Explore Elizabeth’s History
Journey through more than 350 years of Elizabeth history. Discover the people, places, events and stories that shaped one of New Jersey’s oldest cities — and continue to shape it today.
Explore Elizabeth’s History
Journey through more than 350 years of Elizabeth history. Discover the people, places, events and stories that shaped one of New Jersey’s oldest cities — and continue to shape it today.
From Our Timeline
December 1873: Everyday Elizabeth Through the Daily Monitor
GoElizabethNJ250_api2026-09-14T13:53:16-04:00Industrial Growth & Immigration (1800–1900)|
In December 1873, the Elizabeth Daily Monitor placed weather, court notices, concerts, rail schedules, advertisements, and distant news on the same crowded pages. Its surviving issues offer a vivid but selective view of what one local newspaper placed before Elizabeth readers.
1747: Jonathan Dickinson and the College of New Jersey’s First Classes in Elizabethtown
GoElizabethNJ250_api2026-09-10T18:10:51-04:00Founding & Colonial Era (1664–1775)|
In May 1747, the college that became Princeton University opened its first classes in Jonathan Dickinson's Elizabethtown parsonage.
1873: Singer Manufacturing and Elizabeth’s Industrial Identity
GoElizabethNJ250_api2026-09-08T12:49:50-04:00Industrial Growth & Immigration (1800–1900)|
In 1873, Singer consolidated U.S. manufacturing in Elizabethport, helping shape Elizabeth’s emergence as an industrial city.
You’ve explored Elizabeth’s hitory. Now explore Elizabeth
Self-Guided Experience
Tour de Elizabeth
Tour de Elizabeth is a signature cycling experience that invites residents and visitors to discover Elizabeth, New Jersey through a 15-mile ride connecting neighborhoods, parks, waterfront scenery, and local landmarks.
⏱️:
2.5-4 HoursSelf-Guided Experience
Elizabeth Train Station (Welcome Station)
A historic rail hub reimagined as the Elizabeth Welcome Station—connecting visitors to the city’s past and present.
⏱️:
20-30minSelf-Guided Experience
First Presbyterian Church Elizabeth NJ
Where Elizabeth’s story begins. Step onto sacred ground at First Presbyterian Church and Old First Cemetery — a site rooted in 1664 and central to the city’s earliest history.
⏱️:
10-20 minutes
Featured Gallery Moments
Explore the story of Elizabeth’s 250th through recent events and community snapshots.
Welcome Station Grand Opening in Elizabeth NJ
Annual Midtown Car Show – September 2025
Elizabeth 4th of July Celebration 2025
2024 Info Session – GoElizabethNJ250 Community Kickoff
Elizabeth Tourism’s 10th Anniversary Kick-Off
Union County Kickoff – 250th Anniversary Awareness Walk
Welcome Station Grand Opening in Elizabeth NJ
Elizabeth, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of American history since the nation’s founding. As we approach America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026, we are proud to commemorate our city’s role in shaping the American experience. Through stories of resilience, innovation, and community, we honor the past while looking toward the future.
As an official partner of RevolutionNJ, the state’s lead organization for New Jersey’s 250th commemoration, Elizabeth at 250 will engage residents, visitors, and historians through events, storytelling, and historical reflections that highlight our city’s rich contributions to the nation’s founding and growth.
Join us in celebrating Elizabeth at 250: Stories That Shape America—a campaign that connects our city’s legacy with the next generation.
