Our Hopewell Valley and towns are seeped in history – deep in the names and landscape and buildings around us. One fun way to get out and around and explore this past is with a history tour – driving around the area and walking in the towns. You also can explore virtually online to learn about places that you can visit later.
You can choose your own tour from the collection of some 30 historic house tour brochures – and more – all here on the Hopewell Valley History Project site. These include 15 tours around Hopewell Township, plus 6 walking tours in Pennington Borough and 9 in Hopewell Borough.
In Pennington, you can start with the Pennington Historic Walking Tour prepared by the Pennington Historic Sites Committee. You also can explore the tour virtually online.
In Hopewell Borough, you can start with the Hopewell Architecture Walking Tour from the Hopewell Public Library. Or tour along Railroad Place or Seminary Avenue to explore the growth of early 1900s Hopewell, with tour handouts, additional background materials, and associated presentation videos. Plus you can use the interactive Hopewell History Map to virtually explore the town.
Please contact us if you have information on additional tours to add to this collection.
Hopewell Valley Historic Tour Brochures
The History Project currently has some 30 historic house tour brochures, back to the late 1950s. These are from various events sponsored by the Jaycees, Hopewell Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historic Society, Hopewell Museum, and other municipal groups.
The house tours brochures are posted in the Pamphlet Collection, organized by date and town, and also can be searched by name.
- Read the list of the Hopewell Valley Historic House Tours (PDF)
- Browse all the House Tour Brochures in the Pamphlet Collection
Hopewell Valley Historic Tours
Some 15 of the historic house tour brochures specifically cover Hopewell Township and the Hopewell Valley.
These go back to Jaycee tours in the late 1960s. See also the 1992 HVHS Hopewell Valley / Harbourton / Howell Farm House and Garden Tour.
- Browse the Hopewell Township House Tour Brochures in the Pamphlet Collection
Pennington Borough Historic Tours
A good start for Pennington historic tours is the Pennington Historic Walking Tour prepared by the Pennington Historic Sites Committee, which also is available virtually online.
Pennington Borough Historic Tour Brochures
The collection of historic Pennington Borough house tour brochures includes some 6 walking tours.
These go back to a 1976 Historical Society Walking Tour of Old Pennington. See also the HVHS Pennington 100th Anniversary House Tour from 1990 and the 125th Anniversary Tour from 2015.
- Read the list of the Hopewell Valley Historic House Tours – including Pennington (PDF)
- Browse the Pennington House Tour Brochures in the Pamphlet Collection
Pennington Historic Walking Tour Guide
The Pennington Historic Walking Tour Guide was prepared by the Pennington Historic Sites Committee around 1990. It was created as part of establishing the Pennington Crossroads historic district.
It features 31 buildings in the historic district, including photos and descriptions. The tour also is available online.
- Read the Pennington Historic Walking Tour Guide (PDF)
Pennington History & Walking Tour Pages
The Pennington History & Walking Tour site includes an expanded interactive version of the Pennington Historic Walking Tour, which is part of the Pennington Borough History and Tour site developed by Joe Sinniger.
The site includes images and descriptions of over 40 houses along seven streets in Pennington, plus information on Pennington history and historic photos.
- View the Pennington Historic Walking Tour pages (separate site)
Hopewell Borough Historic Tours
A good start for Hopewell Borough tours is the Hopewell Architecture Walking Tour. Or tour along Railroad Place or Seminary Avenue to explore the growth of early 1900s Hopewell.
Hopewell Borough Historic Tour Brochures
The collection of historic Hopewell Borough house tour brochures includes some 9 walking tours.
These go back to Hopewell Museum tours in the late 1950s. See also the 1976 Hopewell Bicentennial Tour, the HVHS 1991 Hopewell 100th Anniversary Tour, and Stroll Though Historic Hopewell Tours in the 2000s by the Hopewell Public Library.
The Hopewell Borough tours in the collection are detailed in a separate document, with the house descriptions extracted for easier access.
- Read the Hopewell Borough House Tour Information (PDF)
- Browse the Hopewell House Tour Brochures in the Pamphlet Collection
Hopewell Borough Architecture Walking Tour
The 2019 Hopewell Borough Architecture Walking Tour was organized by the Hopewell Public Library and the Hopewell Borough Historic Preservation Commission.
It includes 12 examples of the range of architectural history and styles in our towns, including building photos and architectural descriptions.
- Read the HPL Hopewell Borough Architecture Walking Tour (PDF)
Railroad Place / Industrial Hopewell Walking Tour
The Railroad Place / Industrial Hopewell Historic Walking Tour and associated presentation explore how the arrival of two railroads in the 1870s spurred the growth of the town of Hopewell. Local boosters in Hopewell invested in developing Railroad Place as an industrial district to provide jobs and growth, including the Chocolate Factory, Tomato Factory, J. B. Hill and Sons, the Rockwell / Kooltronic facility, and more.
The extensive tour handout Includes overviews of the entire industrial district, summaries of each of the properties, and additional information on Somerset Street.
- Read the tour handout: Industrial Hopewell – Railroad Place (PDF)
- View the associated Railroad Place / Industrial Hopewell presentation video and property briefs
Seminary Avenue Historic Walking Tour
The Seminary Avenue Historic Walking Tour and associated presentation explore how the people and businesses of the apparently nondescript Seminary Avenue helped the small village of Hopewell grow into a prosperous town – from barbers, butchers, and bakers, to auto, clothing, and grocery stores, to the Hopewell Fire Department and Public Library.
The tour also continues down East Broad to South Greenwood to illustrate other institutions that helped to expand the town, including the hotel, library, church, bank, pharmacy, community hall, school, borough hall, firehouse, and post office.
- Read the tour handout: Seminary Avenue Historic Walking Tour (PDF)
- View the associated Seminary Avenue Tour presentation video and property briefs
Hopewell History Map – Interactive Visual Tour
Use the interactive Hopewell History Map to take a visual tour of the Hopewell Borough historic district, panning around to see all the addresses in town with historical information, and then zooming in to see thumbnail images of each property.
You can explore local properties by viewing available images from the Image Gallery, comparing the oldest and most recent images. Also animate the growth of Hopewell Borough by stepping through time from circa 1850 to 1910 — showing new properties appearing with each time period.
- Explore the Hopewell History Map
Thanks especially to the Hopewell Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society, Hopewell Museum, and other contributors for information and copies of the brochures to scan.
Can you help us find additional tours, and fill in the gaps in this collection? There are at least eight additional known events for which we do not have brochures, and presumably additional tours not yet listed.
More on Historic House Tours
Get out and about and enjoy the historic ambience of our valley and towns with a historic tour. Use the collection of some 30 historic house tour brochures to explore the area, around Hopewell Township, and with walking tours in Pennington and Hopewell boroughs.
- Explore Historic Hopewell Valley – House and Street Tours
- Hopewell Valley Historic House Tour Brochures
- Hopewell Valley Historic House Tours List (PDF)
Pennington Borough Historic Tours
- Hopewell Valley Historic House Tours List (PDF)
- Pennington Historic Walking Tour Guide
- Pennington History & Walking Tour Site
- Pennington Historic Walking Tour pages (separate site)
Hopewell Borough Historic Tours
