Category: Exploring New Jersey

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum at Rowan University 66 Million Mosasaur Way Sewell, NJ 08080

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum at Rowan University

66 Million Mosasaur Way

Sewell, NJ 08080

(856) 284-3466

https://www.efm.org

Open: Sunday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm Closed major holidays-please check their website for changes

Admission: Adults $29.00/Children over Two $24.00/Children under two Free/Digs are extra $25.00 with Museum Admission-$34.00 for Standalone and $20.00 for Members

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46596-d33042982-r1082522342-Edelman_Fossil_Park_Museum_Of_Rowan_University-Mantua_New_Jersey.html

I had read that a new museum had opened as part of Rowan University in Glasboro on the study of pre-historic creatures, many found in New Jersey and what I found fascination is that it was built right next to one of the research pits.

The front of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum

The Mission of the Museum:

(from the museum website)

Our mission at the Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University is to be a catalyst for good through the power of understanding the past. We deliver this through first-hand discovery of fossils and an immersive experience in the epic, real story of the dinosaurs. We bring awe and wonder to inspire action for a better world. Using the past, we put the present into perspective and give all people tools to create future actions for good. Whether it’s the pure joy of digging and exploring for exciting possibilities or an awakening of a growing realization about our place in time and how great the gift of life is, we aim to be a remembered, loved, and inspirational agent for good (Museum website).

The lake area outside the museum with the beautiful Fall foliage

This contemporary designed museums sits on a beautiful wooded site on a lake where the design of the building blends so well with the natural surroundings. With the Fall season in full display, the foliage of the surrounding woods blends so beautifully with the building and its grounds.

The side view of the museum at the lake

The museum entrance and hallway are open air and beautifully designed

After I paid my admission, I entered the open air beauty of the lobby with a wonderful little restaurant off to the side with sandwiches, drinks and pastries. To the other side of the lobby was a gift shop with an array of items perfect for both a child and an adult. The the doors to the side lead to the Terrace over looking the research pit.

The terrace just off the main lobby has gorgeous views of the research pits where new fossils are being discovered

The Fossil Pit:

(from the museum website)

Dig into the past at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum’s Quarry in Mantua, NJ, where you can search for real fossils from 66 million years ago! More than 100,000 fossils have been discovered at this incredible site, including mosasaurs, sea turtles, shark teeth, and more.

Your quarry adventure includes up to 60 minutes of hands-on fossil digging, plus a fossil to take home! Come ready to explore in comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes – rubber boots are recommended. All guests entering the quarry must have a ticket; children ages 2 and under are free. Guests must be at least 16 years old to dig independently.

I was not able to spend too much time out here as they were preparing for a wedding

The was a small cafe just off the lobby with a really nice menu that was getting ready to close for the afternoon

https://www.efm.org/quarrygrounds

The Beverage and snack area of the museum restaurant

The restaurant is open for both breakfast and lunch and its selection is very nice. It was closing for the day when I arrived and they have a nice assortment of things to eat.

The Gift shop was on the other side of the lobby

The main part of the museum was down the hall and gave me an interesting perspective of how New Jersey was part of Dinosaur Age. What I liked about the museum was it challenges us with the past when we feel we can control the environment. I liked how it questions our own future.

The sign in the Main Gallery before you enter

The entrance to the main exhibition gallery

The main Dinosaur Gallery

The Teeth vs Tonnage exhibit

The Teeth and Tonage display

Dinosaur display lurking

The back of the gallery

The main Dinosaur Gallery

The Eagle Ray sign

The Eagle Ray

Creatures from the deep

Sea turtles

The Ammonoids sign

The Ammonoids display

The Ammonoids display

I thought the dinosaur displays dazzled with their detailed information and their interpretation of these ancient creatures. The life sized models really showed the day to day life and survival of these mammals.

The Sea Rex

The Sea Rex display

The Sea Rex up close

The Giants Flying Reptiles

The flying reptiles display

The Circle of Life exhibition

The Hall of Hope and Distinction:

(from the museum website)

This captivating experience highlights the asteroid impact that ended the dinosaurs 66 million years ago and the current climate crisis threatening a Sixth Extinction, while inspiring visitors to take action against climate change (Museum website).

The history of dinosaurs in New Jersey

The Fifth Extinction display

The room contained pictures of birds and mammals that are now extinct or on their way to being extinct. This is a cautionary tail of what can happen when we do not respect the environment

Critter Cover on the Lower Level:

(from the museum website)

Step into Critter Cove, where the wonders of today connect to the creatures of the past! Come face-to-face with incredible critters, from hands-on sea stars to a powerful monitor lizard. This isn’t just an exhibit, it’s a time-traveling adventure through evolution! Discover living descendants of ocean-dwelling invertebrates, dinosaur-age reptiles, and hardy mammal ancestors that defied extinction. Packed with excitement and discovery, Critter Cove is an unforgettable thrill for explorers of all ages!

The lower level aqua room and interaction room has tanks with small sea creatures we could interact with but I did not attempt to touch them. I loved seeing the small string rays and starfish. It was also interesting to hear from the naturalist about the conditions of our beaches and the ocean surrounding New Jersey.

The touch pool has various fish and aquatic life

This turtle was peaking out at me

After I toured the museum, I toured the grounds around the property and walked around the lake where the museum sits on its edge. The foliage was breathtaking that day.

The lake in the early Fall afternoon

The view of the museum on the side of the lake

The museum even has a family playground with pre-historic creatures to play on. I thought the design was quite clever.

The front of the playground outside the museum

The playground with its dinosaur themed equipment

The playground from a distance

For a university research museum, I thought it offered a lot for the public to see and experience. I did not know that New Jersey had such a rich history of pre-historic life in its past.

The Hill Memorial Museum/Sussex County Historical Society 82 Main Street Newton, NJ 07860

The Hill Memorial Museum/Sussex County Historical Society

82 Main Street

Newton, NJ 07860

(973) 383-6010

https://www.facebook.com/SussexCountyHistoricalSocietyNj

Contact

Open: Sunday-Thursday Closed/Friday 9:00am-1:00pm/Saturday Closed

Admission: Free but donations are accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g46674-d27060080-Reviews-Sussex_County_Historical_Society-Newton_New_Jersey.html

The front of the Hill Memorial Museum

The front sign to the museum

The History of the Hill Memorial Museum:

(from the museum website)

The Hill Memorial was constructed in 1916 by Newton contractor Thomas Farrel in renaissance revival style according to the design of Henry T. Stephens, a Paterson architect. It was built for the society’s use by donations from Joshua Hill, a native of Sussex County and was dedicated on Founder’s Day, June 8, 1917. The building was named in memory of Joshua’s parents, Luther and Abigail (Dildine) Hill, and his uncle, Joseph Price Hill. The building is faced with two shades of tapestry brick furnished by the N.H. Sloan kilns of Pennsylvania. The main entrance is ornamented with a portico and door casings manufactured by the Brick Terra Cotta & Tile Company of Corning, New York. The main architectural feature of the entry hall is the grand staircase of quartered oak.

The Hill Memorial Museum Mission Statement:

(from the museum website)

The purpose of the SCHS is to promote public knowledge and interest in the history of Sussex County, New Jersey, and surrounding areas by:

Compiling, publishing and disseminating information;
Collecting, preserving and studying historical, genealogical and archaeological records, documents, papers and artifacts;
Maintaining a public museum;
Promoting the preservation and protection of buildings, cemeteries and other sites of historic interest and co-operating with other organizations of similar interest.

During the Sussex Heritage Weekend, one of the museums on my bucket list was the Hill Memorial Museum, the home of the Sussex County Historical Society. The museum has very limited hours and I have been wanting to visit since last summer. The museum is worth the wait. What an interesting museum filled with fascinating artifacts found from all corners of Sussex County, NJ. The collections fills two floors that also include a historical room and a research library.

The entrance foyer to the museum is quite grand

The museum home to an extensive collection of artifacts and does an interesting job of displaying these objects case by case. Each case holds a story of businesses, the participation of the community in wars, parks and schools and daily life over the last hundred years. The museum is a treasure trove of information on not just the County but the State of New Jersey as well.

Historic musical instruments on display along the stairs

The Second Floor Galleries of the Hill Memorial Museum:

(from the museum website)

The Victorian display in the upstairs gallery were custom made for jeweler H.D. Couse, and donated by his successor, John Coats Sr., when Coats Jewelry Store moved from the Cochran House to 103 Spring Street in 1950. Here are displayed some of the Society’s collections including the partial skeleton of a Mastodon discovered in 1962 during the dredging of a bog at Camp Auxilium in Hampton Township. New exhibits include “The History of” Farming, Railroads, and Creameries “of Sussex County”. The Civil War display now includes information about 22 Soldiers who rest across the street in the Old Newton Burial Ground.

The second floor is where the larger part of the gallery and displays are located. Each case-line has a different category of artifacts depending on the theme. The main room is used as a meeting space for organization meetings and lectures for the community. The room is surrounding on all sides by cases filled with different objects depending on the subject matter.

The main gallery and meeting room on the second floor

The back of the main gallery behind the meeting space is lined with glass and wood case lines of artifacts from the County of Sussex, NJ

Each case line has a different set of displays:

The first display case was lined with dinosaur bones locally found and the Woolly Mammoth skull and bones found in the County is the highlight of the collection

The Native American and Lenape display of domestic and agriculture artifacts

The 250th Anniversary display

The Sussex County farming and agriculture display

The Sussex County Railroad display

The Dairy industry case

The World War I display and veterans memorabilia

The rail system in Sussex County

The vintage Toy display

It was interesting to look at the vintage toy collection as you wonder today if children in the twenty-first century still have the same imagination as the children in the 19th century. I think creativity comes from within.

The vintage doll

The vintage rocking horse

The World War II display

The history of Photography in Sussex County

Various household and everyday items from elaborate clothes and accessories to household products

The elaborate outfits of the day

The household goods that made the home run

The museum had an elaborate and detailed display of the old Chatterbox Restaurant, that was once a staple in the Newton area that has since been replaced by a Wawa.

The Chatterbox Restaurant display

https://www.facebook.com/groups/125409904217878/posts/27792041107128052

https://nj1015.com/another-memorable-nj-restaurant-torn-down

Video on the demolition

The accessories of the Proper Victorian Lady at the turn of the last century

The history of Mining in Sussex County

The Mining industry of Sussex County

The Colligate display from Newton High School

https://www.newtonnj.org/o/nhs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_High_School_(New_Jersey)

The office at the turn of the last century

The Sussex Room of the Hill Memorial Museum:

(from the museum website)

As the name indicates, this room on the lower floor focuses on local history. The main feature is a large stone fireplace built by George Sharp in 1921, incorporating stones from Sussex County that are of geological and historical significance. A framed copy of G.M. Hopkins Jr.’s 1860’s map of Sussex County hangs near the oak roll-top desk of Judge Henry T. Kays. Portraits of Luther and Abigail (Dildine) Hill are on display. Other interesting pieces include a safe from the first bank in Newton – The Sussex Bank, founded in 1818; a Wheeler and Wilson sewing machine – once used to sew clothing for Civil War soldiers; and an original wrestling robe from Newton High School during the time of “Henry Boresch –father of NJ Wrestling”. In the center of the room is a display featuring the Cochran House, once located on Spring Street, it was the center of local social, business, and political activities.

The museum really covers the history of Sussex County in detail with wonderful and interesting displays and lots of historical artifacts. It will take you more than one afternoon of visiting the museum to see the whole collection.

Tour of the Museum on video

After the tour of the museum was over, I toured the historic Green in the middle of the downtown. Downtown Newton as the County Seat of Sussex County is coming into its own as the City gentrifies bringing in new restaurants and shops. The Green was in bloom with Fall colors. Lots of restaurants are in the process of opening and their are lots of coffee shops as well.

Downtown Newton in the Fall of 2026

https://www.newtontownhall.com/346/Explore-Newtons-Vibrant-Dining-Scene-for

https://www.newtontownhall.com/181/Maps-of-Newton

The historic Newton Green

The historic marker of the Green

The colorful gardens and the historic County Courthouse in the distance

The history of the Green

http://www.newtonnj.net/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton,_New_Jersey

I really learned a lot about the City of Newton both inside the museum and outside. This is a community that is still writing its own history.

It was not just an interesting museum visit but it was nice to walk the downtown and see how this small city was changing rapidly as new people were moving in and changing the demographics. Newton, NJ is a town in transition.

Sparta Train Station 30 Station Road Sparta, NJ 07871

Sparta Train Station

30 Station Road

Sparta, NJ 07871

https://www.facebook.com/SpartaTrainStation

Open: The museum is seasonable and open for special events. Please check out their website for more information. Open for the Sussex County Heritage weekend event.

Admission: Free

Home Page

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46839-d34737451-r1081601474-Sparta_Train_Station_Museum-Sparta_New_Jersey.html

The old Sparta Train Station

I visited the Old Sparta Train Station Museum as part of the Sussex Heritage Weekend and it was a fascinating trip back in time to when these rural communities started getting connected to the cities after the Civil War.

The museum was at the beginning stages of development with displays being created in the rail system in Sussex County and train artifacts that were mounted on display. There was a model train set chugging along a train route.

The side view of the station

The plaque dedicated to the train station

The water tower outside the train station on the station’s grounds

The grounds where the station and the water tower are located are still an active train line.

The inside gallery at the Sparta Train Station Museum

The back part of the station’s gallery

Old travel equipment used on the train rails

Though the collection is small for now, the docents explained they will continue to add more to the collection. They were also a wonder book of knowledge on the history of this area of New Jersey.

The history of the museum

The building and the museum have had quite the history. This includes the fire and the rebuilding.

The train displays

The train display

The engine display

The docents were a wonder book of information on the history of the rail system and of the station building itself. The museum is just starting to develop so for now it is quick visit through the museum when it is open and visits back to see how it grows it collections. For now, it was a very interesting visit.

Matchbox Road Museum 15 Pearl Street Newfield, NJ 08344

Matchbox Road Museum

15 Pearl Street

Newfield, NJ 08344

(609) 381-2332

https://www.facebook.com/MatchboxRoadMuseum

HOME

Open: Sunday-Friday Closed/Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm or by appointment

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/mediabatch/14537611?m=19905

The Matchbox Road Museum at 15 Pearl Street

The logo of the museum

I was recently traveling around the Newfield, NJ area, where a small museum dedicated to Matchbox cars was located. I had enjoyed playing with them and collected them when I was little and it sounded fascinating to have a whole museum dedicated to them.

They were not open that day but arranged to visit the museum when I was in the area on my next trip. A few weeks later I arranged a private tour of the museum and got a very interested and detailed tour of the collection, the history of Matchbox cars and the owner of the collection and his collection.

The museum sign at the front of the museum

The rows and rows of cars and trucks

The museum houses one of the most extensive and complete collections of Matchbox cars from not just the collectibles but cars that were part of their promotions in Happy meals and in boxes of Kellogg cereal.

The rows and rows of the collection

The collection also extended out to toys from the company that manufactured the cars from Universal Toys to Tyco Toys to the current owner, Mattel (Wiki.com).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchbox_(brand)

Matchbox Collector Cars

matchbox

The first car created as part of this vast collection

The collection contained some of the original die cast cars from the first set that were created.

All the cars are so neatly organized

We went row by row and room by room and I was fascinated by the detail and extensive knowledge the docent had on the collection and the history of Matchbox cars. This is a great museum to take kids on just for the sheer collection and for toy collectors who are interesting in Matchbox items.

Our Story, Our Passion

(From the museum website)

The concept of Matchbox Road Museum was formed out of a life-long interest in miniature automotive perfection. The personal collection turned into a well-renowned museum of the preservation of the rare, discontinued and historically important die-cast models. Every item in our assortment symbolizes the art, nostalgia, and cultural impact of the small cars over time.

The inside of the Galley

We think such miniature cars are not just collectibles but narrators of innovations, design and childhood fantasy. By means of professional conservation, careful exhibitions and devotion to authenticity, we give our visitors and collectors an experience that is informative and inspirational.

The Matchbox cars in Happy Meals

The cars available in cereal boxes

The models of Queen Elizabeth II coronation carriages that helped start the company

We have a very easy mission to fulfill, which is to secure the legacy, celebrate the history and make sure these small cars keep on telling big stories in the coming decades.

The Legacy of Matchbox Cars

(From the museum website)

Since its inception in the year 1953, Matchbox cars have changed the way we view toys as well as the toy industry.

They were not only iconic in size but storytelling. Real-world vehicles. Authentic detail. The palm of your hand Dreams at affordable prices.

These small masterpieces attracted the minds of millions of people during decades. Nowadays, they are not just toys, but a part of history, art of engineering, and culture.

We celebrate that tradition at Matchbox Road Museum.

Video on the tour

The museum also has an extensive collection of toys and playthings on display.

Walking around the extensive collections of cars

About the Founder

(From the museum website)

Every great collection begins with a single spark.

A childhood obsession turned into a lifetime goal – retain the heritage of miniature car perfection to the generations to come. The creator of Matchbox Road Museum devoted several decades to the collection of rare, discontinued, and historically important models.

This museum is not constructed using shelves of cars.

It is built on passion. Dedication. Obsession with detail.

And now that heritage open to you is there.

The museum is open for private tours that can be arranged in advance. The tour will take about an hour and you will see a lot. I was taken in by the sheer collection and the walls filled with rows and rows of cars. I really is a fascinating museum.

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Our Story, Our Passion

The Legacy of Matchbox Cars

About the Founder

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