January 19th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to reflect on the ongoing pursuit of equality, civil rights, and community progress. Burlington County holds a deep African American history of its own — one built by free Black communities, abolitionist networks, soldiers, and faith leaders whose presence shaped the region long before modern townships took form. Here are four sites that preserve and honor that history.
1. Burlington County Underground Railroad Museum
Location: Smithville Park, Mount Holly, NJ
Located within Smithville Park, the Burlington County Underground Railroad Museum highlights the routes, safe houses, and local residents who helped enslaved people escape to freedom before the Civil War. Exhibits focus on both regional activity and the broader national network of resistance. The site is included for documenting Burlington County’s role in abolitionist efforts.
2. Timbuctoo
Location: Westampton, NJ
Established in the early 1800s, Timbuctoo was a free African American community founded decades before Emancipation. Residents built homes, a school, and Zion Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Timbuctoo cemetery remains as a significant historical landmark.
The site is included as one of Burlington County’s earliest recorded free Black settlements and a testament to community resilience.
3. Oliver Cromwell House
Location: Burlington, NJ
Oliver Cromwell, born in the area once known as Black Horse (now Columbus), served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War under General George Washington. He fought in major battles, including Trenton and Princeton, and later lived in Burlington, where his home site remains tied to his life. The site is included for recognizing Black military service in the nation’s earliest years. The Cromwell House is currently a private residence and closed to the public.
4. Bethlehem AME Church
Location: Burlington, NJ
Founded in 1809, Bethlehem African Methodist Episcopal Church is one of the oldest AME congregations in New Jersey. Throughout the 19th century it served as a spiritual, educational, and civic anchor for the African American community in Burlington, hosting abolitionist speakers, mutual aid meetings, and community gatherings. The site is included for its continuous role in faith, education,
and community leadership for more than two centuries.
These landmarks reflect the depth and breadth of African American history within Burlington County. They stand as reminders of community strength, cultural legacy, and the ongoing importance of preserving local history.
