Rockingham's Evolution & House Reopening!

84 Laurel Avenue,Franklin Township NJ 08528

20 November, 2021

Description

Come along on an exploration of Rockingham's history, owners and locations (yes, locations!). Rockingham served as General George Washington's final wartime headquarters in later 1783 but that is only part of the story. The property had multiple owners over its three-hundred-plus-years-long history, changed in size and scope and was moved three times. Come along on an exploration of Rockingham’s history, it’s changing architecture and address, varied owners and property lay-out with help from maps and period images, with a special focus on General Washington's stay, including who accompanied him and what occurred at that time in the house's history! Reservations must be made at least 24 hours before tour time. FACIAL COVERINGS are REQUIRED inside the house. Meet on the south (front) stone porch by the blue flag, facing the garden. Rockingham served as General George Washington’s final wartime headquarters in the latter half of 1783 while Congress met nearby in Princeton. Washington wrote his Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States here just before receiving news that the definitive Treaty ending the Revolutionary War was signed. The earliest section of the house was built around 1710 and was added to in the 1760s by John Berrien, a trustee of the College of NJ (present Princeton U.) and colonial NJ assemblyman & Superior Court Justice. Rockingham is a NJ State-owned & -operated Historic Site that maintains a fine collection of 18th-century furnishings and Washington military reproductions, and includes a Colonial kitchen garden and Dutch barn.