Tour of The Rockingham Historic House

Come along on an exploration of Rockingham's history, with an emphasis on the period as General Washington's Headquarters in later 1783. While the Continental Congress was meeting in Princeton, Rockingham, home of the prominent Berrien family, served as General George Washington's final Revolutionary War headquarters for over two-and-one-half months in 1783. On October 31, 1783, Washington and Congress received the long awaited news—the final version of the Treaty of Paris had been signed and the thirteen colonies were indeed independent of Great Britain. For eight years Washington had served his country in the Revolutionary War and as one of his last official acts wrote the Farewell Orders to the Armies at Rockingham in late October, in which he expressed his deep admiration and appreciation for the American army and announced his return to civilian life—renouncing any thought of kingship and ensuring the newly-minted country was headed in the direction envisioned in the Declaration of Independence seven years before. Come and see the beautiful house and join us for a tour of Rockingham and its 18th-century period-furnished rooms, with a special focus on General Washington's stay, including who accompanied him and what occurred at that time in the house's history! Reservations must be made at least 24 hours before tour time. Tour duration averages 60 minutes, but can vary due to number on tour, questions asked, mobility, etc. PLEASE NOTE: The new pathways are finally completed and once again we have access from the parking lot to the rest of the property, including the main house! HUZZAH! There is an approximately 250-yard walk between the parking lot and the house. From the lot, cross the wooden bridge to take the path to the house. You will pass a stone building and a large barn. You will be approaching the large gray main house from the back. Go through the small fence between it and a smaller gray building to the front yard of the house, facing the tall garden fence. Please wait on the stone piazza/porch (there are two benches) by the blue flag (there is no inside waiting area), outside the door with the large knocker—but no need to knock! Staff will come out to greet you and bring you inside at tour time. Should you have trouble finding the property or should someone in your party need closer access to the main house due to mobility issues, please call the office (609) 683-7132. We also ask that you call the site to leave a message if you will be late or need to cancel last minute. FYI, the house has air-conditioning and heat! Be advised that the only illumination in the house (with the exception of the electric lights in the entrance hall and on the stairs) is from daylight through the many windows and that there is no outdoor lighting, so at certain times of year (late fall into early spring), when the sun sets early, the rooms can be dimmer in the late afternoon, with the nearby trees creating shadow on the house and the property. Friends and/or family groups of 11 - 24 people (and, preferably, organized groups of ANY size) must contact us directly to inquire about arrangements for a tour, preferably AT LEAST one month before desired date.