Burlington County is celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary this year, and in honor of the milestone, we’re taking a look back each Thursday at many of the important Burlington County people, places and events from the past 250 years.
We call it Turn Back Time Thursday.
For this week’s Turn Back Time Thursday, we are spotlighting architect Robert Mills and his connection to Burlington County and our nation’s capital.
Mills is popularly known as the first American-born and professionally trained architect. His best-known work is his design of the iconic Washington Monument, but he is also the responsible for designing the Burlington County Prison on High Street in Mount Holly.
The prison was designed to be fireproof, and focused on rehabilitation rather than mere punishment, making it highly advanced for its time. It served as an inspiration for architects and engineers across the nation and held several notable prisoners. Today, it is open to the public as the Burlington County Prison Museum and is registered as a National Historic Landmark.
Attached photos clockwise are: Robert Mills; Mills’s original vision for the Washington Monument; Old St. Mary’s Church; and the Burlington County Prison Museum entrance.
Mills was also a prolific designer of churches and, in 1811, he was involved in alterations to old St. Mary’s Church in Burlington City.
In 1836, President Andrew Jackson appointed Mills to the position of Federal Architect and Engineer, a post which he held for 16 years. During his tenure, he designed such iconic buildings and monuments as the United States Treasury Building, the U.S. Patent Office, and the General Post Office.
As we celebrate 250 years of American history, we invite you to explore the local landmarks that helped shape the nation.
You can learn more about the Prison Museum at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/956/Prison-Museum.
Mills’s design of the prison is also on display in the 250 Years of Burlington County History exhibit now at the Workers House Gallery in Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton. The exhibit spotlights important Burlington County events and people throughout the past 250 years of American history. You can find more information about the exhibit at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/2667
You can also find out more information about upcoming America 250 presentations, activities and events being organized by Burlington County, the Burlington County Parks System and other partners on Burlington County’s America 250 page at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/…/Americas-250th and in the Burlington County Parks Program Guide, available online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/235/Parks.