Attend the Union County, New Jersey Screening of the Newest “Revolutionary Road Trip” Episode Coming Up On PBS

We’re heading out on a Revolutionary Road Trip through Union County, New Jersey—where stories of a “Fighting Parson,” daring Patriot raids, pivotal battles, and wartime espionage reveal why this region played such a critical role in America’s fight for independence. Just a short drive from New York City, Union County served as a strategic gateway between British-occupied New York and Patriot-controlled central New Jersey during the American Revolution, including the period when George Washington and his army were camped nearby at Morristown.

In this upcoming Travels with Darley episode, viewers explore Revolutionary-era sites in Union, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Plainfield, and Elizabeth, blending history with food and local culture to uncover what made this area vital in the 18th century—and what continues to make it special today.

To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the public is invited to a free premiere screening and panel discussion on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the DMK Black Box Theater in Union, New Jersey, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and the screening beginning at 8 p.m., followed by a discussion led by Darley Newman with Jonathan Mercantini, Associate Provost for Special Projects and Professor of History at Kean University; Rachael Goldberg, Executive Director Liberty Hall Museum; and Reverand Dr. Wanda Lundy. Light bites and refreshments will be provided. RSVP HERE.

The episode will also air soon on PBS, bringing New Jersey’s Revolutionary story to audiences nationwide as the countdown to 250 continues.

Visit these locations and more!

• Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church

• Union Township Historical Society

• Boxwood Hall State Historic Site

• Liberty Hall Museum

• Galloping Hill Inn

• “The Cannonball House” with the Springfield Historical Society

• First Republic and Valenca Restaurants in Elizabeth, New Jersey

• Shady Rest Country Club

• Stage House Tavern, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

• The Drake House with the Historical Society of Plainfield

In this episode, meet these keepers of history and culture in Union County, New Jersey at these locations you can visit, too.

⭐ Featured Locations in this PBS Episode from "Travels with Darley" | New Jersey’s Revolutionary Road to 250

• Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church — Union, New Jersey
  Meet Reverend Christian Iosso to hear about a pivotal Revolutionary War site connected to the Battle of Connecticut Farms, where faith, community, and conflict intersected during the fight for independence.

• Union Township Historical Society — Union, New Jersey
  Darley Newman meets David Arminio of the Union Township Historical Society to uncover how local stories, landmarks, and everyday people shaped Union Township’s role during the Revolutionary period. Darley Newman also meets historian Jonathan Mercantini of Kean University to hear about how women shaped the Revolutionary War.

• Boxwood Hall State Historic Site — Elizabeth, New Jersey
  At Boxwood Hall State Historic Site, Darley Newman meets Katherine Craig, who brings this elegant Revolutionary-era home to life while sharing stories of the prominent family who lived here and the site’s connection to George Washington.

• Liberty Hall Museum — Union, New Jersey
  Home of the influential Livingston family, this site tells the story of political leadership, liberty, and legacy during America’s founding. Darley Newman meets Rachael Goldberg at Liberty Hall Museum to explore one of New Jersey’s most important Revolutionary sites and the influential Livingston family’s impact on early American history.

• Galloping Hill Inn — Union, New Jersey At the historic Galloping Hill Inn, Darley Newman meets owner George Thomas to try hot dogs and hears about this 95-year-old entrepreneur's legacy and location with Revolutionary War significance.

• Springfield Historical Society — Springfield, New Jersey
  Darley Newman meets Linda Jurczak of the Springfield Historical Society to learn about daily life during the Revolutionary era and stories connected to the Battle of Springfield and the people who lived through it. She sees the cannonball for which "The Cannon Ball House" is so well known.

• First Republic — Elizabeth, New Jersey
  Located in one of New Jersey’s oldest cities, Darley tries Haitian cuisine and takes in art by Kervin Andre with small business owner Stanley Neron.

• Valenca Restaurant — Elizabeth, New Jersey Darley visits a restaurant where Portuguese food takes center stage and shares about the diverse people who call Elizabeth, New Jersey home.

• Shady Rest Country Club — Scotch Plains, New Jersey
  Darley Newman meets Susan Hamlette-Mayers and Tom Donatelli to learn about the Shady Rest Country Club, the first African American–owned and operated country club in the United States, and the importance of preserving these stories through oral history.

• Stage House Tavern — Scotch Plains, New Jersey A former stagecoach stop where travelers, soldiers, and locals once gathered along key Revolutionary-era routes. At the historic Stage House Tavern, Darley Newman meets Dustin Noel to discuss colonial-era taverns, stagecoach travel, and how this location has remained a gathering place for centuries.

• Historical Society of Plainfield — Plainfield, New Jersey
  Preserving the stories of everyday citizens whose lives were shaped by the Revolutionary era and its aftermath. Darley Newman meets Nancy Piwowar of the Historical Society of Plainfield at the Drake House to discover how local history, everyday citizens, and personal stories help keep the Revolutionary past alive today.

Watch for this episode on your location PBS TV station and coming to streaming platforms this winter!