Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

Delaware Water Gap➤

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area contains 70,000 acres along the middle section of the Delaware River in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It begins at the water gap and stretches northward to the tristate border of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

A water gap forms when water carves a path through a mountain range. In Earth’s ancient history, the North American and African continents collided, creating the Kittatinny Ridge. Streams flowing on one side of the ridge scoured a channel over the course of millions of years and became the Delaware River.

The Appalachian Trail and the Middle Delaware National Scenic River both run the length of the park. Waterfalls abound and many historic Dutch Colonial buildings sit within park boundaries, including Millbrook Village.

Millbrook Village➤

I visited Millbrook Village on Labor Day Weekend for a scheduled ranger tour. Ranger John met us at the Bertholf Barn, close to the parking lot. He demonstrated some of the tools in the barn and began his talk about the village’s history. Next we all walked to the general store which also served as the post office. Across the road, we ventured into the Methodist Church. And finally Ranger John invited us into the house at the end of the row to see some of the period furnishings.

In 1832, Abram Garis founded Millbrook with the gristmill he built along the Columbia–Walpack Turnpike,. By 1875, the community had grown to 75 residents and 19 buildings stretched along both sides of the road. Like many rural villages, Millbrook declined after 1880. The mill closed shortly after 1900, and by 1950, only the blacksmith shop remained in operation. In the 1960s, the National Park Service and the Millbrook Village Society began restoring the area by relocating threatened historic structures. These efforts preserved the village’s layout and appearance as it had been around 1900.

Today, Millbrook Village is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and serves as a re-created 1800s community. Although many structures are replicas, some original buildings survived, avoiding demolition during the Tocks Island Dam project. The village includes a restored church, schoolhouse, and other historical features, offering a glimpse into 19th-century rural life.

Millbrook has been carefully preserved and continues to serve as a living history site. Each fall, the village hosts Millbrook Days, a public event that brings the past to life through demonstrations and storytelling. Though I missed Millbrook Days by a few weeks, the personalized tour Ranger John gave our group brought the 1800s to life.

Delaware Water Gap Posts➤

• Middle Delaware
• Bushkill Falls
• Silverthread Falls
• Dingmans Falls
• Raymondskill Falls
• Millbrook Village

---

Location: Old Mine Road & Rt 602, New Jersey
Designation: National Recreation Area
Date designated/established: September 1, 1965
Date of my visit: September 1, 2024