Noon luncheon meetings are held on the first two Tuesdays of each month, at Charlie Brown's Steakhouse in Chatham Township. Breakfast meetings are held at 8:00 AM on the last two or three Tuesdays of each month. Breakfast meetings are held at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse in Chatham Township. Guests are always welcomed to attend our Tuesday meetings. COME JOIN US

Thursday

“Morris County Tourism Bureau” Presented by Carol Barkin at July 20 Meeting

The Morristown Visitor’s Center began 14 years ago. Last year the organization was rebranded “Morris County Tourism Bureau” to better describe the growing scope. However, you can still take walking tours from the Morristown Visitors Center at 6 Court St. Morris County has four National Landmarks: The Morristown National Historical Park (Washington’s headquarters, etc.), Speedwell Village (Vail and Morse), Craftsman Farms (Stickley), Thomas Nast Home (Santa Claus). The tag lines for Morris County are “NJ’s Great American Getaway” and “Take a Vacation in your Own Back Yard.”

Visitors say they “can’t believe how beautiful New Jersey is”. The Morristown Green is much improved after a million dollar facelift. Today you can see children playing on the Green. The oldest garden in Morris County is the beautiful secret garden behind Macculloch Hall. Morris Museum is showing a great exhibit: “The Shoe Must Go On.”

Carol mentioned a great history book, “This is New Jersey” by 95-year old local author John Cunningham. A noted historic gem is Florham Mansion on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University. There are 100 other nearby mansions where millionaires lived. In the Gilded Age, Morristown was known as the “inland Newport” for its summer season. Gilded age mansion remnants include Villa Walsh, Loyola House of Retreat, Delbarton and others.

Three Morris County periods of historical significance include the Revolutionary War (Washington and his troops), Early Industrial Age (Historic Speedwell, Macculloch’s 105 mile long Morris Canal which was America’s first great engineering project), and the Gilded Age. A forth period was the Communications (AT&T) Age.

The Bureau is half funded by Morris County taxpayers with the rest coming from contributions. Click here to view the Bureau’s prize-winning website. Kiwanians in the audience eagerly picked up Carol’s brochures for Morris County Parks (18,000 acres), Morristown walking tours, Thomas Nast Home, Craftsman Farms, Historic highlights of Borough of Chatham and Chatham Township. She also distributed newsletters, the Morris County Points of Interest map and other visitor’s guides.

Individuals and companies can become members of the Morris County Tourism Bureau. People can supply email address to receive notices automatically. The Bureau has a Facebook page with 153 followers. They are also using other Social Networking sites like Twitter. Cell Phone guided tours are in development.

She summarized by saying, “We have a string of pearls here in Morris County.” Photo shows Nancy Boucher (left) introducing Carol Barkin.

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