Morristown National Historical Park

A good friend of mine had her bachelorette party this past weekend in Morristown, New Jersey. Well, if you know me, I seek out a National Park anywhere I go, and happily to my surprise, Morristown National Historical Park was in Morristown, New Jersey, yay!! This park is the site of the 1779-80 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington. I only had time to go to the Jockey Hollow area, but we really enjoyed our pit stop there. There was a an old farm present on the grounds, rangers dressed on period costume, and some nice trails. Hubby and I went on a little 2 mile hike to move our legs after being in the car for 4 hours. Here are some pictures for you!!

The Wick Farm

We took the Soldier Hut Trail

These little purple flowers where all over.

These flower were also all over the place.

Bug like creature.

Wild lettuce of some sort.

What the woods looked like in the area.

Apparently, a large number of Irish men served in the Continental Army.

Replica Soldier Huts

The hearths are the only original structure to the huts.

Hubby and the hut.

There were wild green onions growing all over the place.

A look at the orchard.

The well

The Jockey Hollow area has several trail options available. Check out the website for the park. There is also a museum that we unfortunately didn't have the time to visit. Overall, we had a nice little visit!! 

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Today is the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. For this generation today, September 11 is the day we know as our country being attacked. However, for our grandparents, December 7 was this day. The National Park Service as a site dedicated to remembering this date at Pearl Harbor, the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. You can also visit the resting place of the U.S.S. Arizona.

As a result of Pearl Harbor, the United States launched a campaign for control in the Pacific. A second National Park site, the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, in Guam commemorates these efforts.

Lastly, the National Park service has pictures form the attack on Pearl Harbor that you can look at. It's hard to imagine the destruction witnessed that day, but these images help show you what happened on December 7, 1941.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/npswapa/gallery/album13.htm

Do you like Jack Kerouac and National Parks?

If you answered yes to the above question, you should check out Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell, Massachusetts. Apparently, Jack Kerouac was a Lowell native. Every year they celebrate him at the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival. Today at 5:00 pm, the Lowell National Historical Park's Visitor Center will debut a new permanent installation about the life of this well known writer. You should definitely check it out if you are in the area. You can find out more about the exhibit (click here) and this national historical park (click here).