The Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair offers several opportunities for Scouts BSA to meet requirements for Merit Badges. It is up to the Scout to work with his or her Scout Master and Merit Badge Counselor to ensure the requirements are met.

American Business

1b      Learn about people who played a part in the Industrial Revolution: Thomas Edison - Thomas Edison National Historical Park or James P. Allaire – Historic Allaire Village. Visit the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center to find out about Seabrook Farm, which Life magazine called the “largest vegetable factory on earth” in 1955.

American Cultures

1e      You can learn about the Lenape Delaware Indians from Traditional Earth Skills and Heart to Hearth.

4        Find out the contributions made to our country by people of different racial, ethnic or religious backgrounds. You can hear the Widow Tennent* speak about her husband, the Presbyterian Covenanter Rev. William Tennent, Jr., meet Dr. James Still*, the Black Doctor of the Pines, listen to Hercules*, an enslaved man who served as chef at Mount Vernon, and numerous other historical characters. Visit the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center to hear the stories of relocated Japanese Americans and wartime refugees from Europe who worked at Seabrook farms.

American Heritage

2a      The Fair includes actor portrayals of several famous Americans. You can learn about George Washington*, Molly Pitcher*, Walt Whitman*, Theodore Roosevelt*, Alice Paul* Woodrow Wilson*, Amelia Earhart* and others. Additional exhibits highlight President Grover Cleveland and Thomas Edison.  

3c      Learn about Genealogy with the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society -New Jersey Chapter, Central Jersey Genealogical Club, Genealogical Society of New Jersey, Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society (where you can “Ask Granny*”), Monmouth County Archives and Monmouth County Genealogical Society, NJ Catholic Historical Commission, and the NJ State Archives about their archival records collection.

4a      Monmouth Battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The Battlefield is also designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its national importance.

4b      The Spirit of the Jerseys Fair takes place at Monmouth Battlefield which is important to the people of NJ and the USA. Do you want to learn about a different part of NJ? Historical societies and museums from all over the state will be at the Fair. You should be able to find a group that deals with your local history.  

4d      The History Fair is a great way to take an active part in a program about an event or person in American history.

4e      Walking tour maps of Monmouth Battlefield State Park are available in the Visitor Center.

5c      Listen to old-time Blue Grass music of the Piney Hollow Drifters, Sea Chanties with the Sea Dogs, and melodies of the First World War with Linda Russell & Companie.
Listen to SPAM Time’s reenactment of a military radio program broadcast for the troops in the 20th century.

American Labor

5a      Learn about the history of the labor movement at the American Labor Museum Botto House exhibit.        

Archaeology

4b      Monmouth Battlefield State Park has been the subject of many archaeological studies.

6abc  Visit the Archaeological Society of NJ, Monmouth Battlefield State Park visitor center, the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield or the NJ State Museum for information on protecting archaeological sites and artifacts.

10a    Learn about the Lenape people with Traditional Earth Skills and Heart to Hearth.

10b    Meet with Molly Pitcher* and the Widow Tennent* about living in the area long ago. Ask any soldier* for their story.

11      Ask about career opportunities in Archaeology with staff at the NJ State Museum, the Archaeological Society of NJ, or contact Monmouth Battlefield State Park staff after the Fair by calling 732-462-9616.

Citizenship in the Community

6        New Jersey’s State Historic Site & Park programs are services provided by the community and funded by taxpayers. Monmouth Battlefield State Park is the setting for the Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair.

7a      The Friends of Monmouth Battlefield is a charitable (non-profit) organizations that work for the good of the community by helping the mission of Monmouth Battlefield State Park. More than half the participating organizations at the NJ State History Fair are charitable groups that work to better their communities.

7bc    More than half of the participating groups at the NJ State History Fair are charitable (non-profit) groups who give to the community.

8        The historical importance of the Battle of Monmouth and Monmouth Battlefield State Park are great public presentation topics.

Citizenship in the Nation

2a      Monmouth Battlefield is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. The Battlefield is also designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its national importance.

Collections

3abc  The Fair features many Collection groups such as collectors of art, artifacts, musical recordings, military and scout memorabilia and more. Visit a group associated with the items you collect to learn about preserving, handling and displaying your collection.

8        Learn about career opportunities when speaking with other collectors or curators.

Communications

9        Monmouth Battlefield State Park staff use several ways to communicate the story of the Battle of Monmouth to the visitors such as an exhibit with words and pictures, a video that reenacts the battle and tours along the battlefield.

Game Design

1ab    Play games from an era without electricity. Graces, dress-up, cup & ball and baseball are four that are found at the Fair. Some games from the past were a way to learn coordination, role play, or have fun.

Genealogy

5        Learn about Genealogy with the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society -New Jersey Chapter, Central Jersey Genealogical Club, Genealogical Society of New Jersey, Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society (where you can “Ask Granny*”), Monmouth County Archives and Monmouth County Genealogical Society, NJ Catholic Historical Commission, and the NJ State Archives about their archival records collection.

8ab    Many genealogy groups use computers and the internet to store their photographs and records. Visit the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society -New Jersey Chapter, Central Jersey Genealogical Club, Genealogical Society of New Jersey, Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society (where you can “Ask Granny*”), Monmouth County Archives and Monmouth County Genealogical Society, NJ Catholic Historical Commission, and the NJ State Archives about their archival records collection.

Geocaching

7       www.Geocaching.com Monmouth Battlefield’s zip code is 07726. There are two registered Geocaches within the park.

Indian Lore

1        Ask about the Lenape people with Traditional Earth Skills and Heart to Hearth.

3abc  See leisure time activities with Traditional Earth Skills and Heart to Hearth.

Inventing

1ab    Learn about inventors, inventions and technology throughout the History Fair at displays for the Thomas Edison National Historic Park, military reenactment groups (the French & Indian War, the Revolution, the Civil War, World War I and World War II), the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, the Holcomb-Jimison Farmstead, and the Whitesbog Preservation Trust,

8b      Get visitation information for the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, historic Whitesbog Village, Double Trouble Village, and the Holcomb-Jimison Farmstead at their display areas.

Journalism

4        Use the Fair as a basis for your news story, radio presentation or photographic record. Publicity materials and Calendar listing information is available on our website www.njhistoryfair.org on the Publicity Materials button on the menu.

Model Making

2        Battleship New Jersey has models at their display.

Music

3a      Listen to the old-time Blue Grass music of the Piney Hollow Drifters, Sea Chanties with the Sea Dogs, and melodies of the First World War with Linda Russell & Companie. Experience SPAM Time’s reenactment of a military radio program broadcast for the troops in the 20th century.

Pottery

7c      Learn about the cultural and historical importance of pottery at the NJ State Museum display.

Radio

8        Learn about the Shortwave Radio in the military at the Battleship New Jersey display. Listen to SPAM Time’s reenactment of a military radio program broadcast for the troops in the 20th century.

Sculpture

3c      See the sculpture of General Von Steuben outside the Monmouth Battlefield Education Building (near parking lot).

Signs, Signals, and Codes

1        Visit the display for Fort Mott State Park to learn about their part in the history of communication through signs, signals and codes.

3a      Learn about Morse Code at the Battleship New Jersey display.