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 ...

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Feb 26, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Martin’s Big Words Storytime Thursday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m., $10; Free for Friends of Morven CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Doreen Rappaport’s picture-book biography is an excellent introduction to learn about one of the world's most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The immortal and inspiring words of Dr. King create a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life. With stunning art by acclaimed illustrator Bryan Collier, Martin's Big Words is an unforgettable portrait of a man whose dream changed America-and the world-forever. We will create a “big words” collage to take home and inspire big dreams.

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Feb 19, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Feb 12, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Feb 5, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Jan 29, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Jan 22, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Nature Story Time Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 11:00-11:30 AM  (ages 2-5, with adult) Something fun for your little ones! Enjoy some of our staff’s favorite stories. Nature-themed items related to each story will be presented at that just-right level for your child. Sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.

Sunday, December 22 – Mercer County My Grandfather's Coat  Storytime at 12:00 p.m. $10 for two adults with up to 3 children; Free with Morven’s Family Membership CLICK HERE TO REGISTER :   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-grandfathers-coat-storytime-tickets-77658088433 MORE INFO :   https://www.morven.org/grandfather-storytime      Join us as we read and celebrate family traditions with a special take-home book craft certain to become a treasured memory! Called "A moving tale of love and regeneration" by The New York Times, Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock’s  My Grandfather’s Coat ,  celebrates the clever recycling of a beloved coat that lasts four generations - from wedding coat until becoming this story! Join us as we read and celebrate family traditions with a special take-home book craft certain to become a treasured memory.

Friday, December 20 – Mercer County Pajama Storytime with Gennady Spirin & Mrs. Claus Friday, December 20 at 6:00 p.m. with a viewing of the Festival of Trees from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. $30; $25 members - tickets include one book    The family includes two adults and all children under 18 in that household. Please, no combined groups. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER :   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pajama-storytime-with-gennady-spirin-mrs-claus-tickets-73027078959 MORE INFO :   https://www.morven.org/pj-storytime     Hundreds of Christmases were celebrated by families living at Morven over its long history as a home. Starting at 4:30 p.m. enjoy a private visit to the Festival of Trees in the Museum and vote on your favorite display. At 5:30 p.m. stroll across the lawn to Morven’s Stockton Education Center for a new family tradition: snack and holiday stories, music, and sing-a-long with Mrs. Claus. Award-winning illustrator Gennady Spirin will be on hand for a ...

Thursday, October 31 – Mercer County Halloween Storytime: Trick or Treat At Morven Thursday, October 31 at 11:00 a.m. $10 for two adults with up to 3 children; Free with Morven’s  Family Membership Ages 3 to 6 Ticket price includes admission into the museum. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storytime-at-morven-tickets-53099381680 More info: https://morvenmuseum.squarespace.com/storytime     Join us on Halloween for a special reading of  The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree , a popular 1970s children’s book when Morven was the NJ Governor’s mansion. Create a take-home craft in honor of Morven’s historic trees; every child will receive a Halloween treat.

Thursday, September 26 – Mercer County BASEBALL LEGENDS STORYTIME Thursday, September 26 at 11:00 a.m. $10 for two adults with up to 3 children; Free with Morven’s Family Membership Ages 3. Ticket price includes admission into the museum. Click here to Register In  We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball , Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. Outstanding writing and illustrations inspire understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game. Following our reading, we will take a stroll through our baseball exhibition and be inspired to create your own baseball card. One lucky winner will be chosen at Storytime to receive a Trenton Thunder mini race car model donated by Trenton Thunder. https://morvenmuseum.squarespace.com/storytime In October, we will read  The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree   and make a tre...

Saturday, September 7 – Mercer County The “Not So Secret Garden” with the Cotsen Children’s Library https://morvenmuseum.squarespace.com/the-not-so-secret-garden Saturday, September 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public For over a century, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel,  The Secret Garden , has introduced readers to the beautiful and transformative power of the garden. Morven Museum & Garden and the Cotsen Children’s Library are partnering to host activities, games, and take-home crafts galore, all related to the beauty of the botanical realm. Children and adults are invited to take part in this one-of-a-kind magical event.

Saturdays through August 31, 2019 - Cape May Point, Cape May County Lighthouse Storytime Bring your young children to the Education Center in Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse) to listen to nautical tale s and lighthouse adventure stories on Saturday at 12:30 pm. Free admission.  Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ.  Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and Cape May Point State Park.  For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit  www.capemaymac.org .

Thursday, August 29 – Passaic County Children's Book Reading at Lambert Castle     Calling all families. Come to Lambert Castle on Thursday, August 29 th  for a very special visit from local children's author Kathleen Kellaigh. Come early and explore the museum for an hour with our family-friendly scavenger hunt or stay after the presentation. Kathleen will read from her book,  The Griftamouse and the Stardragon  in Lambert Castle's atrium at 1pm .  This first book in the Slamto Carracas series, features YOUR art as the co-star!  The fantastical characters, landscapes and epic battles are different in each person's mind. Nurture your creative talent as you enjoy the heartwarming tale. Copies will be available at the event and Kathleen would be happy to sign them!     A resident of Clifton, Kathleen Kellaigh directs, acts, teaches and writes. She is also the co-founder for ATC Studios. She was on the soap opera GUIDING...

Thursday, July 25 -- Mercer County   On July 25, we will read  My Little Golden Book About the First Moon Landing  by Charles Lovitt with illustrations by Bryan Sims (Illustrator) as part of the celebration of the 50 anniversary of this moon landing.     AMERICA’S SPACE HERO: BUZZ ALDRIN STORYTIME Thursday, July 25 at 11:00 a.m.  $10 for two adults with up to 3 children; free with Morven’s Family Membership. Ages 3 to 6 Register here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storytime-at-morven-tickets-53099381680 Ticket price includes admission into the museum.    Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were the first two humans to land on the Moon. As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of this moon landing, and since Buzz Aldrin was one of Morven’s famous visitors during the Governors’ Era, we will read My Little Golden Book About the First Moon Landing by Charles Lovitt (Author), Bryan Sims (Illustrator) then c...

Wednesday, June 12 - Gloucester County Juneteenth Story Time 3:30PM at Woodbury Public Library 33 Delaware Street, Woodbury. Kids 3-12 are welcome to this Juneteenth-themed story time with Mrs. B. This afternoon event will feature stories, crafts, and snacks. Free and open to the public.  

Thursday, May 23 -- Mercer County Seed Planting Storytime at 11:00 a.m. $10 for two adults with up to 3 children; free with Morven’s Family Membership. Ages 3 to 6 Join us as May flowers are sprouting at Morven. We’ll read  Grandpa Green  by Lane Smith followed by a special seed planting adventure and tour through Morven’s historic garden (weather permitting). Everyone will go home with their own packet of seeds and instructions!  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storytime-at-morven-tickets-53099381680   Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540, 609-924-8144