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Celebrate the past at Mercer County’s history museums
from 8-23 EO
By Dan Aubrey and Rebekah Schroeder
The state of New Jersey is steeped in historic attractions that provide a yearround reminder of the state’s role in America’s independence and in other important events in military history.
For those history buffs looking for a refresher course or an educational and family-friendly summer excursion, below is a guide to the military museums in the Mercer County area.
Benjamin Temple House
The Benjamin Temple House at Drake Farm Park in Ewing was built circa 1750, taking its name from an early area settler and prosperous farmer. Temple was the friend, as well as the brother-in-law, of Declaration of Independence signer and Hopewell resident John Hart.
While the Temple family maintained and modified the Georgian-style house at the border of Ewing and Hopewell for 150 years, records show that the house was eventually sold in 1903 to Patrick Ryan, whose family operated a dairy there for the next half century at its spot along Pennington Road.
The Ewing Township Historical Pres- ervation Society now operates out of the structure, which was moved and saved from demolition alongside its now-owner, Ewing Township, during the construction
