“The Battle of Monmouth 2.0"

George Washington and Warehouses on a Revolutionary War Site in Upper Freehold, NJ

Abstract

Abstract: This article examines ongoing efforts to preserve a Revolutionary War-era British encampment site in Upper Freehold, New Jersey that is currently threatened by proposed warehouse development. The author, a public historian, details the historical significance of the site as part of the 1778 Battle of Monmouth campaign and describes community activism to protect it ahead of America's 250th anniversary in 2026. Key aspects covered include: historical evidence confirming the site's role in the Revolutionary War; public history and preservation strategies employed by local advocates; debates over the site's historical importance and interpretation; connections to broader Revolutionary War history in New Jersey; inclusion of African American and Native American perspectives; and the ongoing political and legal battles over the site's future.  The case study illustrates challenges in preserving Revolutionary War sites, engaging public memory, and balancing development pressures with historic preservation. It argues for the site's importance to New Jersey and American history as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial.