RELEASE: Ahead of Independence Day, Gottheimer Highlights North Jersey’s Role in Revolutionary Era and Calls for Increased Promotion of Historic Sites to Boost Tourism

HO-HO-KUS, NJ – Today, Tuesday, July 2, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, in celebration of Independence Day this week, stood within the Crossroads of the American Revolution to highlight New Jersey’s rich history and the importance of investing in developing North Jersey’s tourism economy and in preserving historical sites.

Gottheimer, joined by local historic preservation leaders and reenactors, visited the Hermitage Museum today, the home of Theodosia Bartow Prevost, which hosted revolutionaries including Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, and New Jersey’s own Aaron Burr. George Washington also used the home as a headquarters.

Gottheimer highlighted Revolutionary War sites throughout the Fifth District, including the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area (NHA), which brings together over 250 New Jersey museums, historic sites, and battlefields. Crossroads produces $166.6 million in economic impact, supports over 1,700 jobs, and welcomes 900,000 visitors annually.

Gottheimer noted that heritage tourism can be a major economic driver for North Jersey and that Revolutionary sites play a key role. In Congress, Gottheimer is focused on bolstering these efforts and furthering the economic impact NHAs have on communities.

“There is a real opportunity to do more to promote sites like the Hermitage and to spur jobs and economic development around it. This is just one of those things about New Jersey that just doesn’t get enough attention. National Heritage Areas, like Crossroads, and their Heritage Partners, have so much possibility to draw more visitors – and hopefully get them to spend more dollars when they’re here. Just like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and others have done,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’m confident that with a real focus on heritage tourism, we can help drive economic growth, get our taxes down, and help diversify economy. This week, let us take an extra moment to celebrate New Jersey, our nation’s rich history, and those we lost fighting to achieve our independence and freedoms.”

Gottheimer’s fight to boost historic preservation and tourism in North Jersey:

• Gottheimer has launched a Tourism Task Force in Sussex County, along with NJ State Senator Oroho, NJ Assemblymen Space and Wirths, and Sussex County Chamber Commerce President Horsfield, to invest more in tourism, to help drive economic growth and job creation, and to keep tourism here, rather than lose visitors to Pennsylvania and New York.

• Gottheimer has cosponsored the bipartisan National Heritage Area Act, which strengthens the NHA program. Better management of our heritage areas will strengthen public-private-partnerships, better preserve our national heritage, and spur economic growth with minimal federal resources.

• Gottheimer is fighting to ensure investment in the Save America’s Treasures grant program, which provides preservation and conservation resources to nationally significant historic properties. The Hermitage and other historic sites throughout North Jersey are eligible.

• Gottheimer has also called for investment in the National Endowment for the Humanities, which includes teaching, preservation, public programming, and competitive grants for research and scholarship in history.

Among the Revolutionary War sites within the Fifth District that Gottheimer highlighted today were the Washington Encampment Monument in Hardyston Township, Sussex County; the Thomas Anderson House and the Old Newton Burial Ground in the Town of Newton, Sussex County; Shippen Manor in Oxford Township, Warren County; and the Old Presbyterian Burial Ground in the Town of Hackettstown, Warren County.