Somerset County Weekend Journey Through the Past

The Ross Farm will welcome visitors Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 11, from noon to 4 pm, as part of Somerset County’s annual Weekend Journey Through the Past. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

Journey Through the Past was the first event for which the Ross Farm opened its doors when Somerset County introduced the weekend, and it has remained a favorite tradition ever since. Over the years, Ross Farm volunteers have shared the property’s remarkable story with visitors from across New Jersey and beyond - even welcoming guests from around the world as local residents bring visiting family and friends along on the journey.

The Farm’s story reaches across generations of American history. Elias Boudinot, who served as president of the Continental Congress, purchased the property in 1771. Henry Southard, a Revolutionary War veteran and later a U.S. congressman, bought it in 1785 and raised his family there with his wife, Sarah. Their son Samuel became the first New Jerseyan to serve in a presidential cabinet, serving as U.S. Secretary of the Navy. Much later, Edmund “Ned” Ross, a World War II veteran awarded the Bronze Star, and his wife Margaret made the Farm their home. The Ross family’s decision to sell the property to Somerset County helped secure its preservation for public use.

During “History Weekend,” visitors can tour the historic house and Boudinot’s Giving Garden, see a short play about Boudinot, hear presentations on Basking Ridge’s beloved Old Oak Tree, and take part in scavenger hunts, kite flying and other family-friendly activities. History even gets a little high-tech this year: visitors can “chat” with Elias Boudinot through an interactive AI experience from Historacle, offering a new way to ask questions and connect with the people and stories of the past. Representatives from Boxwood Hall, Boudinot’s historic Elizabeth home, will also be on hand to share another chapter of his story.

With the Farm and its fall landscape providing plenty of inspiration, plein air artists are invited to bring their easels and art supplies and create on site throughout the weekend.

In this 250th anniversary year of American independence, the Friends of the Boudinot-Southard-Ross Estate invite neighbors and visitors to discover the people, stories and history connected to this remarkable place - and to help continue a Journey Through the Past tradition that has been part of the Ross Farm story since its doors first opened to the public.

The Ross Farm is located at 135 N. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge. No tickets or registration are required. Details are available at .