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Monmouth Battlefield
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The Craig House
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| Location: | Manalapan Township / Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey |
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| Built: | 1778 |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000467[1] |
| NJRHP #: | 2013[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD: | January 20, 1961[3] |
| Designated NJRHP: | May 27, 1971 |
Monmouth Battlefield State Park is a 2,928-acre[4] (11.85 km²) New Jersey state park located on the border of Manalapan and Freehold Township. This park preserves the historical battlefield on which the American Revolutionary War's Battle of Monmouth was waged.
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Monmouth Battlefield State Park preserves a rural, eighteenth century landscape of orchards, fields, woods and wetlands encompassing miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding; picnic areas, and a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse entitled, the Craig House.
The park's visitor center rests atop Combs Hill―a hill once commanded by the Continental Army artillery. Within the park's visitor's center one may observe an array of excavated artifacts from the notable eighteenth century battle. However, effective December 5, 2011, the Monmouth Battlefield Visitor Center has been closed for renovations through Spring 2013.[4]
During the final weekend in June (or the weekend nearest to 28 June), an annual reenactment of the 1778 American Revolutionary War battle is performed.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced in April 2008 that Monmouth Battlefield and eight other New Jersey state parks might be closed as part of Governor Jon Corzine's budget cuts.[5]
On June 28, 1778, as Sir Henry Clinton and his troops parted from the Monmouth Court House, George Washington and his Continental Army troops plotted an ambush on the rear column of Clinton's British Army soldiers, though the battle soon ended in a standoff.
The Battle of Monmouth is most notable for creating the American legend of Molly Pitcher; a housewife who boldly took her husband's place at the cannon only moments after his peril. In honor of Pitcher, an aging white cenotaph was erected nigh the property of the battlefield.
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