About This Place
The Hermitage is a National Historic Landmark located in Ho-Ho-Kus, just north of Hackensack, that served as a headquarters for George Washington in July 1778 during the Continental Army's march through northern New Jersey following the Battle of Monmouth. The estate was the home of Theodosia Prevost, wife of British Lieutenant Colonel Jacques Marcus Prevost, who hosted American officers despite her husband's service with the British army. It was here that Theodosia met Aaron Burr, whom she would marry in 1782.
The house has been preserved as a museum and is open for guided tours. The grounds and architecture reflect the domestic life of the colonial gentry in Bergen County. The Hermitage is one of the few surviving sites where the personal, social, and military dimensions of the Revolution in Bergen County converge in a single location.
Revolutionary Significance
Washington used the Hermitage as his headquarters during the march from Monmouth in July 1778. The social dynamics of the Hermitage — a British officer's wife hosting the American commander-in-chief — illustrate the complex personal relationships that persisted across enemy lines in Bergen County. The house later became the home of Aaron and Theodosia Burr, adding another layer of historical significance.
Location
335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
Open in Google Maps →
Events at This Location
1774
Bergen County Divided: Loyalties SplitReverend Dirck Romeyn, Judge John Fell, Sam of Hackensack
1775
Formation of the Bergen County Committee of SafetyJudge John Fell, Sam of Hackensack
1775
Militia Musters on the GreenMajor John Mauritius Goetschius, Reverend Dirck Romeyn, Sam of Hackensack
1775
Enslaved People Seek Freedom During the RevolutionSam of Hackensack
1776
Fall of Fort LeeSam of Hackensack
1776
Washington's Retreat Through HackensackReverend Dirck Romeyn, Sam of Hackensack
1776
British Occupation of Bergen CountyReverend Dirck Romeyn, Sam of Hackensack
1776
Desecration of the First Dutch Reformed ChurchReverend Dirck Romeyn, Sam of Hackensack
1776
Loyalist Raids and Partisan Warfare in Bergen CountyMajor John Mauritius Goetschius, Sam of Hackensack
1777
Capture of Judge John Fell by Loyalist RaidersJudge John Fell, Sam of Hackensack
1777
Oath of Allegiance ControversiesJudge John Fell
1778
Continental Army Foraging Expeditions in Bergen CountyBrigadier General Anthony Wayne, Major John Mauritius Goetschius, Sam of Hackensack
1778
Confiscation of Loyalist PropertyJudge John Fell, Sam of Hackensack
1778
Washington's Headquarters at the HermitageTheodosia Prevost Burr
1778
Baylor Massacre at River ValeMajor John Mauritius Goetschius, Sam of Hackensack
1783
End of the War and Return of the DisplacedReverend Dirck Romeyn, Judge John Fell, Sam of Hackensack