National Register of Historic Places

Gibbons Mansion

Madison, Morris County, New Jersey
Listed
August 9, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000897

About this property

Gibbons Mansion, currently known as Mead Hall, is a historical mansion on Drew University campus in Madison, Morris County, New Jersey, United States. It houses the university's administrative offices today. The mansion was built by William Gibbons beginning in 1833 in the heart of his 96-acre property; it was first occupied in 1836. Gibbons was the son of Thomas Gibbons, a prominent politician, lawyer and steamboat operator originally from the South. In 1867, Gibbons’ only son, William Heyward Gibbons, sold the vacant mansion and estate to Daniel Drew for $140,000. Drew, in turn, the Drew Theological Seminary, named in his honor. The Gibbons mansion was renamed Mead Hall, in honor of Drew's wife, Roxanna Mead. The sister of William Heyward Gibbons, Sarah Taintor Gibbons, was Mrs. Ward McAllister. Mead Hall was devastated by a fire in 1989, reopened in 1993, and despite the damage, is still “considered the finest example of Greek Revival architecture north of the Mason–Dixon line."

Location

36 Madison Ave.
Madison, Morris County, New Jersey
40.76224, -74.42499

Categories

COMMERCEENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONEDUCATIONARCHITECTURERELIGION
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Gibbons Mansion

This page lists Gibbons Mansion. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Gibbons Mansion report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Methodist Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
Madison Public Library and the James Building
Industrial
0.5 mi
Sayre House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Madison Civic Commercial District
Listed
0.5 mi
Madison Station
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Connecticut Farms (New Jersey)
1780Revolutionary War
6.4 mi
Battle of Springfield New Jersey
1780Revolutionary War
6.4 mi
Battle of Springfield
1780Revolutionary War
6.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gibbons Mansion listed on the National Register?

Gibbons Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 9, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Gibbons Mansion?

Gibbons Mansion is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gibbons Mansion?

The period of significance for Gibbons Mansion is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Gibbons Mansion?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Gibbons Mansion will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Morris County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Morris County.

Explore MorrisCounty ›

More historic places in New Jersey

Browse all historic places in New Jersey.

View New Jerseyhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Jersey history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Jerseyhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Gibbons Mansion will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report