2020 -2021 Visitors Guide Est. 1739 morristourism.org 2 Morris County Tourism Bureau INSIDE Letter from Executive Director 5 Features: Morris County at a Glance 6 Historic Morristown Walking Tour 10 Focus on Historic Speedwell 14 12 Hip & Historic Dining Ideas 16 13 Fun Facts about Morris County 17 6 Offbeat Adventures 18 Annual Events 20 Historic Sites 24 Where to Dine 34 Arts and Culture 44 Recreation: Farms 52 Farmers Markets 56 Parks and Gardens 57 Sports and Experiences 61 Where to Shop 70 Where to Stay 76 Services: Historic and Community 83 Transportation 88 Health and Wellness 91 Business and Commerce 94 Morris County Tourism Bureau 6 Court Street Morristown, New Jersey 07960 973.631.5151 morristourism.org 3 Mayor Tim Dougherty and the Town of Morristown Present Saturday • August 15th Always The ThirdNoon -Saturday 10:00 PM In August! FREE MUSIC ON THE MORRISTOWN GREEN NOON to 10:00 PM • Bring Your Blankets & Lawn Chairs www.morristownjazzandblues.org Photos courtesy of MorristownGreen.com and Jack Grassa. 4 Morris County Tourism Bureau A Letter from the Executive Director Dear fellow traveler, The cover photo is of a statue depicting Thomas Paine located in Morristown’s Burnham Park and has the famous quote written on December 23, 1776 - “These are times that try men’s souls.” – how true those words are today as we fight an unseen enemy. And like the American patriots before us – we shall one day be victorious! In that spirit I invite you to come visit and get a dose of inspiration along with some much-needed rest and relaxation with a trip to hip and historic Morris County*. Inside the guide you will discover enough information to keep you busy for a day or weekend; George Washington was here for two winters! Every season offers something new and unique to explore. In addition, to keep you fed and well rested, our guide directs you to great food and welcoming accommodations for every budget. Morris County is easy to get to; keep us in mind when you are ready for your next road trip! Happy travels, Executive Director Leslie Bensley Leslie Bensley, Executive Director *Please bear in mind that you will need to double-check that your intended destination is up and running again. Cover Photo: Thomas Paine Statue in Burnham Park, Morristown The MCTB received funding through a grant from the NJ Dept. of State, division of Travel and Tourism an and operating support grant from the NJ Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State morristourism.org 5 MORRIS COUNTY at a glance Morris County was named after Colonel Lewis Morris, Governor of New Jersey in 1738-1739, the year the county was named. Few places have experienced the kind of boom in popularity that Morris County has had over the past few years. People love it – and for good reason. From arts to farms to business to lifestyle, Morris County’s 39 towns has something for everyone. 6 Morris County Tourism Bureau 7 Featured Towns 1. Morristown You might think having Manhattan only 30 miles away would overshadow an area, but even with its large commuter culture, Morristown holds its own. Thousands of people flock to Morristown for dining, entertainment, shopping, socializing and enjoying its many arts festivals throughout the year. In addition to being the county seat, Morristown is the home of the historic Morristown Green, several MPAC , Morristown early American historic museums, the Morristown Medical Center and cultural institutions like the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC). 2. Morris Township Morris Township, named for Colonial Governor Lewis Morris, was founded in 1740. Its history and development runs the gamut from farming to wealthy suburbs, within its borders. Many Gilded Age estates survive as popular destinations such as the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm and The Morris Museum. Morris Museum Morris Township morristourism.org 7 3. Parsippany-Troy Hills Parsippany-Troy Hills regularly earns a spot on The Best Places to Live in the United States lists. Established when it split from Hanover Township in 1928, its ancient history dates back at least 6,000 years, as evidenced by its petroglyph sites. Parsippany gets its name from the Lenni Lenape word parsipanong, which means “the place where the river winds through the valley.” Here you will find one of Morris County’s national historic landmark - The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. 4. Boonton Craftsman Farms The original Village of Boonton (dating back to the Parsippany mid-1700s) sits under the Jersey City Reservoir. Modern-day Boonton began in 1829, during the construction of the Morris Canal and development of the New Jersey Iron Company. Boonton served as a crucial stop on the Underground Railroad and is home of the world famous Boontonware. While the vaudeville theaters, historic hotels and trolley cars of twentieth-century Boonton have now been replaced with restaurants and high-tech companies, Boonton still retains all of its quaint charm. 5. Chester, Chester Borough With its picturesque Main Street and scenic rolling hills, Chester captures the hearts of many visitors. Chester and the surrounding Chester Township date back to 1799. Visitors love its quiet village life and quaint country charm, which has been preserved Chester Borough and protected by the Historic Chester Business 8 Morris County Tourism Bureau Association and municipal ordinances that have dedicated open spaces to prevent any encroaching suburban sprawl. Chester has over 100 small, independently owned stores, and offer a variety of annual events that delight visitors every season. 6. Washington Township and Long Valley Long Valley, an unincorporated community within Washington Township, was originally known as “German Valley” thanks to its original settlers from Saxony, Germany back in 1707. A group of German Protestants traveled with their Dutch counterparts to the New World in search of religious freedom but opted to forego their original plan to settle in Long Valley what is now New York City once they discovered Schooley’s Mountain River Washington Township’s stunning farmland. Later on, Schooley’s Mountain (America’s earliest summer resort) attracted vacationers for its mineral springs and iron-rich waters, reputed to heal all types of ailments. 7. Wharton Wharton (once called Port Oram) was a stop on the famous Morris Canal, which stretched from Phillipsburg to Newark, transporting anthracite coal from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River. Today, Wharton is home to Picatinny Arsenal, which has been an important army research and development center since 1880. The town’s namesake, industrialist Joseph Wharton of Philadelphia, founded The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Waterloo Canal morristourism.org 9 21 Stops on the HISTORIC 12 MORRISTOWN Walking Tour Morristown’s Historic District makes for an intriguing, compact walking tour. Spend an hour, a day or a week exploring these important pieces of history and (re)discovering one of New Jersey’s most popular towns. 10 Morris County Tourism Bureau o h ILLE WALKER DEEPS a n t a s HAZEL ST L CUTLER ST a k e LINDEN ST GARDEN ST Ri SUSSEX SPEEDWELL AVE PL Whippany ABBETT AVE WILLOW ST C L Y D E ABBETT AVE P O T T NAMREHS S PL DR GRANT ST FLAGLER ST ST COLUMBIA RALPH PL SPEEDWELL AVE TNA LP ATNO AVE LACKAWANNA HAZLETT Y ST SPRING ST EARL PROSPECT HPYLO T 21 S RIS MOR FORD AVE 3 6 MILLS ST WASHINGTON ST 5 7 2 4 MLE TS HILL ST DUMONT PINE ST TODD PL TS DDUB TS KING ST R 8 E DR 1 NILK L Y 20 DR COBB PL ANN ST SOUTH ST LP NA PHOENIX AVE CHU OF SSCHUYLER 9 19 RF County 15 FRANKLIN ST AVE 18 FRANKLIN ST T U DEHART PLACE Complex 17 R GREEN T 16 L BANK ST HILL E MACCULLOCH AVE R COMMUNITY N OAK WESTERN TO Downtown L 11 AMI D H COLLESC 10 14 R OLL MADISON AVE Morristown ES 12 13 PERRY ST 1. Morris County judicial system and a sword 5. Patriots Memorial Frieze Tourism Bureau to OGrepresent the protection 1 N. Park Place & Speedwell 6 Court Street of individualDEN PL rights. Note Ave. Morristown Fortwas originally she is not blindfolded.MILLER RD Twelve medallions along the settled around 1715, when Court Room One has been upper part of the Century Nonsense OGDE iron was discovered in preserved to look as it Ndid PL 21 Department Store surrounding hills. There are in 1827. building feature founders 700 buildings downtown WETMORE and important citizens of ROOKFIELD WAY B listed on the National 3. First Baptist Church Morristown. Five of the Register of Historic Places. 51 Washington Street twelve medallions depict Today, the Tourism Bureau While Morristown’s second persons interred in the offers maps, brochures, oldest congregationVANDERPOOL was Presbyterian Church Burying coupons, tours, programs established in 1752, this Ground across the street. MOLLY STARK DR and gifts. marks the church’s fourth Among those featured are building. Built in 1892, Reverend Timothy Johnes, 2. Morris County the church was originally Jacob Arnold, Jacob Ford, Courthouse located on the Green, where Jr., Alfred Vail, Silas Condict Court Street it served as a smallpox and Tempe Wick. Built in 1827, this is the hospital. county’s third courthouse, 6. Morris Frank and “Buddy” and one of the best 4. Arnold’s Tavern Plaque Statue Island between N. examples in New Jersey 20 North Park Place Park Place and E. Park Place of a public building in the A plaque marks the former The statue, by famed artist Federal style. For many site of Arnold’s Tavern, J. Seward Johnson, is of the years, bells rang from the built in 1764.