Metlar-Bodine House Museum

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Metlar-Bodine House Museum is a museum in New Jersey, at a modelled elevation of 11 m. Mount Freedom stands 341 m to the north-northwest, 24 miles off. The nearest named place is Raritan Landing, a ghost town 0.3 miles away. Millstone Valley Scenic Byway passes 6.5 miles off. 55 named summits stand within 25 miles.
The story
The Metlar House, also known as the Knapp House, the Bodine House, or the Metlar–Bodine House, is an historic house, now museum, located along River Road in Piscataway, New Jersey. It is also believed to be haunted. In 2003 a fire badly damaged the house. The museum has undergone major renovations over the past decade and, as of Summer 2014, is once again open to the public. The Metlar–Bodine House's "Red, White, and Boom" Madeira wine tasting event on July 6, 2014, kicked off its campaign to raise money to build a new educational wing to house the historically significant Ross Hall Wall. In July 1778, George Washington headquarters were at Ross Hall and his 11,000 patriots camped along the Raritan River in Piscataway. It was there that General Washington wrote the first order for the United States Army to celebrate the 4th of July – a tradition that continues to this day. The troops were ordered to march across the river on Landing Lane Bridge, line the banks of the Raritan in New Brunswick, and shoot their rifles down and up the line in the first organized salute to the nation's independence. They were then given an extra ration of rum and that evening the General had a party for officers (including Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette and Baron Von Stuben) and their ladies at Ross Hall. The building was destroyed in the 1960s but because of its significance, a parlor wall was saved and was exhibited at the New Jersey Historical Society until it was given to the Township and the Metlar–Bodine House in 2000. Currently, the parlor wall is dismantled and stored in a large warehouse owned by Piscataway Township. The wall must be restored and relocated to a facility that is climate controlled and protected. It is estimated that the wall's restoration and an addition to the Metlar–Bodine House will cost close to $1 million.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q6824173, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What to expect
- Operated by
- Piscataway Township
- Step-free access
- Yes
How to reach it
- 6.5 mi off the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway, National
- 22.3 mi off the Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Byway
- 26.1 mi off the Delaware River Scenic Byway, National
- 29.0 mi off the Warren Heritage Scenic Byway
Overlooks nearby
- Scenic Overlook - Delaware River · 26 mi
- Goat Hill Overlook · 28 mi
- Old Mill Overlook · 28 mi
- South Overlook · 28 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Buccleuch Park: 0.5 mi
- Deiner Park: 0.7 mi
- Rodkin Courtyard: 0.8 mi
- Johnson Park: 0.9 mi
- Rutgers Ecological Preserve: 0.9 mi
- Chichen Itza Blue: 0.7 mi
- Reflections: 0.7 mi
- Split and Twisted: 0.8 mi
- Signal: 0.8 mi
- William the Silent: 0.9 mi
- Mason Gross Memorial: 0.9 mi
- World War II Memorial: 1.0 mi
- Vietnam War Memorial: 1.0 mi
- Gray Terrace: 1.0 mi
- Saint Peter the Apostle R.C. Church: 1.1 mi
- Zimmerli Art Museum: 1.0 mi
- Rutgers Geology Museum: 1.1 mi
- Joyce Kilmer House: 1.4 mi
- Abraham Staats House: 4.3 mi
- Van Horne House: 6.1 mi
- Resurrection Garden: 1.8 mi
- Highland Park Good Earth Garden: 2.4 mi
- Rutgers Gardens: 3.2 mi
- North Brunswick Butterfly Garden: 5.3 mi
- Courtyard: 5.7 mi
- Six Mile Run Reservoir Site: 4.3 mi
- Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve: 4.5 mi
- Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve: 4.6 mi
- Tices Lane Park: 4.8 mi
- Country Lane Park: 5.3 mi
- First Watchung Mountain: 7.4 mi
- Bunker Hill: 7.6 mi
- Second Watchung Mountain: 8.0 mi
- Tenmile Run Mountain: 9.5 mi
- Long Hill: 12.9 mi
- East Jersey Olde Towne Village: 1.1 mi
- Monster Mini Golf: 3.8 mi
- Sayre & Fisher Brick Water Tower: 5.9 mi
- Sayre & Fisher Reading Room: 6.1 mi
- First School Bell Sayreville, NJ: 6.3 mi
- Grove 1: 2.1 mi
- Grove 2: 2.2 mi
- Open Grove: 2.3 mi
- Grove 3A: 2.4 mi
- Grove 3B: 2.4 mi
- Hooks Creek Lake Beach: 11.0 mi
- Paul's Beach: 11.1 mi
- Robinsons Beach: 11.6 mi
- Laurence Harbor Beach: 11.7 mi
- Krogh Beach: 12.0 mi
- Thomas Edison Service Area: 10.6 mi
- Grover Cleveland Service Area: 10.6 mi
- Molly Pitcher Service Area: 13.3 mi
- Cushetunk Rest Area: 16.6 mi
- Harding Truck Rest Area: 17.5 mi
- Buttermilk Falls: 7.3 mi
- Seele: 11.1 mi
- Hemlock Falls: 18.7 mi
- Hobble Falls: 18.7 mi
- Buttermilk Falls: 21.6 mi
- Raritan Landing: 0.3 mi
- Barber: 10.5 mi
- Feltville Historic District: 12.2 mi
- Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters: 24.1 mi
- Sandy Hook Lighthouse: 24.1 mi
- Hawk Hill: 17.6 mi
- Tulip Springs: 18.9 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Metlar-Bodine House Museum. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Freedom | NNW 344° | 341 m | 23.5 mi |
| Calais Mountain | NNW 343° | 334 m | 22.5 mi |
| Fox Hill | NW 310° | 314 m | 23.8 mi |
| Watnong Mountain | N 355° | 295.7 m | 23.3 mi |
| Seward Hill | NNW 329° | 289 m | 22.2 mi |
| Hell Mountain | NW 304° | 288 m | 21.9 mi |
| Pleasant Hill | NNW 331° | 287 m | 24.5 mi |
| Union Hill | N 352° | 277 m | 24.0 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:02 | 18:34 | 19:10 |
| June solstice | 05:28 | 19:51 | 20:33 |
| September equinox | 06:46 | 18:21 | 18:57 |
| December solstice | 07:19 | 15:51 | 16:35 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 32 | 33 | 41 | 52 | 61 | 71 | 76 | 74 | 67 | 55 | 45 | 37 |
| Precip in | 3.7 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — NEW Brunswick 3 SE, 3 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial siteOpenStreetMap element way/1191441825
Day trips start here
- Highland Park · 2 mi
- New Brunswick · 2 mi
- Somerset · 2 mi
- Piscataway · 3 mi
- North Brunswick · 4 mi
- East Brunswick · 6 mi
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