: Thanksgiving week things to do, parks and trails, and a guide to Somerset County’s towns.
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