Passaic County Welcomes National Exhibition Featuring Revolutionary Women of Passaic County
“America’s Tapestry”, a touring display of thirteen hand-embroidered panels, includes a panel honoring the women who sustained Washington’s army at the Dey Mansion.
Hawthorne, NJ – Passaic County Board of County Commissioners will host America’s Tapestry, a nationally touring exhibition commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, at the Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House from October 26, 2026 through January 31, 2027. One of its thirteen panels tells a story that belongs to Passaic County.
The panel, “Women of Passaic County,” honors the women who supported the Continental Army when General George Washington made his headquarters at the Dey family estate in 1780. The women of the household, both free and enslaved, prepared food and made clothing for soldiers. Hester Dey and her daughter-in-law helped lead the philanthropic “Ladies of Trenton,” which raised more than $15,000 for the Continental Army. The panel also depicts a smallpox inoculation given by Dr. Bodo Otto, Senior Surgeon of the Continental Army. At that moment, smallpox was deadlier to American soldiers than British arms.
“Passaic County helped shape the American Revolution and the women of the Dey household were part of that story from the start,” said Commissioner Director Sandi Lazzara. “We are proud that this panel was built on research from our own historians. We invite residents and visitors to see how our County’s history is woven into America’s story.”
The panel was created with research from the Passaic County Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs. New Jersey volunteers embroidered it under state directors Carol Prevost and Kiki Haumann. It is local history, stitched by local hands and returning to the county that lived it.
America’s Tapestry gathers one panel for each of the original thirteen colonies. Each spotlight a lesser-known story of the founding era. Nearly 2,000 volunteers, aged 3 to 98, stitched the panels together contributing close to 30,000 hours across thirteen states.
Costume designer and textile historian Stefan Romero started the project. It debuted in June 2026 at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary and was featured on NBC Nightly News. The exhibition is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Coby Foundation, Seton Hill University and Wichelt Imports. It is endorsed by institutions including the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and the Atlanta History Center.
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