The James and Ann Whitall House is a historic home at Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park, New Jersey, with a history tied to both colonial life and the American Revolution. From a three-star hotel in Wildwood, the site is about 59.7 miles away, making it a South Jersey outing to plan around current hours and road conditions.
- Location: 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063
- Site: The house is part of Red Bank Battlefield Park, beside the Delaware River.
- House tours: House-tour hours vary between Wednesday and Sunday, from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. or 1:00–4:00 p.m., during the April-to-October season.
- Battlefield tours: These tours last approximately one hour, are free, and require registration.
The Whitall House and its history
The James and Ann Whitall House preserves the story of a working plantation and a Revolutionary War battlefield hospital. James and Ann Whitall established a 400-acre plantation at Red Bank along the Delaware River in 1748.
The plantation supported fruit orchards, a lumberyard, a shad fishery, livestock and a ferry. James and Ann raised nine children, who worked there alongside dozens of indentured servants from Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany.
In 1777, American forces built Fort Mercer immediately north of the house. On October 22, Colonel Christopher Green’s Rhode Island Regiment fought Hessian soldiers, and the Whitall House served as a field hospital.
What can you see at Red Bank Battlefield Park?
Red Bank Battlefield Park combines the historic house with outdoor features along the Delaware River. Visit South Jersey describes battlefield signage, river pathways, picnic pavilions, a shaded grove, fields, a children’s playground and a colonial herb garden.
The County facility listing identifies the site as ADA accessible, with parking, museum tours, battlefield tours, children’s programs and hearth-cooking demonstrations. These are useful details to confirm when planning a visit, particularly if you have specific access needs or want to join a program.
What are the Whitall House hours and tour options?
House-tour hours vary: during the April-to-October season, tours run Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., or Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00–4:00 p.m. The house is also described as closed Monday through Wednesday and from late October to mid-April.
Battlefield tours meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Whitall House, last approximately one hour, are free and require registration. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and the tours are recommended for ages 14 and up. The County facility listing does not specify an admission fee for touring the house, so don’t assume the battlefield tour’s free admission applies to every activity.
For questions, call the Whitall House at 856-853-5120. Before you go: check the official Gloucester County site before you go for current hours, tour registration and access details.
How do you plan the drive from Wildwood?
The house is at 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063. Check your route and travel time before departure.
The Wildwoods tourism authority gives a route from Philadelphia to Wildwood via the Atlantic City Expressway, Exit 7, the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 4A, and Route 47 south; that route does not give directions from Wildwood to the house.
For other outings from Wildwood, you can consider how to plan a Cape May day trip from Wildwood.
Red Bank Battlefield Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, with no admission fee for the park. The park’s outdoor grounds and the house’s tour schedule are separate considerations: check the current house hours if you want to go inside, and allow for the approximately one-hour duration only if you register for the battlefield tour.
A Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum day trip is another outing from Wildwood.
FAQs
Where is the James and Ann Whitall House?
It is at 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063, within Red Bank Battlefield Park.
Is the Whitall House part of a larger historic site?
Yes. The house is a subfacility of Red Bank Battlefield Park, which has outdoor grounds and battlefield features.
Do battlefield tours require registration?
Yes. Registration is required for the free, approximately one-hour battlefield tours.