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Park Commission Press Releases

Civil War Army Invades Morristown During the Civil War Encampment Weekend at Historic Speedwell
MORRISTOWN, NJ. Step onto the battlefields of the American Civil War, and into the lives of the soldiers’ camp life at Civil War Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Second New Jersey Brigade is stationed at Historic Speedwell in Morristown for a unique two-day event that presents the lives of Civil War soldiers more vividly than textbooks.

Speak to the soldiers about their wartime experiences. Witness a staged skirmish and feel the ground shutter with the firing of the massive period cannon. Throughout the day, there are artillery and bayonet drills, and musket firings. Experience the soldiers’ daily life through authentic cooking, and general setup. A Civil War-era Signal Corps authentically demonstrates how important messages were sent between units using colorful flags to signal.

Activities include soldiers preparing for battle, and the basics of battlefield medicine for soldiers who suffered from battle-inflected injuries or disease. Visit the medical area where re-enactors care for the ‘wounded’ and demonstrate how these emergency units functioned during battles. Around every corner there is something to discover.

While enjoying your visit, tour Historic Speedwell, known as the “Birthplace of the Telegraph,” including the National Historic Landmark Factory Building featuring an interactive, hands-on telegraph exhibit. Tour the Vail Home, built more than 150 years ago. Explore the exhibits on the Speedwell Ironworks, a granary filled with early farm implements, and watch the enormous 24-foot overshot waterwheel turn in the Wheelhouse.

For more information, please call 973-285-6550. FREE parking and FREE shuttle service available. Admission for this event is $7 for adults; $6 for seniors; $5 for children ages 4 – 16; and children under 4 are FREE.

The Morris County Park Commission received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.