Talk about Halloween gone wrong! The War of the Worlds broadcast caused panic nationwide as the radio reported on a Martian invasion in New Jersey. Grover’s Mill, New Jersey, is the location of the famous martian landing site. You likely wouldn’t know this just by visiting this small New Jersey town, as it’s as charming as it is quaint. However, anyone who knows about the War of the Worlds landing site knows that Grover’s Mill is home to this incredible martian landing site in NJ.

Grovers Mill is a small hamlet in West Windsor Township. It's a community that's tucked away in the heart of New Jersey, and it's world famous for being home to the only Martian invasion -- that we know about!
Wikimedia Commons
On Sunday, October 30, 1938, radio host Orson Welles and a small cast performed a re-telling of the science fiction tale The War of the Worlds. He changed around some of the story, so he was telling the tale of a Martian landing in Grovers Mill, leading to an invasion and the fall of New York City.

What Welles did not anticipate is that viewers took the work of fiction and entertainment as truth, and panic was stirred up across the country.
The broadcast took place as part of a Halloween special. Orson Welles had assembled a cast of voice actors, and the "news" of the alien invasion came in snippets, much like breaking news would.
Flickr / Jazz Guy
Many listeners missed the disclaimer at the beginning of the show explaining the premise, and so thousands panicked, believing it to be either a true Martian invasion, or perhaps an invasion from Germany, as the beginning of World War II was on the horizon.
Over six million listeners tuned into the program, and many truly believed that they were listening to the downfall of New Jersey, and thus, the United States.
Flickr / Jazz Guy

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The backlash stunned Welles, who was 23 at the time. Thousands of newspapers reported the event in their headlines the next morning, claiming that the panic caused by the broadcast was wild and widespread.
Wikimedia Commons
Today, a monument to the moment that made Grovers Mill famous sits in Van Nest Park.
Wikimedia Commons
While the true impact of the broadcast is hard to measure, this spot is certainly special to anyone who grew up in the area.
After all, where else can you walk along the water and wonder just what it would actually be like if extraterrestrial creatures landed right here in our own backyard?
Flickr / Jazz Guy
The War of the Worlds Broadcast is easy to find online, and it's only about an hour long. Grab your headphones and head to Van Nest Park, and you can listen to it right in this famous Martian landing site.
Flickr / Jazz Guy

You can listen to the War of the Worlds broadcast on YouTube if you’re interested in hearing what caused all of the hysteria. Plus, you can always check out this New Jersey martian landing site and see for yourself what makes this town so special!

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Martian Landing Site

Megan Todaro | January 24, 2023

What are some famous New Jersey urban legends?

New Jersey is no stranger when it comes to urban legends and folklore. Have you heard of the Jersey Devil before? Some of the most famous urban legends in New Jersey include:

  • The Devil's Tree
  • Bloodthirsty Spook Rabbits
  • Sussex Sea Serpent
  • Woodbridge Cemetery Snake
  • Atco Ghost
  • Newark's Ghost Train
  • Belmar's Disappearing Pond
  • Hotel Hauntings
  • Captain Kidd's Jersey Shore Stash
  • The Toms River Terror
  • Go-Go Ghosts
  • James Still, MD
  • The Massacre At Long Beach
  • Clinton Road
  • Shades Of Death Road
  • Jersey Devil

 

While the famous martian landing site in New Jersey isn’t much of an urban legend, it’s still a story that is worth being told.

Does New Jersey have any unique roadside attractions?

Yes, New Jersey has quite a few roadside attractions that are totally unique. These 12 NJ roadside attractions are perfect for a year-long adventure of day trips, one for each month. For example, did you know you can visit Atlantic City to feast your eyes on Frank Sinatra’s used towel at White House Sub Shop? Or how about viewing the world’s largest light bulb in Edison, New Jersey?

What is the best small town in New Jersey?

The best small town in New Jersey for a weekend escape is Lambertville, New Jersey. This tiny town isn’t just the perfect place to explore today, but it also has a ton of unique history that is worth learning in advance. Lambertville dates back to the 1700s and was originally noted as being a ferry town. Fewer than 4,000 people reside in Lambertville, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a ton of fun things to see, do, and explore.

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Martian Landing Site Marker, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, USA