The American Revolution
New Jersey was the defining framework of the War for Independence.
Death of Alexander Hamilton
Weehawken
(Hamilton Avenue, Just off of Boulevard East)
The rock "on which rested the head of Alexander Hamilton" after the fatal duel with Aaron Burr of Newark.
The duel actually was fought on Weehawken's waterfront at the base of the Palisades.
The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping
Hunterdon County Courthouse
(Flemington)
On display are items relating to the 1932 trial of Bruno Hauptmann for "the crime of the century."
Hauptmann said that he was innocent; the investigation (by New Jersey State Police Colonel Norman Schwarzkopf,
Gulf War General Norman Schwarzkopf's father), trial, and the execution of Hauptmann all remain controversial. After the kidnapping, Al Capone made an offer of assistance. Many speculate that this was a veiled ransom demand, but there's no hard proof of a concrete connection. To this day, some people claim to be Charles Lindbergh's stolen infant.
Each year, a re-enactment of the trial takes place.
Navy Dirigible
On October 15, 1924 the dirigible ZR-3 manned by a German crew under Dr. Hugo Eckener finished flying the Atlantic land and landed at Lakehurst. Renamed the Los Angeles, the U.S. Navy accepted the airship from the Geman government under a reparations agreement.
Explosion of the Hindenburg
On May 7, 1937, when docking at Lakehurst, the Zeppelin Hindenburg burst into flames. The fire consumed the airship in seconds.
