Garden State Discovery Museum

Walk aboard a vessel that earned more commendations than perhaps any other warship in American naval history, and you're stepping into something far more immersive than a typical museum experience. Winter visits bring a particular quietness to the decks—the chill off the water adds an almost contemplative quality as you navigate through BB62's corridors and compartments. Rather than observing history from behind glass, you become part of the story itself. Sit in Admiral Halsey's command chair, bunk down where crews once rested between shifts, and squeeze into the 16-inch gun turrets to grasp how ammunition moved through the firing sequence. The ship hosts guided explorations, special events, and overnight stays that transform this retired battleship into an extraordinarily hands-on journey through naval warfare and maritime life.

America's most decorated Battleship is now the area's most exciting museum, open for tours, events and overnight encampments. Exploring “BB62” is experiencing history in a whole new way. Not only do you see exhibits of artifacts from the ship’s past, but you are put into the exhibit as you go through the tour route. Sit in the chair from which Admiral Halsey commanded the fleet. Stretch out on the bunks where the sailors slept. Climb into the 16” gun turret and learn how the projectiles were loaded. <br> From the moment you step across the ship’s brow you will understand that this is a museum where visitors take an active role. From strolling across forecastle to climbing the original ladders up to the bridge, and beyond, each step in your journey brings you closer to understanding what life was like for a sailor on the Battleship New Jersey.

At the Whippany Railway Museum, you can enjoy an operating O-gauge model railroad layout, railroad artifacts, a gift shop, and outdoor railroad equipment. The Museum is open once a week on Sundays ONLY, from April through October, from 12:00PM to 4:00PM. Admission is $0.50 for children and $1.00 for adults.

In the fall of 2005, the Society hired Joan Berkey, historic preservation consultant, to research and write a social and architectural history about the Society’s historic house museum, then known as the John Holmes House. <br> Where previous histories of the house relied primarily on data taken oral tradition and secondary sources, Berkey looked at deeds, wills, land divisions, Holmes family correspondence, and survey maps. She interviewed previous owner and Holmes descendants, and also carefully scrutinized the construction techniques used to build the oldest sections of the house, examining not only the kind of nails used, but the way the sections were put together and trimmed.

The mission of the Greater Cape May Historical Society is to collect, preserve, document , interpret and share the history of the greater Cape May area. The headquarters of this 26year old organization is the Colonial House Museum c 1775, located behind Alexander’s Restaurant and next to Cape May City Hall at 653 ½ Washington St, Cape May. This museum was originally a tavern and the family house of Revolutionary War Patriot Memucan Hughes. The front room features an annually changing exhibit. Other rooms open to the public in this unsung survivor from Cape Island’s very beginning depict a colonial era cooking/eating room and bedroom.

The Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS), a non-profit volunteer organization, promotes preservation, study and appreciation of local history. Beginning in 1939, our museum collections were displayed at the Steuben House, a State Historic Site. The house is now open for special events. Most of the 4,000 items in the collection are in storage.

The New Jersey Naval Museum is located at 78 River Street, Hackensack, New Jersey. The entrance to the parking lot is next to the Heritage Restaurant. The museum is operated by The Submarine Memorial Association, a not-for-profit corporation.

The Museum complex, the largest in New Jersey, weaves together 80 galleries of art and science, a mini zoo, planetarium, gift shops, cafe, auditorium, sculpture garden, schoolhouse and the Ballantine House, the restored 1885 mansion that is a National Historic Landmark.

The main goals Montclair Historical Society strives to achieve are preservation and education. The institution is dedicated preserving its four historic buildings, grounds and collections. By preserving these historical assets, visitors are afforded the opportunity to interpret the Montclair area history, utilizing the four houses, that span three centuries in age, as tangible examples.

Walking through these grounds takes you back to the 1750s, when Samuel Fleming claimed 210 acres of untamed wilderness—a landscape he famously described as overrun with wolves, bears, and indigenous peoples far outnumbering the scattered colonists. What began as one man's frontier homestead has transformed into a vibrant gathering place where visitors of every age can explore how life unfolded on the raw edge of settlement. The castle hosts engaging programs and exhibits designed to bring that frontier spirit to life, and during winter months, the crisp air and quiet grounds create an especially immersive way to imagine those early survival stories. The property marked two and a half centuries since its founding in 2006, and continues opening its doors to anyone curious about the region's frontier origins.

Tucked along the river in Hunterdon County, this cluster of a dozen historic structures holds decades worth of artifacts and narratives about how the region took shape. More than 40,000 objects fill these spaces—everything from everyday items to rare finds—each one a thread in the larger tapestry of local life across two centuries. The village calendar stays active with rotating exhibitions, educational talks, musical performances, and themed gatherings that keep the past feeling alive and relevant. When winter settles in, the grounds take on a quieter character, though the museum reopens each spring and remains welcoming through the fall season, operating Tuesday through Sunday when visitors can explore at their own pace.

Insectropolis is a fun and unique insect learning center that dazzles visitors of all ages. There is plenty to see and do here! Set within the architecture of a bug-themed city, our creative displays entertain guests as they learn about these fascinating creatures.

The Barnegat Light Historical Society (BLHS) operates and maintains the Barnegat Light Museum (above) and organizes and promotes events to further the awareness of the history of Barnegat Light and Long Beach Island. <br> The Museum Gardens are open all year and the museum is open June through October on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and July & August, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Tours are available by appointment. B.L.H.S. meetings are held the second Thursday of the month . New members are always welcome.

Located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the Proprietary House was commissioned by the Proprietors of East Jersey to be the official residence of the Royal Governor William Franklin. The Proprietary House Association is committed to the restoration, maintainance, and raising awareness for this historical building and supporting it's historical pride

The New Jersey Museum of Agriculture's mission is to tell the story of the Garden State's agriculture - past, present, and future. Centrally located off U.S. 1 and College Farm Road in North Brunswick, the Museum contains permanent and changing exhibits about the evolution of agriculture in New Jersey. The 30,000 square foot facility is active throughout the year with programming that showcases the people, products, and ingenuity that established, and will continue to position, New Jersey as a leader in agriculture. Established as an independent, not-for-profit educational organization in 1984, the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture opened to the public in 1990.

The Museum's mission is to educate the public about Hoboken's history, diverse culture, architecture and historic landmark. It offers special exhibits, tours, events and lectures, as well as educational programs for adults and children on a weekly basis. An updated schedule of events and an online catalog of many items in its collections are available on the site. The Museum is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt entity.

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation is looking for all Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam Era Veterans in New Jersey for its Veterans Recognition Project. The Foundation has created an honor role of all those who served, and we want you to be a part of this project.

Walk through Freehold's Metz Bicycle Museum and you're essentially time-traveling through a century of two-wheeled ingenuity. The sprawling collection pulls together bicycles from the 1850s through 1950s—think boneshakers, highwheelers, tricycles, ordinaries, safeties, and stranger contraptions you've probably never seen before. Hundreds of these machines fill the space with their own particular character and charm, especially during winter months when the indoor setting becomes a warm escape into mechanical nostalgia. Beyond just bikes, the museum surprises visitors with an eclectic mix that lives up to its "Treasures of Years Gone By" motto. Vintage children's riding toys, cast iron bottle openers, antique mousetraps, kitchen gadgets, pencil sharpeners, and early automobiles share display space alongside bicycle gear like oil lanterns, period horns, vintage seats, tools, and posters. It's the kind of place where each corner reveals something unexpected from another era, making winter visits particularly inviting when you want to spend hours browsing indoors.

A National Historic Landmark located in the heart of historic Mount Holly, New Jersey.

The mission of Historic Morven, Inc. is to “preserve and operate the National Historic Landmark known as Morven as a museum and public garden showcasing the cultural heritage of New Jersey.” Morven’s historic garden includes a formal, grand lawn dotted with majestic trees, beds of heirloom annuals from the 18th and 19th centuries, and a re-creation of the Colonial Revival style garden that was planted at Morven in the early 20th century. Spring bulbs appear in April, followed by peonies and iris in May. The phlox burst forth in June and continue through August, concluding with a late summer display of dahlias and other annual flowers.

The Trenton City Museum is at Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Ellarslie Mansion, one of five historic sites and one of three museums owned by the City of Trenton, is maintained and operated by the Department of Recreation, Natural Resources & Culture, Division of Culture with additional support from the Trenton Museum Society.

Wander through galleries where the founders' passion for regional creativity continues to thrive, especially striking during winter months when the serene indoor spaces feel like a refuge for art lovers. Here you'll discover thoughtfully curated fine art, crafts, and folk traditions rooted in New Jersey and the broader Mid-Atlantic landscape. The museum breathes life into its collection through hands-on learning experiences designed for curious minds of all ages, while behind the scenes, dedicated staff work to safeguard these cultural treasures for future generations. What started as one couple's dream has blossomed into a hub where preservation and discovery walk hand in hand.