Your Guide to Union County, New Jersey's Revolutionary War History, Culture & Cuisine | Travels with Darley
New Jersey doesn't always get the credit it deserves when it comes to the American Revolution.
But spend a day driving through Union County — past churches where militias once gathered, homes that sheltered founding families, and neighborhoods where cannonballs are still embedded in the walls — and you start to understand just how much of this nation's story unfolded right here.
I traveled through Union County as part of New Jersey's Revolutionary Road to 250, the statewide initiative leading up to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. What I found wasn't just history preserved behind glass. It was history alive — in the people keeping it, the places holding it, and yes, in the food that tells its own story about who New Jersey is today.
These are places you can visit yourself. Consider this your guide.
Revolutionary War Sites You Can Visit in Union County, NJ
Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church — Union, NJ
Some places carry the weight of history in a way you feel the moment you walk in. Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church is one of them. Connected to the Battle of Connecticut Farms — one of the lesser-known but significant engagements of the Revolutionary War — this church stood at the intersection of faith, community, and conflict during the fight for independence. I met Reverend Christian Iosso here, who brought the site's significance to life in a way no textbook could. This is the kind of stop that reframes what you think you know about New Jersey's role in the Revolution.
Plan your visit: Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church, Union, NJ
Caldwell Parsonage & Union Township Historical Society — Union, NJ
History is kept alive by the people who refuse to let it be forgotten. At the Caldwell Parsonage, I connected with David Arminio of the Union Township Historical Society, who walked me through how ordinary citizens — not just generals and politicians — shaped the fate of Union Township during the Revolutionary era. Historian Jonathan Mercantini of Kean University joined the conversation to share something that doesn't always make the history books: the critical role women played in the American Revolution. Their contributions were essential, their stories are compelling, and they deserve to be told.
Plan your visit: Caldwell Parsonage, Union, NJ
Boxwood Hall State Historic Site — Elizabeth, NJ
If you want to understand the social and political world of Revolutionary-era New Jersey, Boxwood Hall is a must. This beautifully preserved 18th-century home is associated with George Washington and was once home to one of Elizabeth's most prominent families. I toured it with Katherine Craig, who brought the stories of the people who lived and gathered here into vivid focus. Elizabeth played an outsized role in early American history, and Boxwood Hall is one of the best places in the state to feel that.
Plan your visit: Boxwood Hall State Historic Site, 1073 E Jersey St, Elizabeth, NJ
Liberty Hall Museum — Union, NJ
Power, politics, and family legacy all converge at Liberty Hall Museum — the historic home of the Livingston family, one of New Jersey's most influential political dynasties. With Rachael Goldberg as my guide, I explored how the Livingstons helped shape New Jersey's wartime leadership and the very founding of the United States. This is a house where decisions were made that echoed across generations. Liberty Hall isn't just a museum — it's a window into the inner workings of Revolutionary-era power.
Plan your visit: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave, Union, NJ
The Cannonball House | Springfield Historical Society — Springfield, NJ
There are historic sites that tell you about the past. And then there are historic sites that show you — literally. The Cannonball House in Springfield still bears a cannonball embedded in its structure from the Battle of Springfield. Standing in front of it with Linda Jurczak of the Springfield Historical Society, that single detail makes the reality of war in this quiet neighborhood impossible to ignore. This is one of the most viscerally powerful stops on any New Jersey Revolutionary road trip.
Plan your visit: The Cannonball House, Springfield, NJ
History, Food & Culture: Union County Beyond the Battlefield
Union County's story doesn't end in the 18th century. The region is home to a thriving, diverse culture — and some exceptional places to eat. Here's where Darley stopped to experience the county's modern identity.
Galloping Hill Inn — Union, NJ
A New Jersey road trip isn't complete without a proper New Jersey hot dog — and Galloping Hill Inn is the place to have one. Owner George Thomas welcomed me to this beloved roadside landmark, which sits along routes once traveled during the Revolutionary era. It's the kind of place that locals know and visitors should too.
Plan your visit: Galloping Hill Inn, Union, NJ
First Republic — Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth is one of New Jersey's most diverse cities, and First Republic captures that beautifully. I sat down with small business owner Stanley Neron and artist Kervin Andre for an introduction to Haitian cuisine alongside local art that reflects the community's creativity and energy. This is the kind of spot that reminds you travel is about people as much as it is about places.
Plan your visit: First Republic, Elizabeth, NJ
Valenca Restaurant — Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth has one of the largest Portuguese-American communities on the East Coast, and Valenca Restaurant is where that heritage comes to the table. The food here tells a story about immigration, community, and the way cultures take root and thrive. Don't miss it.
Plan your visit: Valenca Restaurant, Elizabeth, NJ
More Historic Landmarks to Add to Your Itinerary
Shady Rest Country Club — Scotch Plains, NJ
This one stopped me in my tracks. Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains is the first African American–owned and operated country club in the United States — a landmark of resilience and community that deserves far wider recognition. I met Susan Hamlette-Mayers and Tom Donatelli here, who shared oral histories and community stories that add an essential, often overlooked dimension to New Jersey's history.
Plan your visit: Shady Rest Country Club, Scotch Plains, NJ
Stage House Tavern — Scotch Plains, NJ
Once a stagecoach stop along Revolutionary travel routes, Stage House Tavern is still a gathering place today — just with a better menu. I met Dustin Noel to talk about how taverns like this one served as the social, political, and logistical hubs of their era. Travelers, soldiers, and community leaders all passed through. It's a living piece of history you can eat dinner in.
Plan your visit: Stage House Tavern, 366 Park Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ
Drake House | Historical Society of Plainfield — Plainfield, NJ
Every great historic site needs dedicated people behind it, and the Drake House has exactly that in Nancy Piwowar of the Historical Society of Plainfield. This stop tells the story of everyday citizens — not famous generals or founding fathers — whose lives were upended and shaped by the Revolution. It's a grounding, humanizing perspective that makes the larger story more real.
Plan your visit: Drake House, 602 W Front St, Plainfield, NJ
Plan Your Own Revolutionary Road Trip Through Union County, NJ
Union County is one of the most layered, rewarding destinations for anyone interested in American history — and it's accessible, drivable, and packed with stops worth lingering at.
Quick planning guide:
Best for: History lovers, road trippers, families, culture seekers
Located: ~25 miles from New York City, easily reached by car or NJ Transit
Combines well with: A broader New Jersey Revolutionary Road to 250 itinerary or a NYC-area weekend trip
Don't miss: Boxwood Hall, Liberty Hall, the Cannonball House, Shady Rest, and Valenca Restaurant
As America approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, there's no better time to explore the battlefields, homes, and communities where that story actually unfolded — and Union County, New Jersey is one of the best places to do it.
Watch the Full Episode
Watch Darley explore all of these sites in the full Travels with Darley episode, part of the Revolutionary Road Trip series now streaming on PBS, Tubi, Amazon Prime, and GoTraveler.
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