Morristown National Historical Park will mark its 90th birthday in March/NPS file

Morristown National Historical Park, which preserves General George Washington's central New Jersey headquarters during the winter of 1779-1780 as he plotted the colonies' rebellion against England, is marking its 90th year as part of the National Park System.

As the nation's first national historical park, Morristown occupies a unique position within the 420+ strong park system. On March 4, at 1 p.m. in the museum auditorium, the birthday will be celebrated. After brief opening remarks, keynote speaker Dr. Jude M. Pfister, the park's chief of cultural resources, will speak on the establishment of the park, its place in the development of today’s National Park Service, and how the park can provide historical leadership for the future.

Built between 1772 and 1774 in Morristown, New Jersey, the mansion was the home of Jacob and Theodosia Ford. General Washington occupied it during the Jockey Hollow winter encampment.

For two critical winters of the American Revolution, 1777 and 1779-80, General George Washington chose the Morristown area as the main Continental Army's winter encampment. Because of its strategic location, the area continually served as the military capital throughout the war. During the 1779-1780 Jockey Hollow encampment, more than 10,000 soldiers endured the war's most severe winter.

To stay warm, the 10,000-12,000 troops that descended on the Henry Wick farm struggled through snow 2 feet deep, and drifts much higher, as they chopped down more than 600 acres of trees to build more than 1,000 small log huts and to keep warming fires burning through the days and nights.

Several miles away, in Morristown, General Washington and his aides -- five aides de camp, along with 18 servants -- moved into the Ford Mansion. This sprawling, three-story home had been built just several years earlier for Jacob Ford, Jr. A colonel in the Continental Army, Ford didn't live to see Washington take over his home, dying in 1777 of pneumonia.

At the conclusion of the celebratory event on March 4, the public is welcome to enjoy light refreshments, including a celebratory 90th anniversary cake.

A limited number of seats are available on a first come, first served, basis. The museum auditorium is located at 30 Washington Place, in Morristown. The park will be open from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on the day of the event.