Morris County has launched a 250th Anniversary Traveling Mural, an interactive public art project that gives Rockaway residents a chance to help paint a piece of local history as the artwork moves through towns across the county.
The mural was created by artist Dan Fenelon and traces Morris County’s story from the Revolutionary War era to today, with imagery drawn from Washington’s Headquarters and Jockey Hollow, early colonial life, iron mining, agriculture, and the communities that shaped the region. It is a project of the Morris County 250th Celebrations Committee, the Morris County Tourism Bureau, and the Morris County Board of County Commissioners.
The project has a Rockaway connection. Shannon McCarty, community events coordinator for Rockaway Township, was among the local stakeholders who helped shape the mural’s direction. As the piece travels, residents and visitors can add their own brushstrokes, so the artwork keeps growing at every stop.
“This mural creates an opportunity for residents to explore Morris County’s history through a different lens,” said Amanda Broschart, director of the Morris County Heritage Commission. “By combining art and storytelling, the project helps highlight the people, places and events that shaped the county’s past.”
The mural was unveiled at the Morris County Patriots Ball at the Ford Mansion in Morristown in May. Its next public appearance is set for the Morris County Library on July 7, 2026, where Fenelon and fellow artist Kadie Dempsey will talk through the design and the history behind it.
Organizers are still scheduling stops across Morris County and encourage families, students, and community groups to pick up a brush and take part. More on the county’s 250th anniversary programming is available online.
