Drake House Museum

06/23/2026

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The Nathaniel Drake House, built in 1746 as a Georgian farmhouse, was used by General George Washington to meet with officers during the Battle of Short Hills in June 1777 and was listed on the National and New Jersey historic registers in 1973. In 1864, banker John Harberger purchased the property and spent three decades transforming it with Gothic Revival and Queen Anne style renovations, including a three-story tower, turret, mansard roof, and ballroom, reflecting the evolution of architectural styles in the region. The Historical Society of Plainfield was founded in 1921 to save the house from demolition, and it was subsequently purchased by the City of Plainfield and leased to the Society for use as a museum.

A 2025 Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation grant will help fund construction documents for the final phase of restoration at the building.

06/14/2026

Hello, there was a lady who came really early for a tour. We thank you for stopping by. When the staff was ready to open, she had left. If you see this, please come back today. We are open until 4PM. We appreciate your interest. 💕 We are open Sundays from 2 to 4 pm and by appointment. An email is preferred for appointments so that we can make sure volunteer docents are available. 💕

06/06/2026

Remembering D-Day. Warrant Officer James J. Meaney was the first Plainfielder "officially cited for particpating in the invasion of France," according the Plainfield Courier-News, June 20, 1944, page 1.

06/06/2026

250th event at the Rock. Washington Rock.11am to 4 pm Saturday, June 6, 2026.

06/04/2026

Family event at the Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 11 AM to 4 PM. Stop by the Drake House Museum table, and see the original key to the monument's hidden door. People from Plainfield and surrounding areas helped save the Rock many years ago.

06/02/2026

Crafts with a local Girl Scouts Troop at the Drake House. Coloring banners for the July 4th parade.

05/24/2026

On this Memorial Day weekend, please remember all the soldiers from Plainfield who served since the American Revolutionary War. According to the Union County Clerk's Veterans records data base, there are 116 Veterans buried in the cemeteries on Plainfield Avenue, 4 Veterans buried in the Friend's Meeting House Cemetery, 419 Veterans buried in St, Mary's Cemetery, and 3.115 Veterans buried in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains. We remember Signalman First Class Edward James Lloyd who died in WW2, and still is unidentified. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has been sent information about E. J. Lloyd in the hopes that he can finally be recovered and identified and buried with his family at Hillside Cemetery. (Article from the Courier News, July 17, 1943, page 1.) RIP E.J. Lloyd - you have not been forgotten. Plainfield Public Library

05/17/2026

For any Drake Family members, the annual Drake Family Reunion will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Princeton, Illinois at Zearing Park. The Drake House receives these notices from a family member. A contact number of the organizer can be provided to any family member who may be interested in attending. Please email: [email protected]

05/17/2026

Thank you to eveyone who made this an amazing tribute to Caesar. It was a 30 plus year journey of connecting all the pieces of Caesar's life. Taking the clues in various written local history books, finding his grave marker at Scotch Plains Baptist Church, discussions with Maxson School students, and ultimately finding Caesar's military record that said he was in the Contintenial service. Thank you to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, who worked to make a replacement of the Caesar's grave marker, and Rev. Chaz, who is the Pastor and steward protecting Caesar's original grave marker. Additional thanks to HSP trustees, City of Plainfield, elected State, County, and Local officials, NJHC, Crossroads, and Drake House staff and volunteers who made this a wonderful celebration of Caesar's life. Thank you to the weather for cooperating!

PLAINFIELD, NJ — The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) on Thursday unveiled a New Jersey Black Heritage Trail historical marker and an interpretive panel at the Drake House Museum in...

05/15/2026

Thank you to all who helped and attended yesterday's NJ Black Heritage Trail marker and Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area interpretive panel unveiling. The weather held, and all of you made the day special.