The Black Heritage Trail includes historic sites across Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey.
New Jersey might not be renowned for its Black history , but scattered across the comprehensiveness of the res publica is theBlack Heritage Trail , a potpourri of historic sites date back to pre - rotatory era museums , historic plate , and more featuring African American and Black origins .
As we keep Black History Month , we ’ve put together a guide on how to ascertain more about the overplus of century former historic piazza in our neighboring state . From locus in Northern New Jersey easily approachable to transportation - bang New Yorkers to Central New Jersey that might require a vehicle , here ’s our usher on the Black Heritage Trail in each region of New Jersey .
Black Heritage Trail in Northern New Jersey
Jersey CityWith the coming of theUnderground Railroadin the 1800s , its route through New Jersey ran from South Jersey to the “ last post ” of Jersey City . Jersey City played a polar role as a position where thousands ofenslaved people traveledthrough to get to New York or Canada ( where bondage was prohibited ) .
Another local historical site is an “ African burying ground ” at the conjunction of Pine Street and Johnston Avenue , where report of an 1841 single-valued function name the ground behind the Garrabrant estate as where enslave persons were bury . A historic site still stand is theHilton - Holden House , which was an Underground Railroad dependable house providing shelter within its cellar . Winfield Avenue was also known asJackson Lanefor two freed brothers who bribe demesne on Newark Bay in 1831 . Their home in Greenville was part of the Underground Railroad helping enslaved person across the Hudson , and a plaque at the Martin Luther King Station on theHudson - Bergen Light Railcommemorates this . let out more of history at theAfro - American Historical Society Museumand check out its 1940s recreation of a typical African American home of the day .
For sustenance , dine at Black - owned patch like the Caribbean eatery , Freetown Road Restaurant;Carolyn ’s Soul Foodserving southerly cuisine;Cherry ’s Loungefor Oxtails , Rice , and Corn ; andVibez Juice Cafefor Creole Ribs , Jerk Steak , and fresh succus . Getting here from NYC : PATH from 33rd & Broadway or World Trade Center to Jersey City . In Jersey City , take the city ’s Light Rail System .
The Newark Museum of Art
NewarkAt this city with a sizable African American and Black community , start with a curated long terminal figure initiation , theArts of Global Africa Galleryat theNewark Museum of Art , where past and present collections of African art pieces reside . Next is theKrueger - Scott brow mansionbought byLouise Scottin 1959 and is on the National Register of Historic Places . As an entrepreneur and pioneer of the knockout industry for Black woman ’s hair , she used it as a magic spell schooltime and homebase for cosmetology and beauty form . Lastly , theJames Brown African American Roomat theNewark Public Libraryholds over 10,000 artworks , books , and powder magazine on African American account and culture .
Afterwards , terminate bySource of Knowledge Bookstore , an main Black - owned store and community space centre Black culture , art , and literature . And theInstitute of Jazz Studiesstands out as one of the honorable centers of wind archives and research in beingness today with over 100,000 sound recordings , oral files on nothingness history , and a research adroitness .
For meals , judge RicoSoul , a singular blending of Puerto Rican and soul food for thought cuisine , atThe Weekend Spot ; innovative mortal nutrient at the fatal women - ownedCornbread Restaurant ; before finish with a tipple at Black - ownedBar Vanquish Oyster Bar & Loungein downtown Newark with its speakeasy vibe and bites . Getting here from NYC : NJ Transit train from Penn Station , then hop on the Newark Light Rail for these site on Washington , Grove Street , and other stops .
Wadadli Chicken and waffles|Photo courtesy of Freetown Road Restaurant
MorristownAs Morris County ’s first Black church , theBethel Church of Morristownwas institute in 1843 and was once the only school for “ Colored ” and Native American children of its geological era . While many remaining African American historic sites nationwide are not graced with markers and memorial tablet like other American locations of grandness , Morristown has a prominent historic district withMorristown National Historical Parkfor woodland walks and historic homes;Fosterfields Living Historical Farmopened in 1854 for hike , golfing , camping , and sportfishing ; andMorris Museumfor permanent galleries of clockmaking and world science . Getting here from NYC : By car via NJ-24 W , or NJ Transit gear from Penn Station
Black Heritage Trail in Central New Jersey
Scotch HillsShady Rest Country Clubwas founded in 1921 as the first Black - owned golf club in the United States with a nine - hole course , croquet , tennis , and free . bleak elite like Louis Armstrong , W.E.B DuBois , Althea Gibson and others , would conform to here for lectures and entertainment in an era where they were scarce welcomed elsewhere . Shady Rest was so popular within the Black community that it was heel in the historicGreen Book — a locomotion guidebook lean inns , restaurants , service stations and other public services that were safe for African Americans to patronise . Additionally , the first American professional golfer , John Shippen , was African American and the club ’s leafy vegetable keeper until 1964.Getting here from NYC : By motorcar via US-22 W
Perth AmboyDo you sleep with who the first African American elector in the U.S. was ? His name wasThomas Mundy Peterson , a school corpus and jack of all trades , and he was forty - six years old at the sentence of his vote in 1870 . The right to vote was n’t for a Presidential election , but locally for Perth Amboy and whether it would revise or scrap its charter . Peterson was lay out with a medal to commemorate the social occasion , and he ’s interred at Saint Peter ’s Churchyard at 183 Rector Street . Getting here from NYC : By car via I-278 W and I-95 S ; or NJ Transit train from Penn Station
Princeton / Skillman / New BrunswickThe Paul Robeson Housewas the birthplace of the famous activist , actor , and singer , where he go to a segregated public school . Another historical site is theStoutsburg Sourland African American Museumin Skillman . It limn the culture and contributions of African Americans in the Sourland Mountain Region . For theater , visitCrossroads Theatre Company , the state ’s premiere dramatics place to the African American experience where they present positive imagery and diaspora works .
The Ford Mansion at Morristown National Historical Park|Shinya Suzuki/Flickr
Replenish large calorie at Princeton’sJagrah ’s Restaurantand New Brunswick’sDashen Ethiopian Cuisinefor Doro Wot , Avocado Salad , Yebeg Wot , and vegetarian platters like Misir Wot . become here from NYC : By car via US-22 W to Princetown , via I-78 W to Skillman , and via I-78 W and I-95 S for New Brunswick
Black Heritage Trail in Southern New Jersey
Cape MayUnbeknown to most , Cape May played a pivotal role in African American account . It ’s where Harriet Tubman lived and work avail jobs in the 1850s to fund her Underground Railroad travel of send enslaved runaways northbound . The Harriet Tubman Museum of New Jerseyis a tribute to her life and serious freedom work . Cape May houses three major abolitionist sites , such as Banneker House , one of the only summer resorts for free Black people in the 1840s .
Atlantic CityBeyond itscasinos and beach renown , Atlantic City possesses Black historic sites like theCivil Rights Garden , a public sculpture garden with Gingko trees and theAfrican American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jerseythat displays ethnical paintings and memorabilia .
In the 1930s , the segregation of beaches resulted in a reaching along Missouri Avenue becoming the unofficial dark beach lie with as Chicken Bone Beach . TheChicken Bone Beach Historical Foundationexists today to school the community and tourists on malarkey , with jazz summertime camp and gratis lessons on voice and legal document useable .
Saint Peter’s Churchyard|Kevin Stewart/Flickr
Camden CountyLawnside is an African American town make in 1840 by free people who came together for community . It is home to abolitionist and several families who can still follow their pedigree to enslaved persons that arrived via the Underground Railroad . Mount Peace Cemeteryin Lawnside was founded in 1902 as a result of African American expulsion from established cemetery , but it is currently in disrepair with wearisome progression being made to keep this historic and cultural landmark . Getting here from NYC : By railroad car via I-95 S
Crossroads Theatre Company
Underground Railroad Trolley Tour|Photo courtesy of Cape May MAC
Chicken Bone Beach Youth Jazz Institute|Photo courtesy of CBB Youth Institute of Jazz Studies, Art work by Glenn Taylor
