Tag: Exploring the Jersey Shore

The New Jersey Museum of Boating 1800 Bay Avenue Johnson Boat Works, Building 13 Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

The New Jersey Museum of Boating 1800 Bay Avenue Johnson Boat Works, Building 13 Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

The New Jersey Museum of Boating

1800 Bay Avenue

Johnson Boat Works, Building 13

Point Pleasant, NJ. 08742

(732) 701-2581

http://www.numb.org

Open: Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm/Monday-Tuesday Closed/Wednesday 12:00pm-4:00pm/Thursday Closed/Friday-Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm

Admission: Free but donations accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46745-d28035581-r960415038-The_New_Jersey_Museum_Of_Boating-Point_Pleasant_Beach_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The entrance to the New Jersey Museum of Boating

The sign that welcomes you

The Johnson Boat Yards just outside the museum where you can see all the private pleasure boats

The Museum’s Mission:

(From the museum’s pamphlet)

The mission of the New Jersey Museum of Boating is to celebrate our state’s rich maritime history. We are committed to educating, preserving, interpreting and presenting the boats built in New Jersey and the related marine equipment and materials traditionally used in the process.

‘Boats N’ Kids’ is part of the charter we are endeavoring to educate today’s youth on the history of boating in New Jersey. We offer several programs for children which include basic boating safety and intern programs during the spring and summer. Visit the website or call our number for more details.

The boat display outside the museum

In 2002, the museum became the newest destination on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail, achieving recognition by the National Park Service for the historic value of its collection and location.

The display of marine vessels outside of the museum

As part of our Charter, we are committed to the education of today’s youth on the history of boating in New Jersey. In that regard, the museum has developed a multi-faceted program to invite students from New Jersey’s elementary and high schools for information tours of the museum.

The display of boats just outside of the museum

My visit to the Museum:

While I admired all the boats outside the museum and the Johnson family Boat Works Marina and all the pleasure boats, all the nautical displays were in the inside of the museum.

The inside of the museum offers a gift shop and an introduction to the museum’s mission on the history of Boating

One of the first displays describes the famous shark attacks at the Jersey shore in 1916 as summer beach bathing was becoming popular. These were noted in the film ‘Jaws’.

The New Jersey Shark Attacks of 1916

The next display I visited was the World War II display to our veterans and their contributions from the State of New Jersey. There had been many sightings of enemy submarines on the Jersey shore.

The detailed display on our State’s contribution to the ‘Great War’

War propaganda poster that would be considered racist today but effective back then.

The next display was on the history of the fishing in the state. We have had and still have some of the best fishing on the East Coast both for pleasure and commercially.

Some of the contributions of our fishermen in New Jersey

There was also a big contribution to the steam engines from New Jersey as well.

The ‘Steamboats’ exhibition

The Sneakbox sign

On display as well was the ‘Frisky’. The ‘Frisky’ is the first ‘Beaton Built’ sneakbox. It was built in 1941 by David Beaton & Sons which won numerous championships in the 1940’s and 1950’s (museum pamphlet).

The ‘Frisky’ sneakbox

In the back of the museum, there was a display of vintage outdoor motors which powered boats over the years.

The exhibition sign for the Vintage Motor exhibition

The sign for the “Vintage Motor” exhibition

The Vintage Outdoor Motor display

The outdoor motors from times past

In the front of the museum you will see the ‘Frame’ exhibition and all the tools to build a boat.

The ‘Frames’ sign

The ‘Frames’ display

A closer look at all the tools for the construction of a boat

There were also smaller displays around the museum such as the NJ Coast Guard display and the NJ State Rowing Championship’s to show the nautical activities that are going on in the State of New Jersey.

The Coast Guard station display

The NJ State Rowing Championship display

The New Jersey Museum of Boating offers a wealth of information on New Jersey’s nautical past, present and future place in history.

Point Pleasant Historical Museum 416 New Jersey Avenue Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

Point Pleasant Historical Museum 416 New Jersey Avenue Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

Point Pleasant Historical Museum

416 New Jersey Avenue

Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

(732) 892-3091

https://www.facebook.com/PPHSMNJ/

Welcome!
Open: Sunday-Wednesday Closed/Thursdays 1:00pm-4:00pm/Friday and Saturday Closed

Admission: Donations accepted

My review on TripAdvisor

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46745-d27962336-r955720708-Point_Pleasant_Historical_Society-Point_Pleasant_Beach_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

I took a trip to a well known to the well known beach community of Point Pleasant Beach to see what other activities were available rather than just spending time at the Boardwalk. After about an hour there, there was not much else to see or do. I found it in the Point Pleasant Historical Society Museum, a small gallery that is a treasure trove of artifacts and information on the history of the town. The collection may be small but it is packed with interesting tidbits of the history of this shore town and its development from a small fishing and farming community to the well known resort town that it is today.

The gallery is located in the back of City Hall just off the main downtown area a few blocks away. It may seem unassuming but there is a lot to look at the museum. On top of the local amusement industry and the development of the Jenkinson Boardwalk and Aquarium, there was the growth of the town of local businesses that contributed to the direction that the town is now.

Some of the most interesting artifacts had to deal with local disasters in the surrounding communities such as the Morro Castle Ocean Liner fire of 1934 and the Hindenburg disaster in Lakehurst in 1937. These aspects of ‘Dark Tourism’ are displayed with artifacts from those incidents. There is a small collection of Lenape artifacts from when this was a seasonal fishing village of the Native Americans and artifacts from both the Point Pleasant Fire and Police Departments on their early development in the town. You could also see the change in the types of cottage businesses that cater to the locals versus the tourists.

Take time to look through the cases and see all the interesting objects that the collection carries. They also have a room dedicated to town history and family lineage if your intention is to find family members or the history of a business such as Jenkinson’s or even the Jersey Mike’s chain which originated in this town. There is a lot to see and explore in about an hour to an hour and a half.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Point Pleasant Historical Society and Museum is to preserve and share the rich history of  both Point Pleasant Beach and Point Pleasant Boro.  The Society traces it roots back to about 1976 when long time local resident, Margaret “Peg” Busse  planted the seed of a need for a historical society to properly preserve the history, artifacts and memories of days gone by.

Peg worked tirelessly to sign up new members and offered her home and yard for meetings. She advanced our goals, kept our records, and made the Shore Harbor Historical Society famous for Beach Plum Jam until retiring in 1990. We thank her and Victoria Hassett and Carolyn Martin who together wrote the book on the society. Since 1990, Jim and Pat Malone have guided the organization selflessly and Richard and Sharon Morris have worked tirelessly to organize and administer the museum.

The Point Pleasant Historical Museum at 416 New Jersey Avenue.

This wonderful little museum is a large one room display of the history of the town of Point Pleasant and the surrounding businesses. Each display holds the town’s treasures and the key to its past both for shore development and its progression as a tourism destination.

The development of the original Point Pleasant City at the turn of the last century.

The town had been home to the Native American tribes until the arrival of colonists and its development in the late 1800’s. What was once a farm was developed into the current town it is today. As tourism developed after the Civil War to WWI, businesses developed, amusements, hotels and bathing pavilions were added and services catering to this population sprung up.

The main gallery of the Point Pleasant Historical Museum

The museum display cases are broken down into the local history of the town. The local community administration of Fire and Police is displayed here.

The town historical records and local business, schools and Native American history are displayed here.

The Lenape display of Native American artifacts in the collection

The Point Pleasant Police Department Jail cell door showing its past as part of the town fabric

The original fire trumpet of the Chief of the Point Pleasant Fire Department

The development of the Boating and Fishing industries of the area

The museum also covers local famous disasters such as the Hindenburg disaster which happened in Lakehurst, NJ and the Moro Castle Cruise fire of the 1934. They even had the artifacts from the sites.

The Moro Castle Cruise disaster of 1934

The Hindenburg disaster of 1937 took place in Lakehurst, NJ

The Society also has a nice collection on local businesses. You could see how the businesses of the town developed from catering to a nautical and farming economy to the tourism and amusement industry. The problem with a town that depends too much on tourism is when the off season comes, how to you pivot the business to locals. You are now seeing this development in the downtown where there is a growth of clothing and antique stores.

The Pleasant Farms dairy farm (now a dealership)

The Jenkinson Boardwalk in its early years

What I thought was interesting is that this is where the Jersey Mikes sub chain started. In the town’s historical records are the original records of the first store along with the story of the company. This is a good selling point for the town.

The original Jersey Mike’s store in Point Pleasant, NJ

The collection contains a little bit of this and that in the cases as the membership is working to grow the collection. As the collection grows, we will see more of what makes the town of Point Pleasant the special place that it is as a community.

The collection case of items from residents personal homes

The collection case of community departments and hobbies

The collection case of business related items and household items

The collection of vintage bottles

Some of the interesting artifacts that I saw the head of a ship mass. The volunteer had said that this had washed up on shore and was donated by the people who found it.

The face from the ship bulkhead that was found washed up on shore

The bathing and swimming aspect of the beach community.

This delightful little museum is a nice rainy day adventure when you are in Point Pleasant on your way to discovering its funky downtown. It just goes to show that there is a lot more to this beach community than just the boardwalk and the beach.

An eel basket from the fishing industry

US Armed Forces collection of the WWII era

Beach art and history of the community of Point Pleasant

It is a perfect rainy day activity or for people who are interested in the history of the town, this little hidden gem is the place to start.

Uff Da Maritime Museum at Viking Village 1801 Bayview Avenue Barnegat Light, NJ 08006

Uff Da Maritime Museum at Viking Village 1801 Bayview Avenue Barnegat Light, NJ 08006

Uff Da Maritime Museum at Viking Village

1801 Bayview Avenue

Barnegat Light, NJ 08006

(609) 494-0113

https://www.vikingvillage.net/shops

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g46285-d2471201-Reviews-Viking_Village_Inc-Barnegat_Light_Long_Beach_Island_New_Jersey.html

The Uff Da Maritime Museum at Viking Village historical site.

The museum signage on the site.

I came across this interesting little museum on a recent trip to Viking Village for their Christmas Craft Show in December 2023. The museum explores the history of the fishing industry not just in Barnegat Light and Long Beach Island but the State of New Jersey.

The small gallery describes the fisherman who were once part of the trade, the years and development of the fishing industry in Barnegat Light, NJ and pictures of the boats and ships that made up the fishing industries creation and expansion over the years.

The inside of the small gallery is packed with information on the fishing industry of Long Beach Island.

The fisherman gallery

What I like about this museum is that it gives you a localized view of fishing industry and its history at the Jersey Shore.

The fishing industry on Long Beach Island in Barnegat Light, NJ on the tip of the island.

The fishing industry and its history on Long Beach Island.

Fisherman outfit

Boats and fisherman

It’s a small gallery packed with information and many interesting pictures. It is nice to visit when Viking Village is open for business.

A wonderful tour of Viking Village with the NJ Secretary of Agriculture.

Viking Village at the holidays.

Viking Village display at Christmas time.

Viking Village is still an active fishing business.

The Viking Village fishing community is still strong.

Viking Village during the Christmas Craft Fair in November 2023:

The Viking Village Holiday Craft Fair.

Santa arrives at Viking Village during the holiday Craft Fair

Santa arrives on the Barnegat Light Fire Truck

Santa walks in

Somers Mansion 1000 Shore Road Somers Point, NJ 08244

Somers Mansion 1000 Shore Road Somers Point, NJ 08244

Somers Mansion

1000 Shore Road

Somers Point, NJ 08244

(609) 927-2212

https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/somersmansion.html

Somers Mansion

Open: Sunday 9:30am-3:30pm/Monday-Friday Closed/Saturday 9:30am-3:30pm

Admission: Free

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46825-d5970174-r844645596-Somers_Mansion-Somers_Point_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

The Somers Mansion at 1000 Shore Road

(There is no indoor picture taking allowed)

The mansion from the front

I visited the Somers Mansion, the three story former home to five generations of the Somers Family. The mansion sits on a buff overlooking the bay and the bridge to the barrier island where Ocean City is located. The original part of the house was built in 1725 and in 1920 the last family members moved from the home and deeded it to the town. The modern additions of the home have been stripped off so you see the original house.

The historic marker of the home when it was donated by the family

I have to say that I was very disappointed with the condition of both the house and of the rooms and displays inside the house. There was not much to see. The lower level of the home has the main room with the hearth known in most early homes as the “Keeping” or “Everything” room where all the cooking, household chores and socializing was done because of the warmth of the fire.

Here and there were pieces of furniture but nothing labeled or decorated to make the room look ‘period’. Just old furniture here and there to fill the space. Some of the original family china was in the cupboards built into the walls.

The upstairs which must be reached by a rope bannister lead up a narrow stairs to two upstairs bedrooms. The home is not handicapped safe. The front bedroom had a fireplace with a small side room that held spinning wheels and some children’s furniture. There was not much to see in the upstairs.

The tour guide did not offer much in the way of information on the house and the only period pieces of the Somers family that were left inside the house were a chest, a clock, some of the china that was in the side cabinents and a bedwarmer.

Outside the house the Somers Point Garden Club planted a period garden of fruits and vegetables on the back lawn and lead tours of the gardens.

The Somers Mansion Kitchen Garden

The Garden Club planted fruits and vegetables that would have been grown in the time periods of the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. You can walk amongst the beds to see the plantings.

Somers Mansion Kitchen Garden planted by the Garden Club

The whole tour takes less than a half hour and it is more impressive from the outside. You are also not allowed to take pictures of the house for security reasons.

The back of the mansion

The History of the Somers Mansion:

(From the NJ State Historical Site.com):

The mansion and surrounding city bear the name of the family who owned and occupied the house for 200 years.

The Somers Mansion, a three story home constructed of brick in the Flemish bond pattern, sits overlooking the Great Egg Harbor Bay at Somers Point. In the late 1600’s, the property which surrounds the mansion was acquired by John Somers, who operated a ferry service across The Great Egg Harbor Bay to Cape May. He referred to it as Somers Plantation and Somers Ferry and the surrounding settlement, the olders in what became Altantic County and then Somers Point in the mid-18th Century.

Master Commandant Richard Somers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Somers

http://www.richardsomers.org/

The mansion is considered to be the oldest existing house in Atlantic County, predating the County itself. His son, Richard, the first of the family to be born in New Jersey, built what is now referred to as the mansion by 1726. That year the local Society of Friends (Quakers) used the home for a meeting and memorialized it in their minutes, making the earliest recorded date of the home’s existence.

By the end of the 19th century, the mansion’s architecture had been added to and changed to reflect a Victorian style. The house remained in the Somers Family until 1937 when it was deeded by Florence Hayday Brooks and Lulu Hayday Smith, daughters of Hannah Hayday Somers to the Atlantic County Historical Society for the purpose of creating a permanent memorial to the Somers family.

In 1941, it was transferred to the State of New Jersey, dedicated on September 26th, 1942 and in the early 1940’s was restored to its colonial appearance as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. Laborers for the WPA both renovated the surviving furnishings and conducted a historical restoration, including the elimination of rooms and architectural details dating to the 19th century. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and is now a State Historic site.

The Somers Family burial ground further down off Shore Avenue off New York Avenue

A Short History of Somers Point:

(From the Trail of Richard Somers pamphlet)

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

Homepage

Somers Point was originally settled by John Somers, an Englishman and practicing Quaker, who bought the land from Thomas Budd. Early names for the area were Somerset Plantation, Somers Ferry and Somers Plantation named after the first settlers in 1693. The land purchased originally covered all of Somers Point, part of Linwood and went into Egg Harbor Township. In the early years, it was part of Gloucester County, because Atlantic COunt had not yet been named.

The name “Somers Point” was adopted in 1750. It was a seafaring town and sloops, schooners and barges were built in the many shipyards located along the Greate Egg Harbor Bay, Greate Egg Harbor River and Patcong Creek.

The estate overlooking the bay

The back of the mansion and gardens

The Sooy Boatworks was located on Shore Road and the completed ships were rolled on logs down Shore Road to Delaware Avenue and then down to the bay. Shipbuilding and life along the waterways was a very important part of life in early Somers Point.

The statue of Robert Somers in Robert Somers Park