Caught in the Crossfire: Divided Loyalties in Middlesex County Exhibit

In honor of nationwide celebrations for America’s 250th birthday in 2026, The Division of History and Historic Preservation’s exhibition Caught in the Crossfire: Divided Loyalties in Middlesex County will re-frame the American Revolution as a complex eight-year-long civil war wherein Americans did not all agree on a path forward in 1776. New Jersey historians have long emphasized that the Revolution was a civil war, but often scholars outside the state have either ignored New Jersey’s role or simplified and misinterpreted our part in the story. In the end, more of the war was fought in this state than elsewhere, resulting in the highest number of casualties, a devastating economic toll and physical damage to communities, and high costs for individuals, no matter which side (s)he took. Embroiled in an active war zone, residents had to take stands—from “loyalist” to “patriot” to “neutral”— and readily change sides at the drop of a hat—becoming a “trimmer,” “straddler,” or “opportunist.” Regardless of which side they chose, this exhibition will illustrate how Middlesex County residents were caught in the middle of a war zone through stories of ordinary and extraordinary individuals and families.

The exhibition will weave women’s history, Black history, and the history of indigenous communities throughout the galleries. The exhibition will utilize a combination of material cultural artifacts, archival documents, reproductions, interactive and experiential design, and specially commissioned artwork to fill gaps in source material and create immersive experiences. The exhibition will tell stories of Middlesex County residents through its own collection, loans from lenders across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and exclusive loans from our 250th partner, Rutgers University Libraries’ Special Collections & University Archives. We aim to rectify how New Jerseyans view their place in the American Revolution and offer locals and visitors a once-in-a-generation opportunity to uncover and celebrate their “revolutionary” roots with us!

Click here to read the Rutgers Today story on the exhibit. 

250th Exhibition Partners: New Jersey Historical Commission, RevolutionNJ, Special Collections & University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.

Funded by Middlesex County Commissioners, New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of the Department of State, Special Collections & University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.