Olivia Fisher 
Hudson County is home to a variety of historic sites, many of which have not withstood the test of time. Those that remain provide invaluable insight into both local and national history. Whether it’s a centuries-old church, a historic synagogue preserved as housing, or a 17th-century home taken apart and rebuilt miles away, these locations provide a glimpse into the lives and legacies of those who shaped the area. Read on for a guide to 10 historic locations in Hudson County and learn about what is in your backyard.
Jersey City’s Barrow Mansion, from the Jersey City Free Public Library archive
Barrow Mansion | 83 Wayne Street, Jersey City
Cornelius Van Vorst built Barrow Mansion in Jersey City between 1835 and 1837 and sold it to Dr. William Barrow of New York City. In the 1890s, the YMCA purchased the home, adding a gymnasium and rifle range, which eventually became a bowling alley. Today, it is owned by St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and operated by the nonprofit Barrow Mansion Development Corporation (BMDC). It functions as a community center, meeting space, and event space with concerts, art shows, and celebrations.
Read More: A Look at New Jersey 100 Years Ago, in 1925
Congregation Adas Emuno | 637 Garden Street, Hoboken
From the Hoboken Historical Society archive
Today 637 Garden Street in Hoboken is a residential building, but it might not look like that from the outside. It was originally home to Congregation Adas Emuno, which was formed in 1871. The community built its synagogue here in 1883 on land donated by the Stevens Family. In 1971, the congregation moved to Leonia in Bergen County.
First Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen Neck | Avenue C + 33rd Street, Bayonne
The First Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen Neck was formed in 1828. The current church was built in 1866 and enlarged in 1890. It is likely the oldest surviving church in Bayonne.
Hale-Whitney Mansion | 100 Broadway, Bayonne
From the New Jersey State Library archive
The Hale-Whitney Mansion was built in 1869. It was first owned by John and Harriet Hale, a shipping family from Boston. In 1878, the Hales transferred the property to their in-laws, the Whitneys, who owned it until 1902. Later, the Rose, Ferenczi, and Gurka families owned the home.
Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel | 2019 West Street, Union City
The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel opened in 1869 and was finished in 1875. It was designed by Irish-American architect Patrick Keely. The Monastery operated from 1864 to 1980. In 1986, the property was sold to a Korean Presbyterian congregation from Palisades Park, who established the Hudson Presbyterian Church.
Newkirk House | 510 Summit Avenue, Jersey City
The Newkirk House is the oldest building standing in all of Hudson County. The Dutch Colonial was built in 1690 by Mattheus Newkirk, who hailed from the Netherlands. The homestead remained in the Newkirk family until 1899. In the early 20th century, it was used by the Queen’s Daughters of Jersey City as an orphanage. From the 1970s until the 2020s, the historic structure housed restaurants like Blue Ribbon, Laico’s at the Summit House, and Sanai’s. In 2025, the building was auctioned off for $2.4M to a local undisclosed buyer.
Old Bergen Church | Bergen Avenue at Highland Avenue, Jersey City
From the Library of Congress
The Old Bergen Church congregation was formed in 1660, and its current building dates back to 1841. The Old Bergen Church is also the longest continuous congregation in New Jersey. Stone from the 1773 church is embedded in the south wall of the 1841 building.
Sip Manor | 5 Cherry Lane, Westfield
Yes…hear us out: Jersey City’s oldest home is actually in Westfield, all the way in Union County. Built in 1666 by Claas Ariance Sip, Sip Manor is the third-oldest building in New Jersey. The home was originally located in Journal Square (now Bergen Square), at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street. In the 1920s, the fate of Sip Manor was uncertain when Bergen Avenue was being widened. In 1926, Arthur H. Rule purchased the home and hired a company to dismantle and rebuild the house in Westfield, at 5 Cherry Lane, where the building still stands today.
Van Vorst House | 531 Palisades Avenue, Jersey City
From the Library of Congress
The Van Vorst House was built between 1740 and 1742 by members of the Van Vorst family. In 1859, Augusta Waugh bought the property from the family. In 1901, Emil and Elizabeth Stahl purchased the home, and by 1945, they sold it to Captain John A. Byrnes and his wife, Lovina.
The Van Vorsts and their descendants played an important role in the development of Jersey City and the surrounding area. The original Cornelius Van Vorst likely arrived in what is now New Jersey in 1636 and was in charge of the Pavonia colony. The Township of Van Vorst, named after the family, existed from 1841 to 1851 in Hudson County. Cornelius Van Vorst and his family founded the town and donated the land that became Van Vorst Park. It was later annexed by Jersey City, and Cornelius even served as the city’s mayor from 1860 to 1862.
Van Wagenen House | 298 Academy Street, Jersey City
The Van Wagenen House was built in 1740 with additions in 1820. The home is claimed to be the site of a lunch meeting between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette in August of 1779. The two discussed war strategy underneath the shade of an apple tree near the home, which earned it the nickname “Apple Tree House”.
In the 1900s, Lawrence G. Quinn and his wife, Mary, purchased the home. The couple ran Quinn’s Funeral Parlor here from 1947 to 1995. In 1995, the Quinn family bestowed the house to Provident Bank of New Jersey. The following year, the house was on Preservation New Jersey’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites list. In 1999, Jersey City purchased the home for $450,000 and began improving it. Today, it is home to the Museum of Jersey City History.
See More: This Jersey City Bakery Has Been Open for 98 Years. What is Its Secret to Success?
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