Historic Happenings Blog

Walking Roosevelt: Architecture, Murals, and More with Alan Mallach Sunday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. $15; $10 for Friends of Morven walk only $50; $40 for Friends of Morven including tour, brunch, and gratuity included Roosevelt tour begins with a meeting at Morven 10:00 a.m. to carpool. Ticket price includes same-day admission to Roosevelt exhibition inside the museum following the tour. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Model house nears completion in Hightstown, New Jersey, June 1936. Dorothea Lange (1895–1965), photographer. Retrieved from the Library of Congress

Saturday, March 21 – Salem County     On Saturday, March 21,  the Friends of the Hancock House have partnered with the Salem County Historical Society to bring you a guided tour of sites associated with the British Army's occupation of Salem in March of 1778. This event will mark the 242nd anniversary of the Hancock House Massacre.     We will start our tour at the Salem County Historical Society, 83 Market St. Salem , NJ 08098 at 10:00 a.m. and end with a living-history program at the Hancock House Historic Site.     This event is rain or shine. The tour will require a combination of walking/driving (caravan style), so be prepared to drive if needed. For those not able to attend the tour, the society will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the Hancock House will be open from10am until 7pm for visitors.     For further information, please contact The Hancock House Historic Site at 856-935-4363 or the Sa...

Friday, March 13 – Cape May County Learn about Victorian architecture and local history while helping your neighbors in need during free tours of the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Three free tours are being offered  by the Friends of the Physick Estate, an affinity group of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), on Fridays, Feb. 28, March 6 and March 13 at 2:15 p.m., in exchange for a small donation of items that will benefit the Cape May Community Food Closet.       With a donation of pantry items, toiletries or paper goods worth at least $5, visitors can take a 45-minute, complimentary guided tour of Cape May’s only Victorian house museum, the 1879 Physick House Museum , an 18-room mansion built in 1879 and designed by renowned architect Frank Furness. The Physick Estate is one of the finest examples of Victorian “Stick Style” architecture in America

Sunday,  February 23  - Fieldsboro, Burlington County Tours of White Hill Mansion Over the years plenty of people have lived their lives at the White Hill Mansion. Some of them may still be here.  On Sunday, learn about the people who lived and died in this 300-year-old estate from 1:00 - 3:00 pm with  the Friends of the White Hill Mansion. Tours are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors/veterans, and FREE for m embers, Active Military (and their families), Fieldsboro residents, and children under 14. The tours last approximately 45-60 minutes. White Hill Mansion is located at 217 4th Street, Fieldsboro, NJ. For more information, e-mail  whitehillinfo@yahoo.com  or visit  www.whitehillmansion.com .

Tours of the Old Barracks December 26, 2019  @  10:00 am  –  5:00 pm Open for tours. The Old Barracks Museum offers tours that detail Trenton’s role in the 18th century, as well as the details of the Battle of Trenton. Tickets: $10 adults; $8 students and seniors.

Saturday, November 2 – Morris County The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms presents Farms Afield: Mount Tabor     This fall, as Mount Tabor celebrates its 150th Anniversary year, enjoy a morning with a guided tour of historic Mount Tabor, starting with an introduction to the history of this camp meeting inside the large octagonal Tabernacle, a walking tour of Trinity Park, and a visit to the Richardson History House, a cottage museum. Founded in 1869, the Mount Tabor Historic District embodies the distinctive characteristics of a permanent Methodist Camp Meeting Ground that evolved into a summer residential community. Particularly notable is the architecture of the early camp meeting Stick-Style and Gothic Revival-influenced cottages with their prominent steep gables, open porches, and elaborate gingerbread embellishments. Farms Afield is a benefit of membership. Not a member? Join today!     Advanced reservations required. Limited space is avail...

Saturday, October 5 – Essex County Harvest Home Tour     Saturday, October 5 from 11 am to 4 pm.     Montclair is known for its beautiful architecture and variety in its houses. Spend a self-guided afternoon exploring up to 10 historic and/or grand homes in Montclair. Many of these homes are privately owned and the homeowners have graciously opened their doors for this fundraiser! All tours begin at 110 Orange Road, where you can pick up your tour booklet that will serve as your “ticket” into the homes. Houses will be open from 11 am to 4 pm. $45 per person. Children under 13 will not be allowed on the tours. Tickets are limited. Register online at www.montclairhistory.org .     About the Montclair History Center: The Montclair History Center, formerly the Montclair Historical Society, is an independent not-for-profit organization that has been dedicated to preserving, sharing, and educating others about Montclair’s history sin...

Saturday,  September 28  - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County Nike Missile Radar Site Tours Guided tours of the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) site will allow you to see the inner workings of the facility where supersonic nuclear-armed Nike Hercules missiles were controlled and guided using Cold War era computers and radars. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the veterans who actually worked on the Nike Air Defense System. Free tours from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Meet at Horseshoe Cove, Parking Lot L on Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit  www.nps.gov/gate .

Saturday, August 17   - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County Nike Missile Radar Site Tours Guided tours of the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) site will allow you to see the inner workings of the facility where supersonic nuclear armed Nike Hercules missiles were controlled and guided using Cold War era computers and radars. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the veterans who actually worked on the Nike Air Defense System. Free t ours from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm.  Meet at Horseshoe Cove, Parking Lot L on Sandy Hook,  part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, call  732-872-5970  or visit  www.nps.gov/gate .

Sunday, June 30   - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County Going Bunkers: Nine Gun Battery Explore with a park ranger, the longest concrete gun battery built by the U.S. Army in the United States for harbor defense. When construction began in 1897, the battery was originally intended to mount three 10-inch caliber disappearing guns, but when construction was completed in 1904 an additional six 12-inch caliber disappearing guns were emplaced, creating a nine gun battery that operated until 1944. Bring a flashlight and walking shoes. The tour starts at 6:00 pm and lasts approximately one and a half hours. Call the Sandy Hook Visitor Center at 732-872-5970 to make a reservation. For more information, call  732-872-5970  or visit  www.nps.gov/gate .

Saturday, June 29  -  Morris Township, Morris County Meet the Servants at The Willows & Herbalicious! On Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, a t 1:00 and 2:00 pm, during a hands-on guided tour, learn about the role of the domestic servants at the Foster home, The Willows, during the WWI era. Help the maid with household chores, and learn it was a full workout to keep a proper house. At the end of the tour, you can help the cook prepare historic foods using the wood-burning cook stove. From 1:00 - 2:00 pm, gather at the Farmhouse herb garden to discover how herbs enhance the taste of food. Make a sachet to take home. Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit  www.morrisparks.net .