Authenticity was the order of the day as more than 130 people participated in The Art of Period Dress, Crossroads' spring professional development conference on April 21 at the historic Hunterdon County Courthouse in Flemington. Co-sponsored by the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission, the event featured instruction on men's and women's Revolutionary War era clothing and uniforms from 18th century costuming experts Mark Hutter and Sarah Woodyard of Colonial Williamsburg and Eliza West of Fort Ticonderoga.

 

The first of a two-part series, the program also included afternoon workshops including dressing for the 18th century on a 21st century budget, essentials on authenticity in dressing the part, and a Q&A on available resources in the region. Many thanks to all of our presenters, who also included Asher Lurie and David Niescior of the Old Barracks and Carrie Fellows of the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission. A special huzzah goes to Lauren Curtis-Skorka and John U. Rees, participants who enhanced the session by wearing their own period dress for the session.

 

Wish you could have been there? You're in luck! We'll soon have video and resource guides available, and a second session will be held in the fall, so follow us on Facebook and our website for updates.  

For more information on the day's events, exhibitors, educator benefits and more, visit the Spirit of the Jerseys website .  

May 7-13 is National Travel and Tourism Week, spotlighting the Faces of Travel and the millions of people who keep the industry strong.

 

Crossroads and our Heritage Partners are part of that virtual army of welcoming faces. Besides sharing the stories of their individual sites, partners contribute to the broad tapestry of attractions that make New Jersey a fascinating place to visit.

 

Last year more than 1.8 million people visited our Heritage Partner sites, and their impact is deeply felt in communities statewide. A recent study shows that Crossroads has an economic impact of $166.6 million in New Jersey, supporting 1729 jobs and generating $10.3 million in tax revenue. We're working closely with the state's Division of Travel and Tourism and many Destination Marketing Organizations to introduce even more visitors to Revolutionary New Jersey, and we can't wait to see the impact grow!

 

The board and staff of Crossroads were saddened to hear of the passing of H. Kels Swan, historian and founder of the Swan Historical Foundation. A historic preservation specialist, he was for many years the historian and curator Americana at the Washington Crossing State Park Museum, where many objects from the Foundation's world-class Revolutionary-era collection are displayed. He was also the author of two historical books and was renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the American Revolution. We join his friends in the history community in celebrating his life and contributions. He will be missed.