National Register of Historic Places

Perth Amboy Ferry Slip

Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Listed
November 28, 1978
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001773

About this property

The Perth Amboy Ferry Slip, located on the Arthur Kill in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, was once a vital ferry slip for boats in New York Harbor. It was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The ferry slip was restored in 1998 to its 1904 appearance. A replica of the ticket office has been constructed and is used as a small museum. Perth Amboy is located at the mouth of the Raritan River at the Raritan Bay, an arm of the Lower New York Bay. Perth Amboy served as New Jersey's capital from 1686 until 1776. In 1684, it became the capital of East Jersey and remained so after the union of East and West Jersey in 1702, becoming an alternate colonial capital with Burlington until 1776. Ferry service at the site dates back to 1684. During the colonial era and for a long thereafter, Perth Amboy was an important way-station for travel between New York City and Philadelphia, providing the waterways used by the ferry service originally set up by Cornelius Vanderbilt, who later became known as "The Commodore". The slip was later used to transport newly arrived immigrants from Ellis Island, many of whom remained in the town. The native Lenape provided crossings to settlers as early as 1680. The longest-running ferry service crossed the Arthur Kill to Tottenville, Staten Island, with regular service beginning in 1709 or 1719 operated by Christopher Billopp. Steam service was introduced in the late 19th century by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and ran until 1943, and was served by the Staten Island Railway at the Tottenville station. In the early motoring age the ferry was an important link for travelers to the Jersey Shore It became less important with the 1928 opening of the Outerbridge Crossing, but continued operating until October 17, 1963. National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey List of ferries across the Hudson River to New York City

Location

Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey
40.50700, -74.26193

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATION
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office
Industrial
0.2 mi
Simpson United Methodist Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Proprietary House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Perth Amboy Station
Industrial
0.6 mi
Kearny, Lawrence, House
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Metuchen Meeting House (Short Hills)
1777Revolutionary War
6.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Perth Amboy Ferry Slip listed on the National Register?

Perth Amboy Ferry Slip was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Perth Amboy Ferry Slip?

Perth Amboy Ferry Slip is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Perth Amboy Ferry Slip?

The period of significance for Perth Amboy Ferry Slip is recorded as the industrial era.

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