From sun-kissed beaches and scenic parks to antique-filled villages and prestigious museums, the Garden State’s charms abound. But what you may not know is the sheer number of historically significant, heartwarmingly nostalgic, and delightfully quirky cultural institutions New Jersey lays claim to. Here are 13 that are worth a visit:
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts
Madison
This is “American life,” indeed. Housed in a stunning 1899 Richardsonian Romanesque Revival building that once served as a public library, the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts (METC) highlights the lives and stories of New Jersey artisans and craftspeople from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum connects the past to the present and future by drawing from its collection of more than 8,000 artifacts and archival materials. You’ll learn how everything from candle molds to cannon balls is related to daily life. A recent addition, the state-of-the-art Viewable Storage Facility, lets visitors observe the care and conservation of the collection, expanding access and offering an additional educational opportunity.
What’s special: Working the Land, a permanent exhibit, explores how life in the 19th century revolved around the seasons. It’s complemented by a fascinating display of tools from various local trades—like distillers, cabinetmakers, cobblers, textile workers, blacksmiths, and coopers. Each provides a deeper look into the bustling artisan economy of the past. A new kitchen-focused exhibit highlights food preparation and the vital roles women played in managing the family hub. And make it a day by planning your visit around one of the museum’s craft and Makerspace workshops for kids, held on select dates in the METC Education Annex across the street ($10+ per child).
Visit: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am – 4 pm; Sunday 12-5 pm
Admission: Adults $5, students and kids (age six and up) $3. Free for local high school and college students, and kids 5 and under.
Heritage Glass Museum
Glassboro
This charming museum is appropriately located in Glassboro, a place named for the industry that literally put the town on the map. The museum highlights the town’s origins and founding by glassmakers in the late 1700s. Special attention is given to the industry’s 19th-century peak, when the Whitney Brothers Glassworks became one of the country’s most innovative manufacturers, at one time employing and housing thousands of workers.
Located in the 100-year-old former Glassboro Title and Trust Company bank, the HGM preserves the history and artistry of southern New Jersey’s glassmaking tradition through curated displays, conservation, education, and academic collaborations.
What’s special: Colorful containers and luminous bottles line shelves, set aglow by the light-filled space. Viewing cases showcase collections of unique paperweights, elegant housewares, precious figurines, and other glass creations—many centuries old—that speak to the intersection of art, commerce, and history. Among the rare finds: A Heston Bottle, Whitney Bottles, and an iconic Log Cabin Booz Bottle (which inspired the term booze), plus assorted whimsies. These fantastical creations were fashioned by working glassmakers alongside functional, mass-produced products as a means of expression. While beautiful things catch the eye here, it’s the tools, artifacts, vintage maps and media, and books galore, that put the pretty into perspective. The museum also helps keep the artisan tradition alive through public workshops and exhibitions by renowned contemporary artisans such as Paul Stankard, a pioneer of the Studio Glass movement.
Visit: Saturday, 11 am – 2 pm. Check the website for additional hours.
Admission: Free.
Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center
Little Falls
Despite Yogi Berra’s historic connection to New York City, he was, in fact, a Jersey boy, living most of his life in Montclair. So, it’s fitting that a museum devoted to the talent, wit, and wisdom of one of baseball’s greatest legends would be located on the campus of Montclair State University—his home. While celebrating the icon’s history, career and legacy, including 10 World Series titles and three MVP awards, the museum also serves as an educational deep dive into everything baseball. Visitors will learn about everything from the sport’s role in racial history to the math and science behind the game. The museum itself is a stunner, earning a “Best Designed” designation by Architectural Digest in 2018.
What’s special: “You can observe a lot by just watching,” said Berra. That sentiment rings true for visitors exploring the museum’s collection of historic images, artwork, artifacts like vintage mitts, and a 3D model of Yankee Stadium. These exhibits collectively tell the story of American history, as does the past exhibit Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of Negro Leagues Baseball, which is still available online. In person, visitors can experience the thrill of the game through Handling the Curve, an interactive experience using Meta Quest Pro headsets. PITCH, an indoor attraction, evaluates throwing accuracy and speed against an interactive target. This May would have been Berra’s 100th birthday; expect an exciting lineup of celebratory events (check the website for updates).
Visit: Wednesday-Sunday 12-5 pm
Admission: Adults (18+) $15, seniors and kids $10.
If you’ve got train lovers at home—from model collectors to full-on railfans—this spot needs to be on your list. Northlandz delivers with a sprawling miniature train exhibit featuring an intricately laid track design complete with landscapes and accessories. These were meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail by sole creator Bruce William Zaccagnino, accounting for more than 300,000 hours of construction that went into creating the 52,000-square-foot Northlandz universe. It’s one of the largest setups of its kind in the world.
What’s special: The massive scale and attention to detail are simply astonishing here. You’ll see hundreds of tunnels and trains, myriad bridges, sweeping mountains, rugged canyons, quaint homes, and towering skyscrapers, more than 250,000 tiny trees, plus countless whimsical and elaborate details (for example, more than 250 replica art pieces and 400 dolls). A self-guided scavenger hunt engages kids and adults alike as they seek out specific items and answer questions about what they see. Interested in riding for real? Visitors can hop on a full-sized replica 1890s steam engine and enjoy a scenic, 20-minute loop through the woods and alongside the Raritan River (available on weekends and holidays). Bonus: There’s also a kids’ play space where they can blow off some steam—away from the tracks.
Visit: Daily 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: $32.50-$40 per person; free for kids age one and under.
Long Beach Island Historical Museum
Beach Haven
There’s more to Long Beach Island than fantastic beaches, retro amusements, and quaint ice cream parlors. For nearly 50 years, the Long Beach Island Historical Museum has shared and preserved the rich history of one of New Jersey’s favorite shore destinations. Through photographs, memorabilia, personal histories, multimedia presentations, exhibits, along with walking tours, historian talks, and children’s activities, the museum endeavors to engage visitors with the stories and people who shaped LBI’s vibrant history.
What’s special: The museum’s latest exhibit, Celebrating Summer Fun, 1950 to 1980, takes visitors on a nostalgic journey through beach culture. You’ll learn about the surfing scene, fashion, tennis, mini-golf, and other popular pastimes. The more things change, the more LBI stays delightfully the same. The museum also shines a light on the island’s heritage with recorded oral histories, a glimpse at grand resorts of the past, a restored Fisherman’s Cottage, the maritime legacy, and an exploration of early residents, including the Lenape. A key highlight is the 2006 discovery of a canoe dating back to circa AD 410—one of the museum’s prized artifacts. In celebration of the museum’s upcoming 50th anniversary, expect porch parties, new exhibitions, historic presentations, and more events through 2026.
Visit: Memorial Day weekend, daily from June 23-Aug. 25, and weekends in September, 10 am – 4 pm
Admission: $5.
Before the computer revolution, there was the Industrial Revolution. The Roebling Museum explores this era of innovation and immigration through the story of John A. Roebling’s Sons Company. Founded by the visionary engineer best known for his pivotal role in designing and building the Brooklyn Bridge, the company built an entire town along with a major steel mill centered around his patented wire rope design. This groundbreaking creation was key to building future suspension bridges like the George Washington Bridge, along with cable cars, trams, hoisting equipment, railroads, ski lifts, elevators, and more.
While wire rope was surely the star, Roebling wire also made its way into everyday items such as window screens, tape measures, and even the Slinky! Today, this 7,000-square-foot museum housed in a restored historic mill building showcases the company’s technological offerings. It also looks at the history of Roebling’s newly-arrived workers and community – which really is the history of America.
What’s special: Settle in for an intro film, then explore multiple galleries worth of exhibits and programs, including a curated look at immigrant life in partnership with the Smithsonian Museum. Visitors—especially kids—love to wander the seven-acre landscape dotted with massive steel equipment presented like a sculpture garden (it’s a great spot for a photo). Visiting on a Saturday? Sign up for a walking tour of the historic town, which is still 98 percent intact.
Visit: Thursday-Saturday 11 am – 4 pm
Admission: Adults $7, seniors, military, and students (11+) $6; free for kids age 10 and under. Tours $5, $3 with museum admission.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum
Ogdensburg
Mining has a rich history in New Jersey, and the Sterling Hill Mining Museum explores this heritage to enlighten–literally. Zinc was mined here for more than 100 years. When it ceased production in the 1980s, the land was converted into an educational attraction, now a National Historic Landmark, that’s as STEM-focused as the mine views are stunning. Guided tours of 1,300 feet of mine tunnel, immersive activities, and the on-site Zobel Hall Museum, which showcases more than 12,000 items, are all designed to promote SHMM’s mission. This includes fostering human connection to earth science, technology, and conservation of non-renewable resources, while deepening the understanding of this unique geologic area.
What’s special: UV lights illuminate the mine’s embedded minerals, creating a kaleidoscopic panorama that feels otherworldly. Take a break from the visual splendor to learn about the mine’s history and working conditions. Ongoing research has revealed more than two dozen minerals that can only be found here in New Jersey. Among the must-see museum exhibits to explore post-tour: An interactive, 10-foot-long periodic table and hundreds of minerals from around the world. You’ll also see The Warren Museum of Fluorescence, a darkened room devoted exclusively to 700+ luminous specimens. And don’t miss this kid-favorite activity: Sluice mining or sifting for keepsake minerals and fossils (bags of sand start at $10 each).
Visit: Tours offered daily at 1 pm from June 30 to Labor Day, and weekends only the rest of the year.
Admission: Adults $15, seniors $14, kids ages 4-12 $13, kids age 3 and under $5.
There are passionate collectors … and then there’s Everett Marshall III, owner of what is arguably one of the most comprehensive collections of miniature cars in New Jersey, if not the entire world. Step into the unassuming garage-turned-exhibit space the former town mayor opened in the early 1990s to house his hobby and prepare to be carstruck. There are tens of thousands of vintage and rare Matchbox-branded vehicles lining the walls, a testament to a delightful obsession with one of the toy industry’s most iconic and beloved offerings.
What’s special: Meticulously organized and numbered displays showcase everything from rare prototypes to early 1950s-70s models to rarely seen special editions with pop culture tie-ins and cross promotions. Each provides historical context to Matchbox cars throughout the decades. A recent renovation added another 1,500 cars to the lineup, bringing the total collection to more than 55,000 cars and similar items. They include a selection of Lesney cars, the precursor to classic Matchbox models.
Visit: By appointment – call 609-381-2332 or stop by during the annual spring open house (usually in April).
Admission: Free.
The Sarnoff Collection at TCNJ
Ewing
The Sarnoff Collection at TCNJ includes art, artifacts, and ephemera related to the life of David Sarnoff, the celebrated pioneer in radio and television. Sarnoff served as the longtime chairman of RCA (the Radio Corporation of America), which was once headquartered in Camden. Initially established by RCA as the David Sarnoff Library, the collection has grown to include more than 6,000 items related to the evolution of communications and consumer electronics in the 20th century. It was donated to TCNJ in 2010.
What’s special: The collection explores the origins of entertainment and broadcasting through vintage goods, prototypes, artwork and early technology. Kids who think smartphones and 70-inch flat screen TVs just magically appeared will get a kick out of discovering the innovations that changed the world, including our own state’s pioneering contributions. Among the quirky-cool artifacts: A black-and-white portable television, housed in a stylish case c. 1956; various wood-encased Radiolas from the 1920s; and an early memory board c. 1953.
Visit: Schedule a viewing appointment on the second or fourth Wednesday of each month, or by other arrangements, via [email protected].
Admission: Free.
The Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey
Teterboro
For over 50 years, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey (AHOFNJ) has worked to preserve and celebrate the state’s unmatched 230-plus years of advancing human flight and exploration. From record-setting pilots and astronauts to inventors and mechanics, the museum honors the men and women who have made historic contributions to commercial aviation, military aviation, or aerospace. NJ’s fascinating connection to the history of human flight truly comes alive, however, through displays of aviation-related artifacts and up-close views of actual aircraft. The wow factor isn’t just for show[JA1] —it’s also designed to encourage young people to consider careers in aviation and aerospace engineering.
What’s special: Bronze plaques boasting famous names like Earhart, Lindberg, and Aldrin line the walls of the museum’s Hall of Fame. It’s a powerful tribute to these courageous and innovative individuals. To put New Jersey’s aviation achievements into perspective, military and commercial aircraft, flight trainers, gliders, engines, artifacts, models and more are displayed chronologically from the 18th century to the present day.
Visit: Wednesday-Saturday, 10:30 am to 12 pm, 12:30-2 pm, or 2-3:30 pm.
Admission: Adults $15, Seniors (65+) and kids 3-12 $12; free for kids age 2 and under.
As New Jersey’s only Smithsonian affiliate, the Morris Museum maintains a mission to reflect the diversity and vitality of the state. It showcases an eclectic array of exhibits and installations touching on art, culture, science, technology, and history. That the museum originated from a single collection displayed in a curio cabinet truly makes sense here. In many ways, the Morris Museum is one gorgeous collection of curiosities designed to pique the interest and imagination of visitors both grown and still growing. In fact, its one-time existence as a children’s museum is still evident via classes and drop-in programs designed to spark creativity.
What’s special: Stunning rotating exhibits by established artists and local talent alike share air with permanent installations devoted to Native American heritage, geology and model trains. It works. Then there’s the wonderfully weird Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical & Automata — an extravaganza of dolls, figures, and music players animated by sheer ingenuity and craft. For example, a 32-inch coin-operated disc music box, c. 1899, crafted by the Rahway-based Regina Music Box Company, and a complete orchestra powered by pneumatics (air pressure mechanisms) that still wows after more than 100 years.
Visit: Wednesday-Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Admission: Adults $12, seniors, kids 3-17, and students under 25 with ID $8; free for kids age 2 and under.
The Paranormal Museum™
Asbury Park
Creepy and ooky define New Jersey’s home to all things uncanny and arcane. Enter if you dare through a velvet curtain accessible in the back of Paranormal Books & Curiosities. Inspired by a Victorian parlor, the space showcases around 75 chilling items at any given time, culled from a larger collection of around 250. Some items were intentionally acquired by owner Kathy Kelly. Others were donated by people wishing to rid their homes of otherworldly objects (which is shockingly common). All items tell a story, and some are even said to affect guests physically. Ooky indeed. Visits are private, by reservation only, for up to six people. Book a standard guided tour to view the most infamous and “active” items (objects said to have paranormal influence). Or check the schedule for after-dark tours, which offer guests time, space and gear to thoroughly investigate the exhibit.
What’s special: Stop by the Cauldron—guests consistently report that it imparts a dizzying “fun house” feeling. Admire the wall of bequeathed Ouija boards (it’s said that the only way to get rid of one is to give it away). Try not to let the possessed dolls, haunted objects, and macabre collection of relics and remains spook you. And no, you’re not imagining that the Blue painting is following you around. There’s also an optional occult-inspired area for those into the darkest side of the supernatural. More than eerie, it’s educational: Visitors learn about the nation’s most paranormal places, creatures of myth, and the dark histories of the haunted items and relics.
Visit: Daily 9 am to 12 am
Admission: Classic tour ($120, 60-75 minutes); after-dark tour ($100 per hour, 2-4 hours).
From things that creep, slink and scurry to those that flutter, fly and weave, Insectropolis showcases a world of creatures that are at once great and small. Whereas natural museums often focus on the biggest and brawniest animals, NJ’s only “bugseum,” brings it back down to earth. The goal is to shed light on how nature’s most populous and misunderstood denizens are in fact brilliant and essential to life as we know it. Fascinating and funny, the exhibits teach both bug basics and advanced topics on communication, battle tactics, team building, transformation, and how insects and arthropods survive and thrive.
What’s special: Examine stunning pinned butterfly specimens, test your insect acumen on interactive quizzes, and learn about bugs with that killer instinct. Observe live bees at the Hive Airport; honey extractions are held depending on the season and beekeeper availability. Peer at venomous spiders through glass tanks—time it right and you’ll see them hunt for their cricket lunch. Be sure to stop by the daily 2 pm touch presentation, where guests can pet a tarantula or something equally terrifying to parents (but a hit with the kids).
Admission: $14; free for kids age 2 and under.
Visit: School year hours Friday-Saturday 10 am – 3 pm; Sunday 12-5 pm; summer hours Monday-Friday 10 am – 3 pm.
Jennifer Kantor is a New Jersey-based parenting and lifestyle writer.
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