Originally built in 1758 to house British soldiers during the French and Indian War, the Old Barracks stood witness to Washington’s crucial victory at the Battles of Trenton.
During its time as a Revolutionary War army hospital, it became one of the first sites to inoculate soldiers against smallpox.
In 1902, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames organized The Old Barracks Association and purchased the building.
The site became a museum in 1903 and throughout the 20th century was used as a symbol of New Jersey at three World’s Fairs.
The Old Barracks Museum welcomes over 12,000 school children a year from every county in the state who “Meet the Past” and learn about 18th-century life in New Jersey.
Hourly tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday for those who would like to learn more about the building and its history. Skilled interpreters offer a view into the past with living history demonstrations that include sewing, cooking, and military drilling.
Throughout the year, the Barracks hosts events such as lectures, May Tea, Tavern Night, Patriots Week, and more.
The Old Barracks is pleased to announce a brand-new exhibit titled “A Revolution in the Ranks: The Philadelphia Associators and the Fight for Liberty and Citizenship, 1775-1777,” which looks at the origins, service, and legacy of the of Philadelphia Associators, an all-volunteer militia who fought at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton.
Throughout their existence, they fought the British for American rights and among themselves for the rights of working people in America.
This exhibit opened to the public on March 15th and is included with the cost of admission. Learn more at barracks.org.
PHOTO CAP: Photo credit WMB Photo.