Liberty Hall (New Jersey) facts for kids
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Governor William Livingston House
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 Location in Union County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Morris and North Avenues, Union, New Jersey |
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| Area | 140 acres (57 ha) |
| Built | 1772 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000807 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | November 28, 1972 |
Liberty Hall, also known as the Governor William Livingston House, is a very old and important home in Union, Union County, New Jersey. Many famous people lived here. It was first built in 1772. Today, it is a museum called the Liberty Hall Museum.
The house started as a 14-room home. Over time, it grew into a huge 50-room mansion. It was the home of William Livingston, who was New Jersey's very first Governor. Other important people like United States Supreme Court Justice Henry Brockholst Livingston and members of the Kean family also lived here. Even Alexander Hamilton, who later became the first Treasury Secretary, stayed here. Famous visitors included George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette.
The Liberty Hall Museum is part of Kean University. It is a great place to learn about American history.
Contents
History of Liberty Hall
The Livingston Family's Home
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William Livingston, a lawyer, built Liberty Hall in 1772. He later became a very important person. He was a member of the First and Second Continental Congress. He also helped write the United States Constitution. Most importantly, he was the first Governor of New Jersey.
In its first year, Alexander Hamilton lived with Livingston. Hamilton later became the first Secretary of the Treasury. Livingston bought the land in 1760. It was 120 acres in what was then Elizabethtown. The Livingston family moved into the house in 1773. You can still see some of the gardens Livingston planted today.
Many famous guests visited Liberty Hall. These included George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. One of Livingston's daughters even got married there. She married John Jay, who became the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
During the American Revolutionary War, the house was damaged. Both American and British soldiers caused some harm. After the war, Livingston returned and lived there until he passed away in 1790. His son, Henry Brockholst Livingston, inherited the home. Henry later became a Supreme Court Justice. In 1798, George Belasise, Lord Bolingbroke, bought the house. He and his wife continued to care for the property.
The Kean Family's Influence
In 1811, Peter Kean bought Liberty Hall. He bought it for his mother, Susan Livingston Kean Niemcewicz. Susan was William Livingston's niece. At that time, women could not own property on their own. Susan's first husband, John Kean, was a delegate to the Continental Congress. He supported the U.S. Constitution.
Susan Livingston changed the house's name to Ursino. This was after her second husband's Polish estate. Later, Colonel Peter Kean and his wife inherited the house. Then their son, Colonel John Kean II, took over.
John Kean II lived at Liberty Hall for 60 years. He made the biggest changes to the house. He expanded it to 50 rooms. This was mainly to fit his large family. He also added modern things like running water and gas lighting. After him, his oldest son, John, inherited the house. This John Kean was a Congressman and Senator from New Jersey.
Captain John Kean inherited the house after his uncle John passed away. He lived there with his wife, Mary Alice Barney. Mary Alice Kean was very important. She worked to restore Liberty Hall. She also researched the Kean family history. Mary Alice Kean was the last person to live in Liberty Hall. After her, it became the Liberty Hall Museum.
The Building's Design
The house was built in three parts. It had a stone basement and wooden walls. The main part was two stories tall. It had a special roof and two chimneys. On each side, there were one-story wings.
Over the years, the house changed a lot. In 1789, a second story was added to one side. In 1870, more stories were added. The house grew to have three stories in many parts. New rooms and a tower were also built. A new roof was added over the whole building.
The front of the house still looks much like it did originally. Steps lead up to the front porch. The door has a special fan-shaped window above it. The windows have shutters. Inside, some of the old 18th-century rooms are still there. Many rooms have been restored to look like they did long ago. Other parts were changed to add modern heating and plumbing.
A National Landmark
In 1949, Mary Alice Kean started turning the house into a museum. In 1974, she brought back the name "Liberty Hall." The museum is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical site.
Liberty Hall is part of Kean University. It has many old items. You can see furniture, clothes, and old letters. There is even a letter signed by George Washington. The museum also has an invitation to Abraham Lincoln's inauguration. Liberty Hall is a key place to visit for anyone interested in American history.
See also
