Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ) was joined by Camden City and County leaders to deliver $500,000 in Community Project Funding to the Camden County Historical Society.
The funding was the catalyst for the additional $4 million raised and will be used to turn the Benjamin Cooper Tavern into the American Revolution Museum of Southern New Jersey.
The new museum aims to be open in time for the United States Semiquincentennial, which will be celebrated on July 4, 2026, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“I fought to deliver $500,000 in federal funding to restore the Benjamin Cooper Tavern and turn it into a historical site that will help future generations learn more about our nation’s history,” Norcross said. “Opening in time for the Semiquincentennial, this museum will honor the values we fought for during the Revolutionary War of democracy, freedom, and justice. Learning from history is essential to protecting the ideals that shaped our nation.”
“The Benjamin Cooper Tavern is one of Camden City’s most significant historic sites, so it is imperative that we preserve it for generations to come,” Commissioner Jeffrey Nash said. “This project will keep an important piece of regional history alive and will allow residents and visitors to learn more about the history that surrounds them on a daily basis. We are thrilled to see this project move forward and cannot wait to visit the museum once it is completed.”
“The Benjamin Cooper Tavern built in 1734 is Camden’s most historic surviving building and played a significant role during the American Revolutionary War during the British occupation of Philadelphia in 1777–1778. Recognized for its national importance, the site is listed on both the Congressional List of Revolutionary War Battlefields and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places,” Executive Director of the Camden County Historical Society, Jack O’Byrne said.
The American Revolution Museum of Southern New Jersey will have museum exhibits, a community room for events, and provide public facilities for those using the 33-mile Camden County Circuit Trail. The museum will feature exhibits on the Battle of Gloucester, as well as displays on the impact African Americans, Latino Americans, and Native Americans had on the American Revolution.
