County Funds Planning for America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration – Morris County, NJ

Published on February 18, 2024

Commissioner Director Christine Myers Announces Grant at “Travels with Darley” Screening

Hundreds gathered at the Morris Museum today for a sold-out, premier screening of “Travels with Darley: Revolutionary Road Trip New Jersey,” featuring three new episodes that focus on American Revolution sites in the state, including one in Morris County.

View the episode trailer here!

Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers told screening attendees that celebrating the 250^th anniversary of America’s independence is not only important for the nation, but also will create opportunities to boost tourism and the local economy in historic Morris County.

“Our 250th is a great opportunity for our county. We invite everyone who wants to learn about the American Revolution to visit, explore, enjoy and learn how Morris County played in a role in establishing the best country the world,” said Director Myers, who was joined by Commissioners John Krickus, Deborah Smith and Tayfun Selen at the event.

She announced that the Morris County Board of County Commissioners have agreed to commit $100,000 in county funds to the Morris County Economic Development Alliance (MCEDAlliance) and the Morris County Tourism Bureau to coordinate 250th anniversary celebrations. The Commissioners also said they will make financial commitments for celebration planning in 2025 and 2026.

“We are grateful for the leadership and support from the County of Morris and the County Commissioners. It is through this partnership that the Alliance and Tourism Bureau is empowered to develop strong private-public partnerships which drive Morris County’s tourism economy,” said Craig Schlosser, President & CEO of MCEDAlliance and the Tourism Bureau. “The announcement of the additional funding for the 250th will allow us to better leverage existing capabilities and develop new ones as we share our amazing communities with visitors from around the corner to around the world.”

According to Schlosser, Morris County experienced 31 percent growth in tourism from 2021 to 2022, the 2nd highest percentage in the state per the New Jersey Department of Travel and Tourism.

“Travels with Darley: Revolutionary Road Trip Part II” highlights sites and local businesses throughout Morris County, including Jockey Hollow, the Ford Mansion, Schuyler-Hamilton House (aka the Campfield House) and Glen Brook Brewery in Morristown. Commissioner John Krickus was interviewed by show host, Darley Newman, on the historic Morristown Green when filming took place last summer.

The “Travels with Darley” screening was presented in partnership with Morris Museum, the American Battlefield Trust and the MCEDAlliance and Tourism Bureaus’ 250th Anniversary Committee, a planning group that includes Director Myers and Deputy Director Stephen Shaw.

Following the screening, the audience participated in a Q&A panel led by Tom Loughman, Executive Director of the Morris Museum, that featured Darley Newman, Sara Cureton, Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission and Jeffrey Vasser Executive Director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

Anyone interested in participating or learning more about ways to get involved with Morris County’s planning for the 250^th anniversary should contact: [email protected].

All three “Revolutionary Road Trips” episodes aired at the screening will premiere in primetime during “Travels with Darley’s” new season on NJ PBS.

• “Travels with Darley: Revolutionary Road Trips Part I” Wednesday, March 6 at 8:30 p.m. (Princeton, Trenton, Washington Crossing)
• “Travels with Darley: Revolutionary Road Trips Part II” Wednesday, March 13 at 8:30 p.m. (Morristown, Monmouth Battlefield)
• “Travels with Darley: Revolutionary Road Trips Part III” Wednesday, March 20 at 8:30 p.m. (Middlesex and Somerset Counties)

The episodes will also air on March 10, 24 and 31 during the show’s regular hours on Sundays at 12:30 p.m.

About Darley Newman & Travels with Darley

Recognized in Forbes for her “PBS travel empire,” Darley Newman is an entrepreneur, TV host, writer, and producer of Emmy Award-winning “Equitrekking,” “Travels with Darley” and “Look Up” on PBS, Amazon Prime and networks in over 85 nations.

Having led production teams in over 30 nations and 26 states, she’s been charged by an elephant in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, gone free diving in South Korea, taken on the world’s highest commercial bungee in China and explored by mountain bike the WWI ‘red zone’ of northeast France.

In addition to seven Daytime Emmy Award nominations, she’s received the North American Travel Journalist Award, the Inspiring Woman Award from Women in Philanthropy and Leadership, two Telly Awards and was inducted into the Taste Awards Hall of Fame. Her longtime production team includes 14-time Emmy award winning Producer/Writer Janice Selinger who was formerly Executive Director of NJN Public Television and Crossroads of the American Revolution, Yardville Resident Story Editor/Producer Bob Szuter who produced Morristown: Where America Survived while at NJN Public Television and multiple Emmy Award-winning Morris County Director of Photography Greg Barna. Learn more at Darley-Newman.com.

About the Morris Museum

The Morris Museum—founded in 1913 and located on 8.5 acres in Morris Township since the mid-1960s—draws visitors from across the region to its dynamic and acclaimed art exhibitions program and performing arts events. Its 45,000-plus object collection of art and material culture from around the world joins the art of our time in displays throughout the museum’s purpose-built spaces and within the historic Twin Oaks mansion, designed by McKim, Mead & White.

About the Morris County Economic Development Alliance

The MCEDAlliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to providing market-centric solutions and building strong relationships which drive tourism, community, and regionalized economic development through effective private-public partnerships.

About the Morris County Tourism Bureau

The Morris County Tourism Bureau (MCTB) is a division of the MCEDAlliance and holds the distinction of being the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Morris County. The MCEDAlliance & Tourism Bureau receive operating support from the County of Morris and funding through a grant from NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

The American Battlefield Trust

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 58,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 155 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

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Photos

Photo 1: Commissioner Director Christine Myers speaking at the Morris Museum “Travels with Darley” screening.

Photo 2: (l-r) Tom Loughman, Executive Director of Morris Museum, Darley Newman, Jeffrey Vasser, Executive Director of the NJ Division of Travel and Tourism and Sara Cureton, Director of the NJ Historical Commission.