New Jersey State Museum
205 West State St.
CN 530, Trenton, NJ 08625-0530
(609) 292-6464 / 292-1382 Groups
www.state.nj.us/state/museum/index.html

This fine museum offers a wide range of comprehensive exhibits in five categories.

Archaeology and Ethnology Ethnology collection encompasses over 2 million prehistoric and historic specimens from nearly 100 years of excavation and over 2,000 ethnographic objects. The collections provide data on the entire span of human occupation of New Jersey from prehistoric to historic 19th century. Visitors will see collections that illustrate the everyday lives of these people, including objects such as a dugout canoe, tools, weapons, clothing, ornaments and jewelry, and more. The ethnographic collection consists of items brought back to New Jersey by residents who traveled as diplomats, military officers, missionaries, and enthusiastic tourists in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most specimens represent the Delaware and other North American Indian groups.

The Cultural History collection includes over 13,000 artifacts documenting New Jersey's cultural, economic, military, political, and social history, as well as aspects of its decorative arts, from the 17th century to the present. New Jersey Pretty Big Things: Stories of New Jersey History is a diverse collection documenting the history of everyday life in New Jersey from colonial times through the present day. Ranging from ceramics produced by Trenton potteries to items representing the agricultural heritage of the Garden State, textiles, trade tools, furniture. The Civil War Flags Collection of New Jersey features a rare collection of flags carried by New Jersey Civil War regiments and are a tangible reminder of the supreme sacrifice made by New Jersey troops in service to the nation.

The Fine Arts collection has an American focus that highlights the work of New Jersey artists within the context of American art history. The American Perspectives exhibition highlights the diversity of voices and visions found in 19th through 21st century American art. The exhibition explores the sources of artists' inspiration and how these inspirations changed over time; how travel to Europe - and the art being made there - influenced American trends; the impact of immigrant artists bringing their own sensibilities to the US; and how world and US events (historical, political, cultural, etc.) impacted artists. Works by Alexander Calder, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Louise Nevelson are among the many artists represented.

The Natural History collection is comprised of approximately 250,000 specimens, which in addition to their scientific significance, also have historic and cultural significance. Written In The Rocks presents unique fossil stories that offer intriguing clues about our ever-changing planet, how life on Earth has evolved and adapted… or gone extinct. Step back 3.5 billion years to explore the geology of New Jersey, the oldest fossils from the state and the progression of life here. Learn about the evolution of turtles, fish, mammals and birds. Discover Ice Age animals and their modern day relatives. Marvel at three life-sized fossil casts - the world’s first known carnivorous dinosaur, New Jersey’s own Dryptosaurus, plus a Mosasaurus, and Hadrosaurus foulkii, New Jersey’s state dinosaur.

Planetarium: The Museum boasts a 140-seat, state-of-the-art planetarium that presents regularly scheduled sky shows as well as a variety of other breathtaking programs throughout the year.

Families can enjoy many special events throughout the year, often based on current exhibitions.

School Groups can choose from a number of age-appropriate Learning Labs and Studio Experiences. Programs are 45 minutes and can accommodate 15 to 30 students; larger groups will be split to rotate through the workshops and other activities. The Museum also presents interactive Ask The Experts assemblies and Thursday Theatre, live educational performances for children of all grades.