New Jersey is a state that is full of landmarks, including historical sites, fascinating attractions, sporting venues, and incredible destinations.
Some of the New Jersey’s landmarks are truly iconic, while others are less obvious. However, they all are definitely worth visiting and experiencing.
Here is a list of the most stunning landmarks of the Garden State that should be on your must-visit list.
Famous Landmarks in New Jersey
1. The Newark Museum of Art
It is the largest museum in New Jersey that was founded in 1909 by Newark principal librarian John Cotton Dana. It is also one of the few museums in the United States devoted to science and art.
Today, the museum has collections of decorative art, American art, contemporary art, classical art, and others. In total, there are 80 galleries with over 130,000 objects. There is also a permanent science collection that includes over 83,000 natural history specimens of geological, zoological, and botanical origin.
The museum also houses the Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium, an authentic Schoolhouse from 1784, the Victoria Hall of Science, the Billy Johnson Auditorium, the Newark Fire Museum, and others. It is also a popular historic wedding venue.
2. Grounds For Sculpture
If the weather is good and you want to spend some time outside, you should check out this museum of sculptures located in Hamilton, New Jersey. It is a 42-acre park that was founded in 1992 with the purpose of appreciation and understanding of sculpture.
The park has a permanent collection of 270 sculptures created by well-known artists. There are also eight indoor galleries with seasonal exhibitions with works of emerging and established artists, as well as pergolas, garden, arboretum, and stunning courtyards with ponds, groves of bamboo, and natural woodlands.
Also Read: Famous Landmarks in Delaware
Grounds for Sculpture is also a great place for learning more about art and sculptures as there are numerous educational programs, including artist lectures, workshops for children, and tours for everyone, including, adults, schoolers, toddlers, the blind, and others.
This park is a great place for spending time with your family because it is known for different interesting events, performances, and concerts.
3. Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park is one of the most popular New Jersey destinations due to its magnificent views of Manhattan’s skyline. Millions of people visit this park every year. It is often called the crown jewel of all parks in New Jersey.
An interesting fact about this landmark is that the park was created in 1976 on a former industrial site of old rail yards and decrepit piers.
This park is also the only location that offers a ferry service to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and the Statue of Liberty. There are also many attractions, including exciting outdoor activities.
For example, there are bicycle tours and Kayak Eco Tours for true adventurists. This all makes Liberty State Park a wonderful place to enjoy a sunny and memorable day along the Hudson River.
4. Mountain Creek Resort
Mountain Creek Resort is the largest ski resort in the state of New Jersey. It sits in the township of Vernon and is located only an hour from New York City. It has four peaks, three terrain parks, and 167 acres of terrain options for skiers of all levels.
It is also well known as a great summer destination with a bike park, largest water slide in New Jersey, and The Zoom Zipline that attract thousands of adventurists from both New Jersey and New York.
In terms of lodging, the resort has two options: the gated community of Black Greek Sanctuary and the slopeside units of The Appalachian.
Both these accommodation options have such amenities as fireplaces, barbecues, and full kitchen to help visitors feel comfortable and enjoy their stay.
5. Liberty Science Center
If you are in Liberty State Park mentioned above, it is worth visiting Liberty Science Center – an interactive center and learning center that has the biggest digital theater in the Western Hemisphere and the best planetarium.
The purpose of this museum is to help learners of all ages to explore more about the fun, promise, and power of science.
The center has 12 exhibition halls, a 3D theater, hurricane and tornado-force wind simulators, teacher-development programs, live simulcast surgeries, K-12 classrooms and labs, and more. According to the statistics, over 500,000 students, teachers, and adults visit Liverby Science Center annually.
6. George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a double-deck suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River and connecting New Jersey and New York. The bridge was opened on October 25th, 1931.
It is among the longest suspension bridges in the world. In addition, it is also known as the home to the largest free-flying American flag in the world.
On October 24th, 1981, the bridge was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which makes the George Washington Bridge one of the most famous bridges in the country.
Today, it is one of the main and most visited tourist attractions in New York City.
7. Princeton University Art Museum
The Princeton University Art Museum (PUAM) is the Princeton University Art Gallery known as one of the finest art museums in the United States. There are over 72,000 of art artifacts in the museum that cover about 5,000 years of the world’s history and major cultures.
Its collections mainly concentrate on Western Europe, the United States, Latin America, China, and the Mediterranean region. It also has large collections of Roman and Greek antiquities, including bronzes, marbles, and ceramics.
The museum was established in 1882 in conjunction with the Department of Arts and Archeology and the fine arts library. Over time, the museum went through numerous modifications and additions to meet the needs of its programs.
8. Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks
Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks is a seaside amusement park located in Wildwood and North Wildwood, New Jersey.
It was opened in 1969 as a family park and is currently run by the second generation of the Morey family. It was also voted as one of the three best seaside amusement parks in the world.
The park includes three amusement piers and two beachfront water parks. There are more than 100 rides that range from mild to high-intensity, including traditional rides, old-fashioned carousels, world-class roller coasters, and bumper cars. It is the largest amusement center in the Western Hemisphere.
9. Lucy the Elephant
Lucy the Elephant is the world’s greatest elephant that is located along the beach in Josephine Harron Park in Margate, New Jersey. Lucy is listed on the National Park Registry of Historical Landmarks.
The story of the Elephant starts in 1881 when real estate developer James Lafferty decides to build it in order to attract prospective buyers to his land holdings in South Atlantic City.
In 1902, Lucy was turned into a tavern, and in 1903 – into a summer residence to a British doctor and his family. In 1970, it was donated to the Save Lucy Committee for restoration.
In 1974, it was reopened after many years of restoration and listed as a National Historic Landmark. During the long Lucy’s history, it survived ocean floods, fire, and hurricanes.
Lucy is considered the oldest surviving example of so-called zoomorphic architecture, as well as the oldest roadside attraction in the United States. Today, Lucy the Elephant is considered the most popular non-gaming attraction in the greater Atlantic City Region.
10. Steel Pier
Steel Pier is the oldest amusement park in Atlantic City, NJ. It is located on the famous boardwalk in North Beach Atlantic City next to the beautiful New Jersey beach and casino resorts.
The park was opened in 1898 and was named Steel Pier because of the steel girders supporting it.
It became popular very fast, and people were coming from all over the country to see its amazing attractions that included a water circus, different theaters, children’s shows, and famous performers, such as Al Jolson, Abbott & Costello, Frank Sinatra, and others.
The park is 1000-foot-long, and it offers 25 rides, including a double Decker Carousel, a spinning Wild Mouse roller coaster, helicopter rides, a variety of amusement games, and others.
Over the years, Steel Pier survived a destructive fire, changed ownership several times, was referenced in music, and was seen in movies. It was even a setting for a Broadway musical.