National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, New Jersey facts for kids
Welcome to Somerset County, New Jersey! This area is full of amazing places that have been around for a long time and hold special stories from the past. These important spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is like a special club for buildings, areas, and sites that are super important to American history.
In Somerset County, you can find everything from old farmhouses and historic churches to bridges and even places where famous events, like those from the American Revolutionary War, happened. Exploring these sites is like taking a trip back in time to see how people lived, worked, and even fought for freedom. Let's discover some of the cool historic places in Somerset County!
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What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of places in the United States that are worth saving because of their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural importance. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as a significant part of our country's heritage. This helps protect these places and often makes them eligible for special grants to help keep them in good shape.
Historic Homes and Farms
Somerset County is home to many old houses and farms that tell stories of early settlers and important families.
Old Farmhouses
- Alward Farmhouse: Located in Basking Ridge, this farmhouse was listed in 1986. It gives us a peek into what farm life was like many years ago.
- Baker–Duderstadt Farm: Found in Warren Township, this farm was added to the list in 2008. It shows how farming was done in the past.
- Boudinot-Southard Farmstead: This farmstead in Bernards Township became historic in 2009. It's a great example of an old family farm.
- Huff House and Farmstead: Near Flagtown, this farm was recognized in 1976. It stands by the Raritan River, showing how important rivers were for travel and trade.
- Alexander and James Linn Homestead: In Far Hills, this homestead was listed in 1988. It represents the history of early homes in the area.
- Elmendorf House: This house in Millstone was added to the list in 1992. It's a reminder of the historical architecture in the region.
- Dirck Gulick House: Located in Montgomery Township, this house became historic in 2003. It's a well-preserved example of an old home.
- Daniel Robert House: In Somerville, this house was listed in 2008 and now serves as the Borough Hall and Public Library. It shows how historic buildings can still be used today.
- J. Harper Smith Mansion: Also in Somerville, this mansion was added in 1998, showing the grand homes of the past.
- Smalley-Wormser House: West of Plainfield in Warren Township, this house was listed in 1978.
- Andrew Ten Eyck House: This house in Branchburg was listed in 2004.
- Vail-Trust House: In Green Brook, this house was added in 2008.
- Van Der Veer-Harris House: Located in Woods Tavern, this house was listed in 2008.
- Dr. John Vermeule House: This house in Green Brook was listed in 2013.
- Jacob Vosseller House: In Bridgewater Township, this house was listed in 1986.
Important Mansions
- Vermeule Mansion: Located in North Plainfield, this grand house was listed in 2004. It's a beautiful example of historic architecture.
- Reynolds–Scherman House: In Bernardsville, this house was added in 1989. It shows the style of larger homes from the past.
- Tulipwood: Also known as Whitehaven Farm, this property in Somerset was listed in 2005. It's a significant historic estate.
Revolutionary War Sites
Somerset County played a big role in the American Revolutionary War. Many places here were used by soldiers and leaders.
- Middlebrook Encampment Site: In Bridgewater Township, this site was listed in 1975. It's where the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, camped during the war.
- Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment Site: Near Pluckemin, this site was added in 2008. It was an important winter camp for the Continental Army's artillery during the war.
- Rockingham: Originally in Rocky Hill and later moved near Kingston, this house was listed in 1970. It served as General George Washington's headquarters in 1783.
- Staats House: In South Bound Brook, this house was listed in 2002. It was the headquarters for General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben during the second Middlebrook encampment.
- Van Horne House: Located in Bridgewater Township, this house was listed in 2002. It was the headquarters for General William Alexander, Lord Stirling during the second Middlebrook encampment.
- Van Veghten House: Also in Bridgewater Township, this house was listed in 1979. It was the headquarters for Quartermaster General Nathanael Greene during the second Middlebrook encampment.
- Wallace House: In Somerville, this house was listed in 1970. It was General George Washington's headquarters during the second Middlebrook encampment.
- Lord Stirling Manor Site: Southeast of Basking Ridge, this site was listed in 1978. It was the home of Lord Stirling, a general in the Continental Army.
- Morristown National Historical Park: While mostly in Morris County, a part of this important historical park, including the New Jersey Brigade Encampment Site, extends into Bernardsville in Somerset County. It was listed in 1966.
Historic Districts and Villages
Many entire areas in Somerset County are considered historic because they have many old buildings and keep their original feel.
- Blawenburg Historic District: This district in Blawenburg was listed in 1990. It includes the Reformed Dutch Church of Blawenburg.
- Bridgepoint Historic District: North of Rocky Hill in Montgomery Township, this district was listed in 1975.
- Clover Hill Historic District: In Clover Hill, this district was added in 1980 and even extends into Hunterdon County.
- East Millstone Historic District: This district in East Millstone was listed in 1983.
- Franklin Corners Historic District: In Franklin Corners, this district was listed in 1975.
- Griggstown Historic District: This district in Griggstown was added in 1984.
- King's Highway Historic District: In Franklin, this district was listed in 2000 and extends into Mercer and Middlesex Counties.
- Kingston Mill Historic District: Also in Franklin, this district was listed in 1986 and includes the Kingston Bridge. It also extends into Mercer and Middlesex Counties.
- Kingston Village Historic District: In Kingston, this district was listed in 1990 and extends into Middlesex County.
- Lamington Historic District: This district in Lamington was listed in 1984.
- Liberty Corner Historic District: In Liberty Corner, this district was added in 1991.
- Lyons Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District: This district in Lyons was listed in 2013 and includes many buildings, a site, an object, and a structure.
- Middlebush Village Historic District: In Franklin, this district was listed in 2007 and includes the Middlebush Reformed Church.
- Millstone Historic District: This district in Millstone was listed in 1976.
- Millstone Valley Agricultural District: South of Millstone in Hillsborough, this district was listed in 1977. It shows how farming shaped the area.
- Neshanic Historic District: In Neshanic, this district was listed in 1979.
- Neshanic Station Historic District: In Neshanic Station, this district was listed in 2016.
- North Branch Historic District: In North Branch, this district was listed in 2012.
- Olcott Avenue Historic District: In Bernardsville, this district was listed in 2009.
- Pluckemin Village Historic District: In Pluckemin, this district was listed in 1982.
- Pottersville Village Historic District: In Pottersville, this district was listed in 1990 and extends into Hunterdon and Morris Counties.
- River Road Historic Rural District: This district runs along Millstone River Road in Hillsborough and Montgomery and was listed in 1991.
- Rocky Hill Historic District: In Rocky Hill, this district was listed in 1982.
- Six Mile Run Historic District: In Franklin, this district was listed in 1995.
- South Branch Historic District: In South Branch, this district was listed in 1977.
- Washington Park Historic District: In North Plainfield, this district was listed in 1987.
Historic Churches and Public Buildings
Many churches and public buildings in Somerset County are also important historic sites.
- Brick Academy: Known as the Basking Ridge Classical School, this building in Basking Ridge was listed in 1976. It was an early school.
- Coffee House: Also in Basking Ridge, this building was listed in 1977.
- Mount Bethel Baptist Meetinghouse: North of Martinsville in Warren Township, this meetinghouse was listed in 1976.
- Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church: In Montgomery Township, this church was listed in 2021 and is home to the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum.
- Old Dutch Parsonage: In Somerville, this parsonage was listed in 1971.
- Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook: In Bound Brook, this church was listed in 2007.
- Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge: In Basking Ridge, this church was listed in 1974.
- Reformed Dutch Church of Blawenburg: In Blawenburg, this church was listed in 1985.
- Relief Hose Company No. 2 Engine House: In Raritan, this old fire station was listed in 2000.
- St. Bernard's Church and Parish House: In Bernardsville, this church was listed in 2006.
- St. John's Episcopal Church Complex: In Somerville, this complex, including the church, rectory, and parish hall, was listed in 2003.
- Six Mile Run Reformed Church: In Franklin, this church was listed in 2009.
- Somerset Courthouse Green: In Somerville, this area around the courthouse was listed in 1989.
- West End Hose Company Number 3: In Somerville, this firehouse was listed in 2002.
Historic Bridges and Transportation
Bridges and old train stations also play a part in Somerset County's history, showing how people traveled and connected places.
- Bedens Brook Bridge: This bridge in Montgomery Township was listed in 1994.
- Bedens Brook Road Bridge: Also in Montgomery Township, this bridge was listed in 1994.
- Bernardsville Station: The train station in Bernardsville was listed in 1984.
- Bound Brook Station: The train station in Bound Brook was listed in 1984.
- Cat Tail Brook Bridge: Northwest of Rocky Hill, this bridge was listed in 1979.
- Delaware and Raritan Canal: This historic canal, which runs through Somerville and other areas, was listed in 1973. Canals were like highways for boats in the past!
- Far Hills Station: The train station in Far Hills was listed in 1984.
- Gladstone Station: The train station in Gladstone was listed in 1984.
- Higginsville Road Bridges: These bridges in Hillsborough were listed in 2000.
- Lyons Station: The train station in Lyons was listed in 1984.
- Old Stone Arch Bridge: In Bound Brook, this bridge was listed in 2008.
- Raritan Bridge: Also known as the Nevius Street Bridge, this bridge over the Raritan River in Raritan and Hillsborough Township was listed in 1992.
- Raritan Station: The train station in Raritan was listed in 1984.
- Rock Brook Bridge: This bridge in Zion was listed in 1994.
Other Notable Historic Sites
- Brook Arts Center: Known as the Brook Theater, this building in Bound Brook was listed in 2014. It's a historic place for performances and arts.
- Moses Craig Limekilns: In Peapack-Gladstone, these old limekilns were listed in 2019. They show how important lime was for farming and building.
- Hamilton Farm Stable Complex: In Bedminster, this stable complex was listed in 2018. It's a great example of historic farm buildings.
- Kennedy–Martin–Stelle Farmstead: In Bernards Township, this farmstead was listed in 2004.
- Kirch–Ford House: In Warren Township, this house was listed in 1988.
- McDonald's-Kline's Mill: In Bedminster, this historic mill was listed in 1987. Mills were very important for grinding grain in the past.
- Neshanic Mills: In Neshanic Station, these mills were listed in 1978.
- John Parker Tavern: In Bernardsville, this old tavern was listed in 1978. Taverns were like hotels and restaurants in the old days.
- South Branch Schoolhouse: In Branchburg, this old schoolhouse was listed in 2005. It reminds us of how children learned in the past.
- Jacobus Vanderveer House: In Bedminster, this house was listed in 1995 and includes a museum about the Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment Site.
Images for kids
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Alward Farmhouse
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Baker-Duderstadt Farm
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Brick Academy
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Bedens Brook Bridge
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Bedens Brook Road Bridge
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Bernardsville Station
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Blawenburg Historic District
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Boudinot-Southard Farmstead
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Bound Brook Station
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Bridgepoint Historic District
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Brook Theater
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Cat Tail Brook Bridge
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Clover Hill Historic District
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Coffee House
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Moses Craig Limekilns
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Delaware and Raritan Canal
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East Millstone Historic District
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Elmendorf House
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Far Hills Station
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Franklin Corners Historic District
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General John Frelinghuysen House
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Gladstone Station
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Griggstown Historic District
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Dirck Gulick House
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Hamilton Farm Stable Complex
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Higginsville Road Bridges
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Huff House and Farmstead
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Kennedy–Martin–Stelle Farmstead
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King's Highway Historic District
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Kingston Mill Historic District
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Kingston Village Historic District
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Kirch–Ford House
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Lamington Historic District
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Liberty Corner Historic District
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Alexander and James Linn Homestead
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Lyons Station
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Lyons Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District
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Maplewood (Montgomery Township, New Jersey)
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McDonald's-Kline's Mill
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The Meadows (Van Wickle House)
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Middlebrook Encampment Site
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Middlebush Village Historic District
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Millstone Historic District
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Millstone Valley Agricultural District
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Morristown National Historical Park
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Mount Bethel Baptist Meetinghouse
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Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church
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Neshanic Historic District
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Neshanic Mills
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Neshanic Station Historic District
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North Branch Historic District
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Olcott Avenue Historic District
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Old Dutch Parsonage
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Old Stone Arch Bridge
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John Parker Tavern
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Pluckemin Village Historic District
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Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment Site
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Pottersville Village Historic District
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Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook
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Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge
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Raritan Bridge
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Raritan Station
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Reformed Dutch Church of Blawenburg
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Relief Hose Company No. 2 Engine House
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Reynolds–Scherman House
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River Road Historic Rural District
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Daniel Robert House
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Rock Brook Bridge
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Rockingham
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Rocky Hill Historic District
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St. Bernard's Church and Parish House
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St. John's Church Complex
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Six Mile Run Historic District
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Six Mile Run Reformed Church
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Smalley-Wormser House
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J. Harper Smith Mansion
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Somerset Courthouse Green
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South Branch Historic District
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South Branch Schoolhouse
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Staats House
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Lord Stirling Manor Site
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Andrew Ten Eyck House
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Tulipwood
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Vail-Trust House
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Van Der Veer-Harris House
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Van Horne House
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Van Veghten House
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Jacobus Vanderveer House
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Vermeule Mansion
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Dr. John Vermeule House
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Jacob Vosseller House
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Wallace House
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Washington Park Historic District
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West End Hose Company Number 3
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