[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2025[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]

Contact: Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
Vincent Grassi (609) 984-1795
Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795

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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AWARDS DEP NEARLY $1 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR WALLACE HOUSE HISTORIC SITE REHABILITATION

 

(25/P52) TRENTON – The National Park Service has awarded the Department of Environmental Protection a combined $950,000 in grants to implement an interior rehabilitation project, improve educational resources and support stream and riparian restoration at the Wallace House, a Revolutionary War historic site in Somerville, Somerset County.

The funding complements an ongoing exterior restoration project at the Wallace House, which served as General George Washington’s headquarters when the Continental Army encamped at Middlebrook during the winter of 1778-1779.

“New Jersey offers an unparalleled experience for residents and visitors seeking to retrace the steps of those who fought to secure our independence and learn about our state’s unique role during the Revolutionary War,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “Our state played a central role during the Revolution, and we are committed to ensuring our historic sites across the state are ready for the nation’s 250th anniversary.”

The Wallace House interior rehabilitation project will include stabilizing the second floor, installing energy-efficient heat pumps, and recreating period-appropriate finishes on paneling, paint and plaster using sustainable materials. This work is funded by a $750,000 Semiquincentennial Grant from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund and is expected to be completed by 2028.

Additionally, a $200,000 Preservation Planning Grant from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program will fund the creation of a report to guide historic interpretation upgrades and environmental rehabilitation at the site. The report will include a feasibility study to enhance storm resilience by daylighting a buried waterway that connects the Wallace House Historic Site to the neighboring Old Dutch Parsonage Historic Site.

“Somerset County is proud to celebrate this important investment in our shared history,” said Somerset County Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. “New Jersey played a vital role during the American Revolution, and the Wallace House tells a unique story about the significance of Somerset County. The National Park Service’s grant is essential in making this important community asset more visitor-ready for the nation’s 250th anniversary and beyond. We’re excited that both our residents and visitors will be able to experience this site’s rich history for years to come.”

“The State Park Service is thrilled to receive continued support from the National Park Service for the Wallace House Historic Site, allowing New Jersey to rehabilitate this landmark in advance of the nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary,” said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “The Wallace House stands as a tangible link to New Jersey’s role as the crossroads of the American Revolution.”

During the time that General Washington used the Wallace House as his headquarters, the Continental Army was encamped in strategic locations around the Watchung Mountains. These hills provided protection from attack and an elevated position to monitor the enemy’s movements. Washington’s decision to stay in this region played a crucial role in maintaining the Continental Amy’s morale and wearing down British forces.

Ongoing Wallace House Restoration Efforts

The exterior of the historic site is undergoing restoration to repair the roof, chimneys, clapboard, framing, windows and foundation; improve drainage and ADA accessibility; and restore the structure’s historic linseed oil paint finish. This work is funded by a previously awarded $500,000 National Park Service Semiquincentennial Grant with additional support from semiquincentennial funds made available by Governor Phil Murphy.

Furthermore, the Wallace House Historic Site received upgrades to its parking lot, on-site visitor center and interpretive signage using funds Governor Murphy made available through the American Rescue Plan.

“The Wallace House Historic Site is a must-see stop for anyone looking to connect with New Jersey’s Revolutionary War history for the nation’s anniversary celebrations,” said Mark Texel, DEP’s Administrator for State Historic Sites. “These projects ensure that the history of the Wallace House will remain vibrant and accessible for generations to come.”

250th Anniversary Projects Statewide

The restoration of the Wallace House is part of a much larger initiative to rehabilitate and restore New Jersey’s Revolutionary War historic sites in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary. In 2022, the Murphy Administration made a $25 million investment in restoration and visitor readiness upgrades to 10 Revolutionary War historic sites. Projects are underway at:

  • Washington Crossing State Park, Hopewell Township, Mercer County
  • Trenton’s Old Barracks Museum, Trenton, Mercer County
  • The Trenton Battle Monument, Trenton, Mercer County
  • Princeton Battlefield State Park, Princeton, Mercer County
  • Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, Monmouth County
  • The Proprietary House Historic Site, Perth Amboy, Middlesex County
  • Rockingham Historic Site, Franklin Township, Middlesex County
  • The Indian King Tavern Historic Site, Haddonfield, Camden County
  • The Wallace House Historic Site, Somerville, Somerset County
  • Boxwood Hall Historic Site, Elizabeth, Union County

 

Flagship Project at Washington Crossing State Park

The flagship project for New Jersey is a new state-of-the-art visitor center and museum at Washington Crossing State Park in Mercer County. The visitor center and museum will feature exhibits on the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783, an immersive 4D experience that places visitors on a ferry with video reenactments of the crossing projected on the walls, a 125-seat multipurpose theater, flexible gallery for rotating exhibits, planted roof, and an observation deck overlooking the site of the crossing.

Funding for the project comes from constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax revenue under the Preserve New Jersey Act, with additional support provided by the American Rescue Plan and a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

For more about New Jersey’s Parks, Forests & Historic Sites, visit stateparks.nj.gov

Like New Jersey’s State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newjerseystateparks

 

NJDEP Photo/Wallace House, Somerville

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