Most People In New Jersey Don’t Know About Our Old World War II POW Camp
Kristen
Author
New Jersey has a rich military history. It is home to the Picatinny Arsenal (a comprehensive military research and manufacturing facility), a Nike missile base at Fort Hancock (in Sandy Hook), a variety of George Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters, and so much more. Sites like Battery Gunnison, Fort Mott, and even Camp Kilmer are fairly well-known. However, there’s something you may not know about Camp Kilmer – it was the site of a World War II POW camp in New Jersey!
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So, New Jersey housed prisoners of war at Camp Kilmer, but it wasn’t what you might expect. During World War II, Camp Kilmer was the largest processing center for US soldiers and the prisoners of war were only a small part of the camp’s business. The camp was deactivated in 1949, briefly reactivated during the Korean war, and served as the receiving center for those fleeing the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. It wasn’t the only World War II POW camp in New Jersey, however. Belle Mead ASF, Fort Dix, and Raritan Arsenal are a few examples. If you’d like to learn more about New Jersey history involving the military and World War II or have stories of your own, please share in the comments. For another famous historical site in New Jersey, check out the events at Morristown Historical Park.
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New Jersey History
What Are Some Other Important New Jersey Historical Sites?
- Morristown Historical Park is probably the most fascinating site in New Jersey if you're interested in Revolutionary War history. This park features several preserved buildings from the era including the Ford Mansion, where George Washington lived. You can enter these 18th century buildings and get an up-close look at how Washington and his men lived in the middle of the war.
- The World War II lookout tower in Cape May is the last of its kind and still stands proudly off the Jersey Shore. These towers were designed to look out for German U-boats during World War II, and this one is preserved as a tourist site and museum. You can still climb the restored stairs, see a tribute to the brave people who fought in the war and helped keep New Jersey safe, and get an amazing view.
- The Seabrook Wilson House is the oldest place you can visit in New Jersey, and dates back to 1663. Unlike other 17th century structures in New Jersey, this one is open to tours and is also rumored to be one of the most haunted places in New Jersey! You can explore it for yourself and see if you notice anything unusual.
What Are Some Of The Best Historical Museums In New Jersey?
- The Lakehurst Historical Society is one of the quirkiest museums in New Jersey, located in an old church still adorned with stained-glass windows. You'll find everything here from debris from the Hindenburg, to an old iron jail cell that makes for an amazing photo op. It also has a collection of old toys and model planes, many New Jersey WW2 documents, and even an exhibit dedicated to the Jersey Devil.
- The Paterson Museum is home to a lot of fascinating exhibits, but one stands out above the rest. That would be the Holland I, a tiny prototype of an iron submarine that sailed for the first time in the Passaic River in 1897 - and played a key role in setting the stage for the next century of naval warfare.