Rockaway history buffs have a Revolutionary War event worth the short drive this week. The Morris County 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee will host a free public screening of the PBS series Drive By History: The Worst Winter of the Revolution: 1779-80 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Morris Museum in Morristown.
The screening begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free with advance registration. A ticketed VIP cocktail reception runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with $30 admission that includes time to mingle with fellow history enthusiasts before the program. The Morris Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown.
The episode examines the Continental Army’s winter encampment at Jockey Hollow during the winter of 1779-80, one of the harshest winters in American history. It shows how General George Washington and his troops endured extreme cold, heavy snow, food shortages and disease in Morristown, and why Morris County played a pivotal role in the fight for American independence.
After the film, host Ken Magos will lead a live discussion and audience question and answer session. Magos, a Morris County resident, created Drive By History to explore the stories behind historical sites and roadside markers across New Jersey and New York.
The event lands as the county marks Morris County’s 250th anniversary celebration, a milestone with deep local roots. Rockaway grew up around colonial iron forges that once helped keep Washington’s army supplied. Advance registration is required to attend.
