NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 4/9/22 - 4/10/22

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, April 9 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Cookstove Demonstration
Children Friendly Site & Event

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel and stop by the out kitchen to see what’s cooking on the wood-fired stove. Discover how recipes, cooking techniques and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. This free events run from 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.

Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday, April 9 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Traditional Basketmaking Demonstration
Adults

On Saturday, take a close look at the craftsmanship that goes into making a basket when artisan Mary May visits Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel. Her focus is weaving traditional New Jersey baskets, specializing in South Jersey white oak baskets and basket traditions. This free events run from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday, April 9 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Plowing, Harrowing, and Wash Day

Children Friendly

Want to know how it feels to put your hand to the plow? This is your chance! 

Farmers in the field will be using horses to plow and harrow the ground to prepare it for planting corn. There will be opportunities for visitors to step into the furrow and try out the plow—something that could come in handy for those attending the farm's fall plowing match, when visitors of all ages and abilities can win ribbons and prizes for turning good furrows. The site is open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please note that all 2022 programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current State guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn't possible.

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.

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Saturday, April 9 - Bound Brook, Somerset County

Battle and Brews: 4th Annual Guided History Tour + Pub Crawl

Ages 21+

Join the Borough of Bound Brook and the Bound Brook Revitalization Partnership on a fun and informative walking tour and pub stroll through downtown Bound Brook during the Battle of Bound Brook Living History Weekend. We had a GREAT time the last three years and we're at it again this SPRING!

One Tour, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, will be led by local leaders and provide attendees with stories about Bound Brook's colorful history as the oldest town in Somerset County, and great tips for enjoying downtown Bound Brook today.

Registrants will receive a wristband that provides access to ***DRINK SPECIALS** and **appetizers**. Attendees must purchase their own drinks.

Come for the Battle, and stay for the Brews!

Presented by the Borough of Bound Brook and Bound Brook Revitalization Partnership, this program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.

For more information to register, visit https://boundbrookbattlebrews.eventbrite.com.

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Saturday, April 9

The Skirt and Stock Clad Soldier: Women Join the Military in WWII

Virtual Program

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Saturday, April 9

Potteries of Trenton Society to Host Panel of Art Museum Curators

Virtual Program

Have you ever wondered what museum curators think about Trenton ceramics? What are they acquiring these days? And why? The Potteries of Trenton Society (POTS) in collaboration with the Trenton Historical Society will bring together a panel of three art museum curators for the POTS 2022 annual meeting on Saturday afternoon. David Barquist, Ulysses Dietz, and Ron Fuchs will talk about their collections and why they are adding Trenton ceramics to the holdings of their museums. Ellen Denker, POTS program chair, will moderate the panel.

This virtual event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To make your reservation go to www.potteriesoftrentonsociety.org/news-events/events and follow the instructions.

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Saturday, April 9 - Cape May, Cape May County

Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour

This 45 minute tour is designed for the first-time visitor to Cape May who wants a quick introduction to the many cultural, historical, and natural attractions on the island. From Cape May Harbor to Sunset Beach, tourgoers will learn all they need to know to make the most of their Cape May visit. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $20 and children (ages 3-12) $15. Tour on Saturday at 1:00 pm. Cape May MAC membership is open to all. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, April 9 - Cape May, Cape May County

Mansions by the Sea Trolley Tour

You’ll hear how the rich lived in the early 1900s in the most elegant part of town on this trolley tour that includes the eastern beachfront. You’ll see the broad streets and massive plots on Cape May’s east side – an area marketed as “New Cape May” at the turn of the 20th century. Today, new, beachfront second homeowners have continued the tradition, running the gamut from the mere wealthy to the fabulously rich. This narrated tour travels along Beach Drive through the early 20th century East Cape May Development areas. Guides discuss history and architecture. Begins and ends at the Ocean Street trolley stop.

Adults $20 and children (ages 3-12) $15. Tour on Saturday at 2:15 pm. Cape May MAC membership is open to all. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Bound Brook and South Bound Brook, Somerset County

Battle of Bound Brook Reenactment

Family Friendly Event

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Lower Township, Cape May County

World War II Tower Lookout Museum and Memorial Open
Family Friendly Site

Fire Control Tower No. 23 on Sunset Boulevard is New Jersey's last freestanding World War II tower, part of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles. After an award-winning restoration in 2009, visitors can climb to the 6th floor spotting gallery while learning about the homeland defense efforts during World War II. The ground floor of the tower, the All Veterans Memorial, and boardwalk interpretive panels are fully accessible. Open Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12) (one child free with paying adult). The World War II Lookout Tower is located on Sunset Boulevard in Lower Township, near Cape May Point. Sponsored by Cape May MAC. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Cape May, Cape May County

Physick Estate Scavenger Hunt
Family Friendly

Have an adventure the whole family will enjoy at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate! Use our map to explore the grounds and find the answers to questions about the Physick family and life in Victorian times on this educational scavenger hunt. Turn in your answer sheet at the Carriage House Museum Shop and receive a prize! Participate anytime between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Price is $5. Purchase tickets online or at the Carriage House Museum Shop. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Cape May, Cape May County

Cape May Historic District Trolley Tour

Enjoy a 45 minute guided tour with entertaining and enlightening stories about the nation's oldest seaside resort and how it survived. Accessible trolley available with advance notification. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $20 and children (ages 3-12) $15. Tours on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 and 11:45 am. Sponsored by the Cape May MAC. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Cape May, Cape May County

Emlen Physick Estate Tour
Family Friendly Tour

Take a guided tour of Cape May's Emlen Physick Estate, the magnificent Stick Style mansion attributed to renowned Victorian architect Frank Furness. A tour of the 15 beautifully restored rooms gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of this Victorian-era Cape May family. Physick Estate Tours take approximately 45 minutes and end with a visit to the 1876 Carriage House where you can see the current exhibit in the Carroll Gallery. Tours will be on Saturday and Sunday at 11:15 am and 12:30 pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased online or at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by Cape May MAC. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Lower Township, Cape May County

Climb the Cape May Lighthouse
Family Friendly Site

The Cape May Lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Children under 3 and active military are FREE. Sponsored by Cape May MAC. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Atlantic City, Atlantic County

Absecon Lighthouse Open
Family Friendly

Absecon Lighthouse will be open Thursdays through Mondays, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, with the last climb 1/2 hour before closing. 

Parking, exhibits, and Keeper’s Cottage museum are free. Admission to climb the 228 steps to the top is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6 for children 4-12, and $5 for Atlantic City residents; active military and children under 4 are free. Dogs on leashes are welcome on the two-acre lawn and in the museum space. Masks and social distancing are required, plexi-glass shields are installed in the gift shop and Watch Room at the top for your safety, and plastic gloves will be issued to climbers. 

First lit in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey and the third tallest in the country. It is the oldest man-made structure in Atlantic City, boasts a first-order Fresnel lens still in place at the top, and offers fabulous views of Atlantic City and Brigantine.

The Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 South Rhode Island Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ. For more information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, April 9 - 10 - Camden, Camden County

Battleship New Jersey Fire Power Tour
Family Friendly

This self guided tour of the overall view of the Battleship New Jersey takes guests five levels up and two decks below. The Main Deck features an Exhibit Museum that encompasses the 48 years in and out of service. Guides are available for questions in the Captain's Quarters and CEC.

Active Military, World War II Veterans, and former Crew Members of BB-62 are asked to stop at the Box Office in the Battleship NJ Visitor's Center. Proudly inform our Ticketing Staff of your service to our Great Nation and receive a complimentary ticket to board the "Big J".

* All guests will be screened in the Visitors Center before entering the Battleship’s Pier, must wear a face covering and practice social distancing.
* Please check your email after purchase for your ticket to either print or save to your mobile device and take with you for check-in in the Visitors Center.

Firepower tour tickets are available to use at any date and time we are open for tours. Admission: Adults are $25.00 and children ages 5-11, veterans, and seniors (62+) are $20.00. Tickets can be purchased online. Battleship New Jersey is located at 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ. For more information, call 856-966-1652 or visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

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Saturday - Monday, April 9 - 11 - Tuckerton, Ocean County

Outdoor Strolling Admission: Tuckerton Seaport

Family Friendly

Tuckerton Seaport is open for strolling for long weekends. The Tuckerton Seaport will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Guests are asked to arrive before 4pm. Check in at the Lighthouse upon arrival for info on exhibits open for touring both indoors and outdoors. The Gift Shop is now located inside the Lighthouse. Masks will be required at all times. 

Tickets are $5/person. Members will be required to bring their Membership Card with them when visiting or the discount will not be valid. Membership benefits for Seaport Family Members include two adults as well as any accompanying children under 18. Everyone needs a ticket for entry with the exception of children under age 5 who are complimentary.

The Tuckerton Seaport is located at 120 W. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ. For more information, call 609-296-8868 or visit https://tuckertonseaport.org.

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Sunday, April 10 - Princeton, Mercer County
Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly Tour

Enjoy a 90-minute walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Tickets are $10. Advance purchase is required. Tour starts in the courtyard of the Princeton Battle Monument (GPS address: 1 Monument Drive).

Tour begins at 2:00 pm. Please note: Space is limited to 15 participants. Given this is an outdoor tour, masks are optional. If participants have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of the tour, we ask that they stay home and contact us for a full refund. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Sunday, April 10 - Holmdel, Monmouth County

Vintage Base Ball - Monmouth Furnace Base Ball Club  
Family Friendly Event

On Sunday, enjoy a spring afternoon in Holmdel Park and see how one of America’s favorite pastimes started. The Monmouth Furnace Base Ball Club (formerly known as the Bog Iron Boys) will be playing vintage base ball, using rules from the 19th century. Players will be dressed in uniforms appropriate to the time period, and the style and terms of the 19th century are used during the game. This free events run from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Sunday, April 10 - Franklin Township, Somerset County

Fireside Chat: Titanic Survivor

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Sunday, April 10 - Lambertville, Hunterdon County

“How old is THAT building, anyway?”

 

Please the Lambertville Historical Society on Saturday at the Kalmia Club, 39 York Street, Lambertville at 1:00 pm as local historian Marilyn Cummings and timber framer Michael Cuba team up for a fascinating presentation on dendrochronology -- or “tree-ring dating,” as it is sometimes called. This science offers valuable insight into a building’s history by revealing the year when the timbers, used in its construction, were cut down. Cummings will launch the presentation with general information on ways to visually date early houses, and Cuba will follow up by discussing the science of dendrochronology. Of particular interest, the program will include the dendro-testing results of several historic buildings instrumental to Lambertville’s early history. Come out to see which ones will be featured! Admission is free; donations accepted.

Cummings taught at Purdue, Mississippi State, and Colorado State before arriving in Hunterdon County in 2003. She began documenting historic homes shortly after starting the Delaware Township Historical Society. Since that time, she has documented more than 100 houses, and with Cuba’s assistance, numerous barns and outbuildings. She also is the driving force behind the History Mapping website (www.historymapping.org).

Cuba began his career in restoration timber framing at the Institute for Social Ecology. He is a co-founder of Knobb Hill Joinery, which focuses on preservation and restoration timber framing. As owner of Transom Historic Preservation Consulting in Bucks County, Cuba has specialized in the documentation and analysis of historic timber-framed buildings. In addition to teaching classes on traditional timber framing, he is editor of Timber Framing, the journal of the Timber Framers Guild.

For more information, visit www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, April 10 - Bridgewater, Somerset County

Forgotten Victories: the Middlebook Encampments' Role in the American Revolution

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Through Spring 2022 - Freehold, Monmouth County

Let Us Play

In celebration of the holiday season, Monmouth County Historical Association debuted Let Us Play on November 27, the newest exhibition at the Association’s Museum and Library & Archives in Freehold, NJ. Drawing on MCHA’s extensive collection, Let Us Play traces several centuries of children’s joyful pastimes and their evolving playthings.

Let Us Play features every child related article in the Association’s collection, many on display for the very first time. From the colonial era through the 20th century, the exhibit traces the evolution of play and the effect the industrial revolution, consumerism, and the burgeoning influence of advertising had on children’s ideas of fun and their beloved toys. Childhood treasures displayed  range from dolls and dollhouses, games and cast iron banks to books, carriages and historic photos.

Let Us Play will generally be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm at the MCHA Museum, Library and Archives, 70 Court Street, Freehold, NJ but please check for current hours before visiting. For more information, visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through April 23, 2022 - Haledon, Passaic County

The 1913 Paterson Silk Strike: Paintings for the Children’s Story

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark proudly opened The 1913 Paterson Silk Strike: Paintings for the Children’s Story by Thomas Germano on January 5th, 2022.

The 1913 Paterson Silk Strike: Paintings for the Children’s Story features contemporary artworks, including nine watercolors and one oil painting, which Mr. Germano created as illustrations for a new children’s book about this historic strike.

Thomas Germano studied painting at the Yale School of Art, where he earned an MFA. He has exhibited his art throughout the US and abroad. His artwork is in the collection of the American Postal Workers Union in Washington D.C. He teaches painting, drawing and art history at the State University of New York at Farmingdale.

The 1913 Paterson Silk Strike: Paintings for the Children’s Story Original Paintings by Thomas Germano exhibit closes on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

The Botto House National Landmark, headquarters of the American Labor Museum, is located at 83 Norwood Street in Haledon, NJ. It was the meeting place for over 20,000 silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike.  Visitors are welcome Wednesday through Saturday from 1PM-4PM and at other times by appointment. For more information, visit www.labormuseum.net.

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Through May 1, 2022 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of Negro Leagues Baseball

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Through June 2022 - Asbury Park, Monmouth County

“One Voice Is Not Enough: Asbury Park’s Musical Diversity Since 1871”

The Asbury Park Museum’s new pop-up exhibit, “One Voice Is Not Enough: Asbury Park’s Musical Diversity Since 1871” explores the many styles of early Asbury Park music. The exhibit is on display in the east lobby of the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, 1401 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ. It is free to visit at any time between now and June 2022.

Music historians Pamela and Charlie Horner have curated the exhibit. It covers the first 100 years of Asbury Park music – a story told through stand-up banners, wall-mounted posters, a music soundtrack with 4 hours’ worth of selected recordings, two continuously running 35-minute informative slide shows (175 slides total), and two display cases full of Asbury Park music artifacts. The exhibit covers spirituals, gospel, brass bands, marching bands, concert bands, ragtime, stride piano, jazz, blues, pop, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, doo wop, soul, and rock music from the early 1870s to the early 1970s. On display are items like Bobby Thomas’ personal 78 RPM copy of “Doll Face,” the first Rhythm & Blues by an Asbury Park group plus Bobby’s handwritten lyrics from the flip side; Stormin’ Norman Seldin’s classic cowboy hat; an 1898 wax cylinder by baritone J. W. Myers; an Arthur Pryor 78 RPM record; sheet music by Billy Terrell & Ray Dahrouge and Lenny Welch; a red vinyl 45 RPM record by Nicky Addeo & the Darchaes; an album and program from the Missionary Jubilaires; a Southside Johnny autographed harmonica; a framed autograph and print of Fats Waller; and much more. 

Funded in part by a Diversity Innovation grant from Monmouth University, the exhibit design is by Stan Cain Designs, and the exhibit is hosted by the historic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel. For more information, visit www.AP-Museum.org.

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Through 2022 - Middletown, Monmouth County

Beneath the Floorboards: Whispers of the Enslaved at Marlpit Hall

Beneath the Floorboards: Whispers of the Enslaved at Marlpit Hall is the first exhibit to come out of the Monmouth County Historical Association's Living and Breathing initiative, which will reinterpret our Colonial-era historic houses to include the stories of the enslaved African Americans who once resided within them. The exhibition will offer a better understanding of how slavery took root in early Monmouth County, as well as the complex dynamics of daily life and relationships among the enslaved.

The telling of New Jersey’s history is often fragmented, with little remembrance of the thousands of men, women, and children living under forced servitude for more than two centuries. The curators, Bernadette Rogoff and Joe Zemla, have framed the exhibit upon the lives of seven of these individuals: Ephraim, William, Elizabeth, Clarisse, Hannah, Tom, and York, all of whom once lived at Marlpit Hall. Extensive archival documentation, archaeological evidence, and objects from MCHA’s museum collection - some on view to the public for the first time - help tell the larger story of slavery in Monmouth County and New Jersey.

Marlpit Hall is located at 137 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ. For more information, visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through January 8, 2023 - Trenton, Mercer County

New Jersey State Museum Exhibition - "Jaw Dropping World of Sharks"

Sharks are one of the most feared animals throughout the world, even though the odds of ever encountering one are highly unlikely. "Jaw Dropping World of Sharks," a new exhibition from the New Jersey State Museum, aims to dispel some of the myths and misunderstandings about sharks and their relatives by exploring their biology, fossil record, conservation and cultural significance.

The exhibition opens April 9, 2022 in the Riverside Gallery on the museum’s second floor. On display will be specimens and artifacts from the museum’s collections that demonstrate the world of sharks.

The “Jaw Dropping World of Sharks,” will be on view through Jan. 8, 2023. The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. For more information, call 609-292-6464 or visit www.state.nj.us/state/museum.

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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey