Built in 1750 in what was the heart of the Dutch Village of Bergen and altered in the early 19th century, this house was the residence of the Van Wagenen family from the time of its construction until 1949. The 18th century portion of the house is associated with a meeting on that site between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette in 1779. It is one of the few pre-Revolutionary War structures still standing in the city.

Jersey City purchased the building in 1999 from a business owner who was planning to demolish it. Since acquiring the property, the city has been working to improve the condition of the building by making it safe and watertight.

The 2006 Trust grant helped fund interior restoration and accessibilty improvements in order to rehabilitate the building for public use. The work was guided by a preservation plan funded in part by a previous Trust grant.

For more information, visit: 
http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/pages/a_pages/apple_tree_house.htm