A Weekend in Old Monmouth
May 4-5, 2024
Welcome to Monmouth County History
The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and the Historical Commission welcome you to the 15th Annual Weekend in Old Monmouth self-guided tour of historic sites. The 2024 tour includes 52 sites organized into four segments:
- Bayshore or Purple Tour: Sites 1 - 16
- Two Rivers or Blue Tour: Sites 17 - 29
- Seashore or Green Tour: Sites 30 - 40
- Western or Orange Tour: Sites 41 - 52
Experience indicates that some tour followers attempt to visit as many sites as possible while others opt for a small number, often those close to home. Regarding organization, the tour places some widely separated sites in a semblance of order. Conversely, other sites are located close together.
Visitors may see the sites in any order, or no order, or reverse the sequence from the proposed starting points. The suggested routes offer logical, easy-to-follow directions, but those familiar with the local landscape or possessing GPS systems may wish to use alternate roads.
Map on right: Click on the map symbols to learn more about specific sites.
Bayshore Route (Purple)
This tour route begins in Keyport featuring the Keyport Historical Society and ends at Historic Portland Place in Hartshorne Woods Park. In between, some of the county’s earliest structures are featured, such as the 17th century’s Marlpit Hall and 18th century’s Holmes-Hendrickson House and Joseph Murray Farmhouse. Later 19th century construction is also featured, most grandly by the Atlantic Highlands’ Strauss Mansion Museum.
Twin Lights - Stop #14 on the Purple Route
Map on right: Click on the map symbols to learn more about specific sites.
Twin Rivers Route (Blue)
This tour route begins in Rumson at the Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, and ends at the finely restored Eden Woolley House, site of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum. In between, Shrewsbury’s historic four corners are highlighted by the early Christ Episcopal Church, Friends Meeting House and Shrewsbury Historical Museum.
Christ Episcopal Church - Stop #25 on the Blue Route.
Map on right: Click on the map symbols to learn more about specific sites.
Seashore Route (Green)
This tour route begins in Asbury Park at the Stephen Crane House and ends at Old Ardena School in Howell. In between, historic sites in Ocean Grove and Spring Lake are highlighted as well as military history at the NJ National Guard Museum and the InfoAge Science and History Museums.
The Great Auditorium - stop #31 on the Green Route.
Map on right: Click on the map symbols to learn more about specific sites.
Western Route (Orange)
This tour route begins in Allentown at the Allentown Presbyterian Church and ends at the Monmouth County Historical Association Museum in Freehold. In between, the rural historic towns of Englishtown and Roosevelt (Jersey Homesteads) are highlighted as well as many notable Freehold historic sites.
Walnford House and Mill, stop #42 on the Orange Route.
Map on right: Click on the map symbols to learn more about specific sites.
