"Revolutionary Lives” Travels to Morris County Library This Month
Published on January 09, 2026
Morris County Heritage Commission Hosts RevolutionNJ Exhibit Jan. 9 – Jan. 23
The Morris County Heritage Commission is hosting the RevolutionNJ traveling exhibit “Revolutionary Lives: Living the American Experiment Then and Now” from Jan. 9 through Jan. 23 at the Morris County Library, offering visitors an opportunity to explore New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution through the experiences of everyday people.
The exhibit highlights lesser-known stories of New Jersey residents whose lives, labor and personal choices shaped the Revolutionary era and continue to resonate as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is on display in the atrium gallery of the Morris County Library, 30 E. Hanover Ave., Whippany, which is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We are honored that RevolutionNJ selected Morris County as a host location for this traveling exhibit. Morris County’s residents were among the men and women who housed, supported and fought alongside Washington’s army. This exhibit provides a meaningful way to recognize the unknown heroes who sacrificed so much during the decade of the war,” said Commissioner Christine Myers, member of the Morris County 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee.
New Jersey’s Revolutionary experience reflected the diversity and complexity of the state itself. During the war, residents represented a wide range of languages, religions and cultural backgrounds, with allegiances divided among supporters of independence, loyalists and those who sought to remain neutral. These divisions often led to bitter conflict, making New Jersey one of the states most heavily impacted by the Revolution. By the war’s end, New Jersey had suffered more damage, experienced more violent clashes and marked more battles than any other state.
The “Revolutionary Lives”exhibit examines this turbulent period through the personal stories of ordinary people under extraordinary circumstances. Visitors are encouraged to consider how these historical experiences continue to shape civic life and the ongoing pursuit of the ideals set forth during the American Revolution.
“The Morris County Heritage Commission is excited to be hosting RevolutionNJ's traveling exhibit at the Morris County Library. To focus on ordinary people, their diversity, and their different points of view is a wonderful approach. It will help all of us understand and imagine what it was like living in New Jersey during the Revolution,” said Martha Wells, chair of the Heritage Commission.
The traveling exhibit is provided free of charge through RevolutionNJ, New Jersey’s official initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Established through legislation in 2018, RevolutionNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc. For more information on RevolutionNJ, visit revnj.org.
To learn more about how Morris County is commemorating the 250th anniversary, visit morriscounty250.org and follow @MorrisCounty250 on social media for updates on semiquincentennial events and activities taking place in Morris County in 2026.
About Morris County Heritage Commission
The Morris County Heritage Commission is an advisory body of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners that maintains the Morris County Archives, provides advice and support to local historical and historic preservation groups in Morris County, and ensures the preservation of historical information to increase awareness of the people, places and events that give Morris County a special place in the history of New Jersey and America.
###
Image: RevolutionNJ traveling exhibit flyer.