1. Winakung – Lenape Village at Waterloo Village Winakung is a reconstructed Lenape Village at historic Waterloo Village. It offers visitors a chance to experience Lenape life through authentic structures, interpretive trails, and simulated archaeological excavations, providing insights into 12,000 years of Native American occupation in New Jersey.
2. Black Creek Site (Vernon Township) The Black Creek Site is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. It is one of only three Native American archaeological sites in the state with this designation, highlighting its significance for understanding ancient Indigenous habitation in New Jersey.
3. Tulpehaking Nature Center (Hamilton Township) The Tulpehaking Nature Center hosts events such as “In the Footsteps of the Lenape,” which educate visitors about Lenape culture, art, and their relationship with the land. These programs often include hands-on learning and land art inspired by Lenape traditions.
4. Minisink Island and Surrounding Sites Sites like Minisink Island, Troy Brook, Paulinskill Meadows, and Vernon Valley contain prominent Native American artifacts and archaeological evidence of early Indigenous life. The Paulinskill Meadows site, for example, holds the third largest collection of Indian artifacts in New Jersey.
5. Indian Mills (Brotherton Indian Reservation, Shamong Township) Indian Mills, formerly known as Brotherton, was the site of New Jersey’s-and America’s-first Native American reservation. This site connects visitors to the history of the Lenni Lenape and the story of land, displacement, and adaptation.
6. New Jersey State Museum (Trenton) The New Jersey State Museum features exhibitions and collections that include Native American art, archaeological finds, and historical artifacts, offering a comprehensive look at Indigenous life and contributions in the region.
7. Sandhill Indian History Sandhill Indian History is a historical society focused on preserving and sharing the stories of New Jersey’s Indigenous peoples, offering educational resources and community programs to highlight Native history and resilience.
8. Our Land, Our Stories – Rutgers University Online Exhibit Rutgers University’s “Our Land, Our Stories” is an online exhibit providing scholarly research, historical context, and multimedia content about Native American history in New Jersey. It explores themes such as land dispossession, migration, and the ongoing presence of Indigenous communities.
Sources:
- https://princetonlibrary.org/guides/native-american-heritage-resource-guide/
- https://www.njskylands.com/hslenape
- https://our-land-our-stories.libraries.rutgers.edu/exhibits/show/olos-history/na-land
- https://our-land-our-stories.libraries.rutgers.edu/exhibits/show/olos-history/na-nj-hist
- https://www.nj.gov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin9.pdf
- https://hunterdonhistory.org/the-deats-thatcher-collection-