Morristown National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in New Jersey. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Morristown the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:55 PM | 243° | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:33 PM | 254° | 10h 40m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:05 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:37 PM | 284° | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:42 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:09 PM | 296° | 14h 27m |
| June | 5:27 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:32 PM | 303° | 15h 05m |
| July | 5:40 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 300° | 14h 49m |
| August | 6:09 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:58 PM | 290° | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:09 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:19 PM | 260° | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:46 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:41 PM | 246° | 9h 56m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:32 PM | 240° | 9h 16m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.7651, -74.5346); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Morristown, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:15 AM – 5:15 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:26 AM – 4:36 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:21 AM – 3:41 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 10:38 PM – 3:18 AM | 4.7 | 20° |
| July | 10:29 PM – 1:49 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 9:41 PM – 11:51 PM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:52 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 7:50 PM – 7:50 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Weather in this part of New Jersey is typical of the mid-Atlantic region--a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Morristown National Historical Park is easiest to see by car. There are four different sites throughout the greater Morristown area. Washington's Headquarters Museum / Ford Mansion and Fort Nonsense are located in Morristown. The Jockey Hollow unit with its visitor center and historic Wick House; and the New Jersey Brigade Area are both about 6 miles south of Morristown, Detailed directions can be found on the park website.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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NY
NJ/NY
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