Sparta Township in Sussex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Van Kirk Homestead and Museum

Photographed by Tom Golembiewski, May 28, 2025

1. Van Kirk Homestead and Museum Marker

Inscription. Van Kirk Homestead and Museum Thomas Van Kirk of Middlesex, New Jersey, purchased this land in 1780. He built a cabin, then permanent residence with hand-hewn beams, wide floorboards, and cooking fireplace. Thomas was blacksmith, farmer, Justice of the Peace and one of ten First Presbyterian Church founders. The next generations...dairy farmers, churchmen, government officials, educators, soldiers...resided here until the 1996 Board of Education purchase. Deeded to the Sparta Historical Society in November 2013, the Homestead encompasses the Residence/Museum, Transportation Barn, outbuildings, and White Oak, designated a 2019 New Jersey Heritage Tree. Sparta Historical Society

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is November 2013.

Location. 41° 3.328′ N, 74° 36.704′ W. Marker is in Sparta Township, New Jersey, in Sussex County. It is on Main Street (County Route 517) half a mile north of West Mountain Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 336 Main Street, Sparta NJ 07871, United

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States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Jersey

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Van Kirk Homestead (here, next to this marker); The New Jersey School of Conservation (approx. 1.3 miles away); Sparta Township Incorporated (approx. 1½ miles away); Sparta (approx. 1½ miles away); Sparta War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Old Schoolhouse and Firehouse Museum (approx. 2 miles away); The Sterling Mine (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Works of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Concentrating Company (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sparta Township.

Also see . . . Van Kirk Museum - Sparta Historical Society. (Submitted on May 9, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed by Tom Golembiewski, May 28, 2025

2. Van Kirk Homestead and Museum Marker

Van Kirk Homestead image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Golembiewski, May 28, 2025

3. Van Kirk Homestead

Home of the Sparta Historical Society and Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 9, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.