Whitesbog Village: A Visitors Guide
The birthplace of the Highbush blueberry
and the historic center for cranberry innovation
120 N. Whitesbog Road
Browns Mills, NJ 08015
609-893-4646
Website
Visitor's Center is in Building #12 next to the General Store
The General Store is across from parking lot.
The Village is open 365 days a year, from dawn to dusk and visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding trails, and guided and self guided tours to explore and learn.
Located within the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Whitesbog Village is an historic company town, founded in the 1870s by Joseph J. White, a successful cranberry farmer, entrepreneur, and engineer.
In the early 1900's, Whitesbog was the largest cranberry farm in New Jersey. It was here that in cooperation with the the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the first cultivated blueberry was developed.
Whitesbog Village is the birthplace of the Highbush Blue berry and the historic Center for Cranberry innovation.
It is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Sites. Whitesbog includes the village and the surrounding 3,000 acres of cranberry bogs, blueberry fields, reservoirs, sugar sand roads and Pine Barren's forests.
Scheduled Tours
Regularly scheduled tours of the Village Museums and Elizabeth White's gardens occur monthly. "Moonlight Walks" that coincide with the full moon each month. Specialty tours for groups may be arranged by reservation. Tour guides may be available for discussion or impromptu tours, on Saturdays or Sundays. Please call ahead to insure availability.
Exploring on Your Own
Starting from the Whitesbog General Store, visitors can self explore the Village with a map and brochures available at the Visitors Center (weekdays), in the General Store (weekends) or in the Village Kioski (after hours).
Take a walk or ride around the cranberry bogs and through the woods to experience the wonders of nature.
Before starting your tour, stop in at the Visitors Center, pick up a map and check on road conditions around the area. Weather and other natural events can impact the roadway.
Things To Do and See
The Whitesbog General Store
The General Store was the main source of supplies for residents and pickers. Today, The General Store sells many unique food and handicraft items that relate to their history as a center of cranberry and blueberry cultivation. 1924. The General Store is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from February through December, and can be opened by special request.
Suningive
The home of Elizabeth Coleman White, oldest surviving daughter of Joseph J. White. She helped create the Four Mile Colony, a facility to train and care for mentally challenged young men. She was also President of the American Cranberry Growers Association and the first woman recipient of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture citation. She was one of the founders of the Blueberry Growers Cooperative Association that later became known as Tru-Blu.
The New Jersey Agriculture Experimental Cranberry Sub-station
The Research Sub-station is presented as a 1920's window into the scientific efforts that occurred during the infancy of the cranberry and blueberry industries. Visitors can view copies of the historic records for research and provides educational exhibits about historic events and discoveries that occurred here.
The Interpretive Cottage
This is a worker's cottage and is one of 4 buildings erected at the end of the 1890's to accommodate seasonal laborers. It is furnished to look as it would have in the early 1900's.
Whitesbog Agricultural Museum
The Barrel Storage Warehouse is the home to the Whitesbog Agricultural Museum. It is open to the public during scheduled Village Tours, during the Blueberry Festival in June, and by appointment. The barrel storage house was designed not only to store barrels but also to accommodate abundant cranberry harvests.
Nature Walks
Learn about the diversity of habitat and wildlife of the Pine Barrens. Whitesbog is not just the buildings but 3,000 acres of natural forest, cranberry bogs, blueberry fields and home to some of the rarest birds, reptiles and plants in the state. Experienced guides will take you on a journey to discover the wonders of nature. Reservations requested.
Garden Tours
Elizabeth White's Suningive gardens were widely known. You may enjoy the gardens on your own, or be part of a Village Tour which includes her home Suningive, and the gardens. Reservations requested. Cranberry Harvest: The end of September through October is cranberry harvest time. Harvest Tours and Living History Events are conducted based on weather, the harvesting schedule and road conditions. Please call the office at 609-893-4646 for information.
Annual Whitesbog Blueberry Festival
Usually held the 3rd or 4th weekend in June.
This annual family event features the celebration of the Centennial of the Cultivated Highbush Blueberry. Enjoy Pinelands folk music, great festival food, walking/wagon tours, country crafts, local artists, lectures, exhibits, lots of activities for children, an old-time General Store.
Place to Stay
Pemberton, NJ
A charming circa 1749, four unit B & B with a swimming pool.
The interior reflects the high style of the Victorian Era due to a major renovation in that period. Outside, the original smokehouse and beautiful holly tree accent the grassy backyard. Flowers, shrubs and other flora adorn the side yard.
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