Boonton Historic District

Boonton Historic District stretches across Main, Church, Birch, Cornelia, and Cedar Streets in a roughly 9-acre area. The neighborhood contains 22 buildings representing different architectural periods and design approaches.

Development began around 1830 with construction of the Morris Canal, which spurred the establishment of the New Jersey Iron Company and urban growth. This early industrial activity shaped the population and buildings that now define the district.

The First Presbyterian Church and Saint John's Episcopal Church showcase different architectural styles visible while walking through the neighborhood. These two houses of worship shape the streetscape and reveal how architectural variety developed across different periods.

The district is walkable and invites self-guided exploration, with informational plaques at many buildings helping you understand architectural details. The flat terrain makes it easy to explore all five streets during a single visit.

The Garret Rickards House from 1854 and another octagon house are rare examples of architect Orson Squire Fowler's design theories, which promoted eight-sided shapes as ideal for modern living. This unusual form was briefly popular but remains uncommon in inhabited landscapes today.