Historic Happenings Blog

Dear Friends of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum,  Although the house is not yet open for tours, we continue to offer programs and activities through our website and Facebook Live. Our garden is also ready to welcome you every day, FREE.  This summer,  Dig it! Plant it! Eat it! In a box  combines hands-on activities with engaging learning online. This program is again FREE thanks to the generous support of The Astle-Alpaugh Family Foundation.  We’ve also introduced  Storytime: Guess and Go !  Join Cynthia Winslow, Curator of Education and Community Engagement, Wednesdays at noon on Facebook Live to read a story and get clues for a scavenger hunt in your own home or neighborhood. And  Growing in the Garden  is back! Join us twice a month on Facebook Live to participate. All program details are listed below.   We continue to offer interactive, fun activities inspired by Mr. and Mrs. Macculloch that can be followed along at home on our ...

January 12-March 3 – Morris County Keeping Warm in the 19 th  Century Winter Garments Enhance Victorian-era Clothing Exhibit at Acorn Hall During the last half of the 19 th  century, the northeastern U.S. was pounded by massive blizzards that dropped four to five feet of snow in many parts of the country and temperatures so frigid that the East River froze over more than a dozen times. To cope with these weather extremes, our Victorian ancestors had only a fireplace or their clothing to shield them from the cold.    Morris County Historical Society’s new exhibit, “ Warmest Winter Fashions, 1860-1900 ,” highlights nearly two dozen cold weather garments worn by adults and children, including coats, muffs, and capes.   Designed to complement the 30 garments already on display, “ Warmest Winter Fashions”  will be available from Sunday, Jan. 12, through Tuesday, March 3. Before visiting Acorn Hall, check Groupon for discounted tickets with an optional ...

Saturday, February 22 -- Morris County Boy Scouts: Citizenship in the Nation 9:30-12:30 p.m.  Scouts discuss what makes a good citizen, review the functions of the federal government, and examine early American documents in the home of former U.S. Senator Jacob Miller (1800-1862). Activities include a focus on the life and work of political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902), whose home is on the National Register of Historic Places. Pre-registration required. $15 per scout; $5 per adult. Macculloch Hall, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; 973-538-2404

Tuesday, February 18 -- Morris County Growing in the Garden: Could You Love a Bug? Tuesday, February 4 Tuesday, February 18 1:15-2:00 p.m. & 3:45-4:30 p.m. This hands-on art program for 3- to 5-year-olds and their caregivers includes a story, a visit to MHHM’s gardens, and an art project.  Could you love a bug? Find out today during our Growing in the Garden session  1:15-2:00 and 3:45-4:30. Listen to a story, complete an art project and explore MHHM’s historic garden. Rain or shine. Rain or shine. $12 per child/adult pair, $8/museum members.    Pre-register with Cynthia Winslow: 973-538-2404 ext. 16,  cwinslow@maccullochhall.org

Sunday, February 9 -- Morris County Christie’s VP to speak on Meissen Vases 2:00 pm Join Carleigh Queenth, Vice President, Specialist Head, European Ceramics and Glass from Christie’s as she lectures on Macculloch Hall Historical Museum's Meissen vases in conjunction with our porcelain exhibition. 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown

Parsons Todd’s Collection of Ceramics and other Elegant Breakables  (October 13, 2019-February 9, 2020) W. Parsons Todd (1877-1976), the founder of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, acquired many fine examples of porcelain for the museum. This exhibition explores examples of French, German, English and Chinese export porcelain creating a collection that reflects the manufactures of Europe from about 1750 to 1850. The exhibition features the Chinese export ware, a suite of Rose Medallion that includes images of flowers birds and butterflies, in addition to many fine porcelain objects made in Europe. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum In the Heart of Morristown's Historic District Museum Hours Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 1:00-4:00pm. Group tours welcome by appointment Sunday-Friday.

Tuesday, January 28 1:00-3:00 pm -- Homeschool Day Discover what 19 th -century U.S. presidents served at White House dinners by examining their presidential dinnerware . $10 per student, free for accompanying adult. Pre-registration required. $15 per scout; $5 per adult. Pre-register for programs with Cynthia Winslow, (973) 538-2404, ext. 16 or  cwinslow@maccullochhall.org . 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; https://maccullochhall.org/

Saturday, January 18 – Morris County Boy Scouts Program at Macculloch Hall Citizenship in the Nation Saturday, January 18 and Saturday, January 25 9:30-12:30 pm Scouts discuss what makes a good citizen, review the functions of the federal government, and examine early American documents in the home of former U.S. Senator Jacob Miller (1800-1862). Activities include a focus on the life and work of political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902), whose home is on the National Register of Historic Places . Pre-registration required. $15 per scout; $5 per adult. Pre-register for programs with Cynthia Winslow, (973) 538-2404, ext. 16 or  cwinslow@maccullochhall.org . 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; https://maccullochhall.org/

All the Creatures Were Stirring, Even the Mouse! Thomas Nast’s Furry Christmas  (December 4, 2019-January 12, 2020) Thomas Nast (1840-1902) illustrated the figure of Santa Claus and Christmas images throughout his career. Nast was inspired by the famous poem  A Visit from Saint Nicholas , popularly known as ‘ Twas The Night Before Christmas , written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822. Nast included many elements from Moore’s poem in his illustrations. Through a selection of the artist’s work, this exhibition explores how Nast developed the image of Santa Claus as a jolly, round-bellied, white-bearded, gnome-like figure that immediately captured the imagination of both children and adults throughout the United States when first published and that continue to delight audiences to this day.

Thursday, December 12 – Morris County Candlelight Open House at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum 4:00-8:00 pm    Take a break from holiday shopping to step back in time. FREE with museum admission and for members. RSVP:  ppongracz@maccullochhall.org

Friday - Sunday, December 6 - 8  - Morris County Holly Walk 2019

Thomas Nast Follows Giuseppe Garibaldi  (August -November 2019) In 1860, Thomas Nast (1840-1902) followed Giuseppe Garibaldi’s campaign to liberate and unify Sicily and the southern Italian states. The young artist, just 19 when he embedded with Garibaldi’s forces, gained valuable experience drawing soldiers and battle scenes. Nast’s experiences in Italy ultimately led to his position as the illustrator of the Civil War for  Harper’s Weekly . This exhibition explores Nast’s early development as a war correspondent and his images of Garibaldi and the Italian campaign through a portfolio Nast created while following Garibaldi and images he published in  New York Illustrated News  and  The Illustrated London News  in 1860. Museum Hours Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 1:00-4:00pm. Group tours welcome by appointment Sunday-Friday.

Tuesday, October 22 – Morris County Come to the garden for bulb planting, a story and craft.  FREE. Homeschool Day, Tuesday, October 22, 1:00-3:00 pm at Macculloch Hall, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown.     Discover what 19th-century U.S. presidents served at White House dinners by examining their presidential dinnerware.  $10 per student, free for accompanying adult. Pre-register for programs with Cynthia Winslow, (973) 538-2404, ext. 16 or  cwinslow@maccullochhall.org .

Sunday, October 20 – Morris County America's Most Influential Journalist: The Life, Times and Legacy of Thomas Nast 2:00 pm Join Nast Scholar and Lincoln Prize winner John Adler as he previews his forthcoming biography of Thomas Nast. Reception to follow.  FREE with museum admission and for members. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown; 973-538-2404

Growing in the Garden A year-round hands-on art program for 3 to 5 year olds and their caregivers, this program includes a story, a visit to MHHM’s gardens, and an art project. During inclement weather and winter months the program meets in the museum. Programs do not meet in January. Preschool Growing in the Garden Dates Tues, June 4                    Take Time to Smell the Roses Tues, June 18                  Lots and Lots of Ladybugs Tues, July 2                     Flowers Bloom: Red, White & Blue Tues, July 16                   Hum like a Hummingbird Tues, August 6                Sunflowers Straight and Strong Tues, August 20              One Potato, Two Potato Tues, September 3        ...

Sunday, September 15 -- Morris County From Farmland to Elegant Tables: A History of Land Use in Morristown and Morris Township Sunday, September 15, 12:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. FREE PROGRAM     Explore the history of land use through special presentations at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ), The Morristown and Morris Township Library (1 Miller Rd., Morristown, NJ) and The Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall (68 Morris Ave., Morristown, NJ).     Tour Macculloch Hall’s historic garden at 12:15 p.m. (Refreshments will be provided).      Then hear Joseph Grabas, author of  Owning New Jersey  (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2014) talk about the history of buying land in Morris County and New Jersey in the Morristown and Morris Township Library’s Lower Level Meeting Room at 1:30 p.m.     After the talk venture over to the Morris County Historical Society at ...