New Jersey has a rich military history - we're known as the Crossroads of the Revolution and are home to the site where World War One officially ended. We've got numerous military bases and installations including Fort Dix in Burlington to the Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County, and several of these spots are home to hidden gems.
The National Guard Militia Museum is one such gem.
This free museum is open seven days a week (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) and can be found at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt (Sea Girt Avenue & Camp Drive). It highlights "the role of the New Jersey Militia and National Guard within the context of the larger history of the state." The museum also offers an annex in Lawrenceville (151 Eggerts Crossing Road), also open to the public.
You'll find unique artifacts dating back to the Revolutionary War.
They've also got the only Civil War artillery piece mounted on a carriage in a New Jersey museum. The Sea Girt main museum offers a wide range of authentic and replica uniforms, photographs and weapons. The Lawrenceville annex has two rooms dedicated to the Civil War, a "Model Room" with over one hundred small-scale models of military equipment and around 15 tanks, vehicles and cannons on display outside.
The photo collection is quite impressive, as is the oral history project.
A wide range of photos (this one snapped at Sea Girt) offer a unique peek into the past, but soldiers' stories collected over the years may be the most intriguing. The Center for U.S. War Veterans Oral Histories at the militia museum collects and preserves soldiers' first hand accounts of battle and base life.
What else is there to see at the Sea Girt main museum? So much!
You'll want to set aside at least an hour to take in the largest collection of New Jersey related Civil War research material in the country, including copies of diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, memoirs, regimental histories and articles. You'll also find a Civil War era submarine and a 19th & 20th century small arms collection.
If you're in the area, you definitely don't want to miss this AND it makes for a great summer day trip. Spend time at the beach, check out the museum and perhaps visit the lighthouse. Sounds like fun! For another unique military base in New Jersey, check out this Nike Missile site.
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