Visitors and New Jerseyans alike can now use their smartphone to enjoy narrated travels in George Washington’s footsteps as the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area introduces its Ten Crucial Days audio tour.
Travelers will follow the route of key events that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War in the very spots where they happened, starting with the launch point of Washington’s Christmas night Delaware River crossing in 1776 through the Continental Army victories at Trenton and Princeton, according to a press release.
Travelers will hear these events unfold through the experiences of the people who were there, in their own words.
The Ten Crucial Days tour is the first of a planned network of tour routes covering the state to help people connect to New Jersey’s rich Revolutionary era heritage, on the road or at home, according to the press release.
Download a tour to a smartphone at http://revolutionarynj.org/audiotours and as one drives, embedded GPS coordinates will activate brief audio stories of people, places and events that connect users to New Jersey’s Revolutionary era heritage.
Built-in audio wayfinding provides turn-by-turn directions to keep travelers on the path for a safe, hands-free experience, according to the press release.
“The Ten Crucial Days audio tour actually immerses you in events that were a true turning point in the American Revolution,” said Crossroads trustee Patrick Murray, leader of the multi-disciplinary team that created and produced the tour.
“You get to hear about the challenges faced by both the troops and the local population in ways that make you think about these events’ connection to our lives today. And you may learn a few new things about the famous crossing to boot,” Murray said.
“Thanks to the historians, musicians and historical interpreters who lent their talents to the project, these stories can be heard in context, at a traveler’s convenience whenever they want to get on the road.
“As people get drawn into these compelling stories, we anticipate that the Crossroads audio tours will spur their interest to return to historic sites along the route and across the state to learn more,” Murray said.
This tour and following tours in the Crossroads audio tour series will include stories of the Revolutionary War’s impact on New Jerseyans of all backgrounds and the hard choices they made during the conflict, according to the press release.
With accounts of the enslaved, free Blacks, women and children, heritage travelers will find a deeper, more nuanced understanding of life in a New Jersey that was at the center of the conflict, according to the press release.
“Travelers are constantly seeking new experiences and new destinations, and Crossroads audio tours offer a fresh new way to explore New Jersey’s extensive Revolutionary heritage safely and at their own pace,” said Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.
“As travelers are guided along the trails, they will also have the option to stop at other points of interest, enjoy a meal or shopping, then return to their vehicle to pick up the rest of the story,” Vasser said.
Crossroads’ audio tour app technology partner is TravelStorysGPS, a software-as-a-service company that has produced more than 200 audio tours in 36 states and three countries, according to the press release.
Funding for the Ten Crucial Days audio tour was provided by the National Park Service, the George A Ohl Jr. Trust, the F.M. Kirby Foundation and Friends of Washington Crossing Park, Pa.
The Crossroads of the American Revolution Association is a not-for-profit organization that manages the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area (NHA).
The NHA was established by Congress in 2006 to connect the people and places of New Jersey’s Revolutionary heritage to inspire community pride, stewardship and civic engagement, according to the press release.