New Jersey has a history of producing greatness—from Fort Lee, the birthplace of the American motion picture industry, to Cape May, the nation’s first resort town. Maybe there’s something in the air or water. Or maybe, as Bruce Springsteen put it in his New Jersey Hall of Fame acceptance speech, “We are all members of a confused but noble race,” fueled by a lack of respect and a “fighting spirit” to be the best.

Since 2008, more than 230 New Jerseyans have been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame for their contributions to the arts, sciences, education, business, sports, and public service. Want to know how these luminaries got their start or made their mark? Here are a few places where you can walk in their footsteps and get inspired.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame Entertainment & Learning Center – American Dream Mall in East Rutherford

Looking for New Jersey’s biggest stars? The New Jersey Hall of Fame offers an entire galaxy! Located inside the American Dream Mall in Court G, Level 3, beside the Oreo Café, the 10,000-square-foot space has state-of-the-art interactive exhibits. The Hometown Tour at the main entrance puts visitors in the driver’s seat—literally—for a virtual drive-by of the New Jersey towns and locations that shaped the lives of inductees like Meryl Streep, Jon Stewart, and Mary Higgins Clark. There’s an interactive Wall of Fame and a simulated space ride called “Fly Me to the Moon.” On the karaoke stage, visitors can sing beside holograms of their favorite artists. They can belt out “Greatest Love of All” with Whitney Houston, stand beside Gloria Gaynor to sing “I Will Survive,” and harmonize with Jersey boy Frankie Valli on “Sherry.” (All three artists were born in Newark.)

You can also slip into the role of talk show host at the “Late Night Jersey” television studio and interview holograms of actors like Danny DeVito and Jason Alexander and sports luminaries like gymnast Laurie Hernandez. The Hall of Fame also has satellite displays at highway service areas throughout the state. The Judy Blume Service Area is in Wall Township. Whitney Houston’s—where her diamond record for “I Will Always Love You” is on display—is in Union, and the James Gandolfini Service Area is in Montvale. Admission to the service area displays is free. For the most up-to-date ticket prices and hours of operation for the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream, visit https://njhalloffame.org or https://njhalloffame.org/satellite-exhibits/

Tony Soprano’s Last Supper – Holsten’s in Bloomfield

Even those who never watched a single episode of The Sopranos know about the booth at Holsten’s—the one where James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano was sitting when the acclaimed HBO series faded to black. Long before the final scene of The Sopranos was filmed there, Holsten’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor on 1063 Broad St. in Bloomfield was famous for its homemade ice cream, chocolates, and burgers. For nearly a century, locals have enjoyed the charm of this 1950s-style restaurant with its counter seating, chrome stools, and red vinyl seat cushions. The family-owned business has a special place in the hearts of many families, including the fictional Sopranos.

For his portrayal of Tony Soprano, Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe. Gandolfini was born in Westwood, grew up in Park Ridge, and graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. In 2013, after Gandolfini’s passing, Holsten’s Owner Ron Stark honored the actor by placing a Reserved sign on the iconic booth. Visitors can sit in the booth, order the onion rings, and flip through the song choices on a vintage Crosley jukebox—just like Tony. They can even buy Sopranos merch and a box of homemade chocolates before they leave!

Bruce Springsteen’s Jersey Roots – Asbury Park, Freehold, Belmar

Someone, maybe “The Boss” himself, once said that Asbury Park is to Bruce Springsteen what the North Pole is to Santa Claus. So many locations in the Jersey Shore town and the surrounding area are associated with Springsteen. There are iconic music venues on Ocean Avenue like The Stone Pony, Convention Hall, the Paramount Theatre, and the Wonder Bar, where Springsteen graced the stages countless times. He often shows up to jam with local musicians and bands. There’s also the beach and boardwalk, and landmarks the Carousel House and the Casino Building, where Springsteen filmed the video for “Tunnel of Love.”

Let’s not forget Madame Marie (Castello), the boardwalk fortune teller and card reader immortalized in his song “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy).” Speaking of E Street, about four miles away in Belmar, fans can find the one-time home of the original keyboardist, David Sancious, at 1105 E. St. Recently, Deliver Me from Nowhere, the upcoming Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, Shameless) filmed along the Asbury Park boardwalk and at Frank’s Deli & Restaurant on Main St., where the video was shot for “We Take Care of Our Own” from Springsteen’s 2012 album Wrecking Ball. Twenty miles and about a 30-minute drive away in Freehold, fans can walk or drive by the houses where Springsteen grew up at 39 1/2 Institute St. and 68 South St. Fans with hungry hearts hoping for a Boss sighting can check out two of Springsteen’s favorite haunts. First, stop by Jersey Freeze, 120 Manalapan Ave., for a vanilla soft serve cone dipped in chocolate. Then head to Roberto’s Freehold Grill, 59 E. Main St. for “The Boss Panini.”

Taylor Swift’s Summers – Stone Harbor

Though she was born in Pennsylvania, New Jerseyans are thrilled to claim superstar Taylor Swift as one of their own. For 12 summers, Swift and her family were part-time residents at the Jersey Shore. From 1992 until 2004, she and her family vacationed at their beach house by the bay in Stone Harbor. Swifties can pack a beach blanket and their summer-themed Taylor Swift playlist—sure to include “August,” “Lover,” and “Cruel Summer”—and head down the shore for a true Taylor Swift Stone Harbor experience.

Grab a latte or cold brew at The Coffee Talk café on 98th St.—it’s where a young Swift would show up with her guitar and tip jar and play for hours. How about a cool dessert at Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream at 9420 3rd Ave.—another haunt of Swift’s. Reportedly, cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream was her favorite order. Last summer, The Stone Harbor Museum at 9410 2nd Ave. opened an exhibit featuring Swift memorabilia. On display are photos of Swift on the beach as a child, four vinyl editions of her 2022 album Midnights arranged to form a clock, and an autographed Midnights-themed guitar. There’s also a film poster for “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and a Taylor Swift-inspired Peter Max poster.

U.S. Presidents Down the Shore – Cape May, Long Branch

U.S. Presidents love the Jersey Shore! In 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant dubbed Long Branch the nation’s “summer capital.” The beach cottage bearing his name became the Summer White House, where he held Cabinet meetings and worked on his memoir. Grant worshipped at The Church of the Presidents (St. James Protestant Episcopal Chapel), now a museum in progress, at 1260 Ocean Ave. N. So did several other presidents and high-profile families like the Vanderbilts, Drexels, and Goulds—who all owned palatial summer homes in Long Branch. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and has since functioned as a part-time local museum while undergoing repairs. Grant first vacationed in Long Branch in 1865 and continued to do so through his presidency (1869-1877) and until 1885.

After Grant, six more presidents followed his lead: Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Woodrow Wilson. Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, also summered there before the presidents did. A statue of Garfield stands on a grassy path beside the ocean at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, along with six smaller monuments honoring the six other presidents who gave the park its name. Today, the 38-acre beach park at 221 Ocean Ave. N, and the surrounding Long Branch beaches, are summer destinations for day trippers and out-of-town vacationers. With hotels, restaurants, a boardwalk, and shops, it’s a charming, vibrant beach town.

New Jersey’s southernmost town also has a long history of greatness. Known as America’s first seaside resort, people have flocked to Cape May since the 1700s to enjoy the salty air, sandy beaches, and charming town center. Congress Hall, 200 Congress Pl., is one of the first seaside resorts in the United States. There you can walk the same halls as five U.S. presidents: Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin Pierce, Chester Arthur, James Buchanan, and Benjamin Harrison all vacationed there, with Harrison making the hotel his “summer White House.” Composer John Philip Sousa was also a guest and performed concerts on the hotel lawn with his Marine Corps band.

Harriet Tubman’s Historic Footprint – Cape May

In the 1850s, while Cape May was becoming a vacation destination, Harriet Tubman was there for an entirely different purpose—she was making history. Tubman lived and worked in Cape May during a few summers in the early 1850s to earn money for the Underground Railroad and to lead enslaved people to freedom. In 1852, she traveled from Cape May to Maryland one last time to guide nine people to safety, though her mission continued from other locations until 1860. Today, The Harriet Tubman Museum at 632 Lafayette St. honors the life and legacy of this American hero.

Clerks, Comics and Kevin Smith – Red Bank

Kevin Smith, a film director, producer, writer, and actor, was born in Red Bank. With his 1994 debut film Clerks, Smith put both himself and New Jersey on the map. The hit low-budget indie film, which Smith wrote, directed, and co-produced, features Quick Stop at 58 Leonard Ave. in Leonardo, where Jay and Silent Bob did their trademark loitering. The convenience store, which boasts visitors from all over the world, also appears in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and Clerks III (2022). Jay and Silent Bob appear in every one of Smith’s Askewniverse films. Smith owns the Red Bank comic book store Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash at 35 Broad St. in Red Bank, which sells comics, memorabilia, apparel, and collectibles. Nearby are St. James R.C. Church, 94 Broad St. (from Dogma), and Jack’s Music Shoppe, 30 Broad St. (featured in Chasing Amy).

Blazing a Trail of Bon Jovi Glory — Red Bank and Sayreville

Sayreville is the borough where Jon Bon Jovi lived, went to school, and formed his band in 1983 before his meteoric rise to rock stardom. Today, the mega-star also has a Red Bank connection. The original of Bon Jovi’s four JBJ Soul Kitchens is located at 207 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. These non-profit restaurants conceived of by Jon and his wife Dorothea are an outgrowth of the JBJ Soul Foundation. Restaurant-quality three-course meals with locally-sourced ingredients are served to everyone—regardless of their ability to pay. Patrons who can afford to are asked to pay it forward and make a donation; those who can’t are invited to learn about the volunteer opportunities at the restaurant. No reservations are needed. Stop in and order the Soul Seasoned Salmon and a beet and carrot salad appetizer. Who knows, you might catch a glimpse of Jon in the kitchen washing dishes.

Looking for more Bon Jovi in your life? Drive by Sayreville War Memorial High School, 820 Washington Rd., Parlin, and Saint Joseph High School, 145 Plainfield Ave., Metuchen, which he attended for one year. Then, stop by The Bon Jovi Service Area on the Garden State Parkway at Exit 124 in South Amboy, just south of the Driscoll Bridge. You can’t miss the giant guitar outside. Inside, you’ll see a gold record of the Slippery When Wet album and a guitar once owned by Bon Jovi.

The Count Basie House that Jazz Built—Red Bank

Red Bank is also home to the Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., which pays homage to the late, great jazz musician. William James “Count” Basie was born in Red Bank, lived at 9 Mechanic St., attended Red Bank public schools, and worked at the Palace Theater, formerly located at 17 E. Front St. A composer, jazz pianist, organist and bandleader, Basie led the renowned Count Basie Orchestra for nearly 50 years.

The Chairman’s (aka Sinatra) Hometown – Hoboken

A bronze statue of Frank Sinatra the Hudson River in Sinatra Park, 398 Sinatra Dr., between Pier C Park and Stevens Park. Frozen in time, Ol’ Blue Eyes leans against a lamppost, tipping his hat and smiling. Behind him, the New York City skyline provides an apt backdrop for the singer who made the song “New York, New York” an enduring classic. Created by sculptor Carolyn Palmer, the statue was unveiled in 2021.

Sinatra was born in 1915 in a Hoboken tenement at 415 Monroe St. Though the original building burned down, a plaque marks the spot of Sinatra’s birthplace. Other locations associated with the “Chairman of the Board” are still standing. A good place to start a self-guided Sinatra walking tour is the Hoboken Historical Museum at 1301 Hudson St. Its permanent collection includes items related to one of its most famous residents, and there’s a downloadable map on their website featuring all the Sinatra landmarks. There’s St. Francis Church at 308 Jefferson St., where Sinatra was baptized, and Leo’s Grandevous at 200 Grand St., a restaurant and bar with a famed jukebox that only plays Sinatra tunes. Lepore’s (Hoboken’s Famous Chocolates) at 105 4th St. still serves Sinatra’s favorite chocolate-covered apricots and displays Sinatra photos and memorabilia throughout the shop.

A Walk Among Legends – Princeton

There are too many famous graduates, natives, and visitors to mention them all, but rest assured, a mere stroll through Princeton University’s campus or downtown will have you following in the footsteps of such greats as Albert Einstein, Toni Morrison, Aaron Burr, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Brooke Shields, Jody Picoult, John Popper, Trey Anastasio, Jimmy Stewart, Norman Rockwell, Sonia Sotomayor, and Michelle Obama. The Nassau Inn at 10 Palmer Square is a historic inn and restaurant with a history dating back to the Revolutionary War and a long list of famous clientele. The current location opened its doors in 1937 and features a 13-foot mural behind the bar of The Yankee Doodle Tap Room painted by Norman Rockwell that same year and was called…wait for it… “Yankee Doodle”! The dining room of the inn has a portrait gallery of famous Princeton University alumni.

For a deeper dive into the university and its alumni, an official campus tour is a must. Another famous college, The Institute for Advanced Study, 1 Einstein Dr., is where Einstein was a founding faculty member and J. Robert Oppenheimer served as director. The Institute Pond and The Institute Woods were both in the movie Oppenheimer. Einstein lived at 112 Mercer St. from 1935 until his death in 1955. Oppenheimer and his family lived at Olden Manor, 91 Olden Lane, during their years in Princeton. Both are private residences owned by the Institute for Advanced Study.

From the Dugout to the Moon – Montclair, Little Falls

What do Yankee baseball great Yogi Berra, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actor Christina Ricci, and late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert have in common? At some point, they’ve all called Montclair home. Baseball great Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra embodied New York City baseball. Although he grew up playing the game he loved on the sandlots in “The Hill”—an Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri—Montclair was his home. One of the winningest players in baseball history, a baseball field and museum on the campus of Montclair State University both bear his name. At the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center at Montclair State University, 8 Yogi Berra Dr., Little Falls, visitors can take a deep dive into Berra’s life and baseball history through interactive displays. Berra’s former houses at 19 Highland Ave. and 61 Wayside Pl. are still standing, though no one connected to the family lives there.

Berra was to baseball what Buzz Aldrin was to early space travel. Born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., the former astronaut, engineer, and test pilot grew up in Montclair, graduating from Montclair High School, 100 Chestnut St. In 1969, he became the second man to set foot on the moon. Today, he is the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew. In 2016, the Mt. Hebron Middle School was rededicated to bear his name. The Buzz Aldrin Middle School is at 173 Bellevue Ave.

Other Montclair notables include Colbert, who lives there now, and Ricci, who attended elementary, middle, and high school in the northern New Jersey town.

The Jonas Bros. Family Affair – Wyckoff

The Jonas brothers—Kevin, Joe, and Nick—were raised in Wyckoff before moving to Little Falls. Goldberg’s Famous Bagels, 327 Franklin Ave., Suite 16, is reportedly the old stomping ground of the Jo Bros, who’ve been known to pop by for a visit now and then. They were spotted there not long after announcing that their 2025 tour would kick off at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 10. Devoted fans might want to stop by Goldberg’s for an everything bagel and a possible Jonas sighting. Afterwards, drive by Eastern Christian School, 518 Sicomac Ave., to see where Kevin and Joe attended high school.

The Birthplace of American Film — Fort Lee

Before Hollywood was Hollywood, there was Fort Lee—the birthplace of the American film industry. The town’s proximity to New York City, plus its varied and interesting landscapes, made it a desirable location for early filmmakers. It was also the place that Broadway actor Maurice Barrymore (the grandfather of John Drew Barrymore and the great-grandfather of actress Drew Barrymore), and his legendary acting family, called home. Barrymore and his wife Georgiana Drew raised their three children, Ethel, Lionel, and John—all actors—in a Victorian House on Hammett Avenue in the Coytesville section.

Early film stars like Mary Pickford and Mack Sennett also called Fort Lee home for a time. Others, like Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Lillian Gish, Theda Bara, D.W. Griffith, and the first movie star Florence Lawrence, got their start there. Today, The Barrymore Film Center at 153 Main St. is a 260-seat cinema, film museum, and archive dedicated to honoring Fort Lee’s film history. There’s a Family Film Series with showings every Saturday at 10 am, and the museum features classic film posters. On their website is a downloadable map (see below) of the places where early film stars once lived and the Fort Lee locations where movies were shot.

Though the Barrymore house no longer stands, the former home of the legendary Celia Cruz, “The Queen of Salsa,” does. Cruz lived for many years at 1080 Inwood Terrace until her death in 2003. In another Hollywood-esque twist, the home’s exterior was featured in the film Goodfellas as the post-incarceration residence of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) and his wife Karen. The nearby Fort Lee Historic Park offers unparalleled views of New York City, the Hudson River, and the George Washington Bridge. A “star” in its own right, the 98-year-old suspension bridge is among the most photographed bridges in the world.

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