Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in West Orange (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Thomas Edison National Historical Park, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and St. John's Church. Also, be sure to include Columbus Hall in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in West Orange (New Jersey).
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Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National park in West Orange, New Jersey. Thomas Edison National Historical Park preserves Thomas Edison's laboratory and residence, Glenmont, in West Orange, New Jersey, United States. These were designed, in 1887, by architect Henry Hudson Holly. The Edison laboratories operated for more than 40 years. Out of the West Orange laboratories came the motion picture camera, improved phonographs, sound recordings, silent and sound movies and the nickel-iron alkaline electric storage battery.[1]
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Church in West Orange, New Jersey. St. Mark's Episcopal Church is a historic church located at 13 Main Street at Valley Road in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. After the Episcopal congregation dwindled, the building subsequently housed the Primera Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Libra de los Oranges, a Methodist congregation. The building's interior was destroyed, and exterior badly damaged, by fire on January 1, 2016.
The church was called an "outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture" by Preservation New Jersey, and was listed as one of the ten most endangered historic sites in New Jersey in 1996. It has been said that the building "represents the beginning and the end of the ecclesiological style in the United States." The Ecclesiological style movement in church architecture advocated Gothic revival architecture using theological arguments.[2]
St. John's Church
Catholic church in Orange, New Jersey. The Church of St. John the Evangelist is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in the City of Orange Township, Essex County, New Jersey, within the Archdiocese of Newark. It is noted for its Gothic Revival style church, a prominent local landmark located at 94 Ridge Street.[3]
Address: 94 Ridge St, 07050-1604 City of Orange
Columbus Hall
Columbus Hall, located in Orange, New Jersey, USA, is a historic building which housed both a school and a theatre. Designed by Jeremiah O'Rourke of Newark, the building was named to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the landing of Christopher Columbus in the new world. The cornerstone was laid by Newark Bishop Winand Wigger on April 9, 1893, and construction was completed in December 1894.
Columbus Hall stands on one of the most commanding spots in the city, directly opposite St. John's Church (also designed by O’Rourke) at White and Ridge Streets. It most notably housed the parish school, St. John's School, an institution that had been established 32 years earlier in 1862.[4]
Rosedale Cemetery
Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey. Rosedale Cemetery is a cemetery located at the tripoint of Orange, West Orange and Montclair in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Cyrus Baldwin drew up the original plan for the cemetery in 1840.[5]
Nishuane Park
Relax in park, Park
Address: Cedar Avenue Between High Street and Harrison Ave, West Orange (Montclair)
Ambrose-Ward Mansion
Ambrose-Ward Mansion is located in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The mansion was built in 1889 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1982.[6]
Edison Storage Battery Company Building
Building in West Orange, New Jersey. Edison Storage Battery Company Building, is located at 177 Main Street and Lakeside Avenue in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1996.
The building was a manufacturing facility for Edison Storage Battery Company to make nickel-iron batteries developed by Thomas Edison in 1901. Manufacturing began around 1903 and was discontinued in 1975 when Edison Storage was sold to Exide.[7]
Orange Public Library
Public library in Orange, New Jersey. The Orange Public Library is the free public library in Orange, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Serving a population of about 33,000, the library collection contains 150,000 volumes and circulates 56,000 annually.[8]
Address: 348 Main St, West Orange
Haskell's Bloomfield Villa
Haskell's Bloomfield Villa, also known as the Humphreys House, is located in Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The house was built in 1859 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1988.[9]
Stone Eagles
Stone Eagles, also known as the Mochary House, is located in Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The house was built in 1929 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1988.[10]