Historic Cold Spring Village in the summer of 2023. The 1800’s came to life when you visit.
The welcoming sign
Historically clothed interpreters demonstrate blacksmithing, pottery, printing, basket weaving and more! Visit an Early American schoolhouse, take part in hands-on activities and crafts and sample historic games and horse-drawn wagon rides on weekdays.
The Visitor’s Center at Historic Cold Spring Village
The village is also home to an organic farm complete with a horse, chickens, sheep and more! Visitors will also find a Welcome Center, Country Store, Bakery, Ice Cream Parlor, Cold Spring Grange Restaurant and Cold Spring Brewery.
The Map of the Village
Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open air living history museum dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of southern New Jersey. During the summer months, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of “the age of homespun.” From October-May, the emphasis is on teaching history through school trips to the Village, classroom visits by the education department and interactive teleconferences with schools throughout the U.S.
The Visitor’s Center exhibition is open in off season.
Our Education Program relates the history of the region to the broader scope of New Jersey, American and World History. Historic Cold Spring Village offers programs for students of all ages and programs can be adapted to any grade level. Please contact the Village for a more detailed description of each program.
Historic Cold Spring Village’s educational offerings are designed to comply with the 2009 New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Social Studies as established by the New Jersey Department of Education.
The Visitor’s Center exhibitions at Historic Cold Spring Village.
Stroll the shaded lanes of Historic Cold Spring Village’s 30 acres as you step back in time to an early American South Jersey farm community. Craft persons, tradesmen, housewives and farmers are eager to share their experience as you visit the Village’s 27 historic buildings. The Village is located on Route 9, four miles south of Rio Grande and three miles north of Cape May City. Visitors from the north, take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 4A and follow the signs to the Village.
For additional information on Historic Cold Spring Village programs, projects or events, please call, fax, email or visit our website.
Give the Past a Future: Invest in the future of HCSV by making a tax-deductible charitable contribution, volunteering or becoming a member. For additional information, call (609) 898-2300, ext. 10.
The Village’s educational programs meet the following standards:
6.1 US History, America in the World
6.2 World History/Global Studies
6.3 Active Citizenship in the 21st Century
The Marshallville One-Room Schoolhouse Experience
In the circa 1850 Marshallville Schoolhouse, students experience a typical Early American school day. Students ‘make their manners’, discover the subject studied by Early American students, write with quill pens and learn the consequences of not following classroom rules.
The Schoolhouse
The Marshallville Schoolhouse is available free of charge for teachers who wish to personally recreate a ‘school day of the past’ for their class. Village staff is available to run the program for a fee.
‘Visits to the Past’
Field trips to Historic Cold Spring Village offer students and teachers the opportunity to experience the past first hand. Select Village buildings, like the print shop, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and inn are open exclusively for school groups. Costumed interpreters interact with students while demonstrating the trades and crafts of Early America. Field trips are held mid-May through early June. Call or email for fees and dates.
The gift shop offers all sorts of old fashioned goodies
We see America Learning: Teaching Early American History through ‘I Visits’
Distance learning programs are offered to schools nationwide. The programs are delivered via a state of the art broadband IP (Internet Protocol) systems and are adaptable to any grade level. If your school does not have a teleconference camera, our distance learning programs are also available through Skype using just your classroom computer and a webcam.
An Early American School Day: A typical day in an Early American rural school.
The Story of Old Glory: The origins and early history of the flag of the United States, using a collection of reproduction historic flags from the 17th Century through the Civil War.
Past Versus Present: A comparison of contemporary everyday objects with their Early American equivalents for example, a flashlight vs a lantern; digital camera vs daguerreotype.
Four Great Inventions (and one that almost was): Explores the creation of the steam boat, the steam locomotive, the daguerreotype camera, the telephone and difference engine, an 1832 attempt to build a mechanical computer.
Hearth and Home: An exploration of the role of the domestic arts practiced by 1800’s housewife with an emphasis on food preparation including hearth cooking.
Gone for a soldier: A day in the life of a Civil War Infantryman: Includes discussions of uniforms, equipment, camp life, food and weapons.
Welcome Centers: Taverns, Inns and Wayside Stops: A presentation utilizing our circa 1836 Dennisville Inn, A former stagecoach stop in Dennisville, NJ to explain the important part buildings such as these played in a community.
The Inn at the Historic Cold Spring Village
Revisiting the Country Store: An Important Community Resource: A look at the vital role of a general store in the life of rural America as a purveyor of goods, social center, post office, etc.
The War of 1812: More than the Star-Spangled Banner: An overview of the “Second War of Independence”,
Fiber Arts: A domestic program primarily including weaving and spinning interpretations.
The First Frontier: Whaler Yeomen in Colonial New Jersey: The story of the first permanent European settlers in New Jersey as well as a discussion of how the Eastern Seaboard was the original American Frontier.
Early American Trades: Explores the important role a printer, woodwright, blacksmith, bookbinder or tinsmith, had in an Early American community. Includes in-workshop demonstrations.
Disclaimer: This information is taken directly from the Cold Springs Village pamphlet. Please call them at the above number or email address for more information.
This historic site has been restored and administered by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities in conjunction with N.J. Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks & Forestry.
The Cape May Lighthouse: Climb the 199 steps of this 1859 vintage tower for a breathtaking view of the Jersey Cape, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The History of Lighthouses in New Jersey
Over the past 30 years, MAC has totally restored the Cape May Lighthouse. A fully accessible Visitors Center is located in the adjacent Oil House as well as a Museum Shop stocked with lighthouse and maritime must haves.
The view of the beach from the lighthouse
The Cape May Lighthouse
Lighthouse information story boards
Lighthouse FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Cape May Lighthouse
Questions about the structure:
*How Tall is the lighthouse? The lighthouse is 157 feet 6 inches tall from the ground line to the ventilator.
*How many steps are there to the top? There are 217 steps from the ground to the top with 199 steps in the tower’s cast iron spiral staircase.
The staircase going to the lighthouse lens
Looking down the stairs on the way back down
* How old is the Lighthouse? The Cape May Lighthouse was built in 1859 and is the third fully documented lighthouse to be built at Cape May Point. The first was built in 1823; the second in 1847. The exact locations of the first two lighthouses are now underwater due to erosion.
*How thick are the brick walls? The Lighthouse actually has two separate walls. The outside wall is cone-shaped and is 3 feet 10 inches thick at the bottom and 1 foot 6 inches thick at the top. The inside wall is a cylinder with 8.5 inch thick walls which support the spiral staircase. The walls were designed to withstand winds several times above hurricane force.
The view on the way up the lighthouse
*Is the beacon still working? Yes, The Coast Guard continues to operate the light as an active aid to navigation. The light is visible 22 miles out to sea and flashes every 15 seconds. A lighthouse’s flash pattern is called its ‘characteristic’, every lighthouse has its own light characteristic and exterior paint scheme (called a daymark) so that ship captains can tell them apart.
The lighthouse lens
The lighthouse lens
*What were the two small rooms on either side of the entrance hallway used for? They were storage rooms that held tools, implements and fuel for the lantern before the Oil House was built. The keeper also used one as a small office.
The lighthouse office
*Who owns the Lighthouse? The State of New Jersey owns the Lighthouse but the Coast Guard maintains the beacon apparatus. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) in Cape May leases the Lighthouse from the State with the mission of restoring the structure and operating it as a historic site.
View from the top of the lighthouse
View from the top of the lighthouse
Cape May Lighthouse
*Questions about Lighthouse Keepers and their responsibilities
*Who worked at the Lighthouse? The Lighthouse was staffed by keepers who worked for the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Cape May’s lighthouse generally had one head keeper and two assistants. They carried the oil to the top of the tower every day to power the light and kept the lens apparatus clean and in working order. Keepers’ pay averaged $600.00 a year around the turn of the 20th century.
*Where did the keepers live? There were two houses built right next to the Lighthouse around 1860 for the keepers and their families. One has since burned but the other is still standing on the other side of the fence near the entrance to the tower.
Important Dates: Cape May Lighthouse
1853-First recorded lighthouse constructed. The 1823 tower was 68 feet tall and its location is now underwater due to erosion.
1847-The second lighthouse was built. It was a 78 foot tower located directly in front of the present tower, just beyond the present shoreline. It was replaced by the present lighthouse because it was poorly constructed.
1857-The Army Corps of Engineers began construction on the present tower, which cost $40,000 to build. The first order Fresnel lens, which is now in the Cape May County Museum, cost about $15,000.
1859-The Lighthouse was first lighted on October 31. The next year, two lighthouse keepers dwellings were built. The one remaining is now used by the State Park Service.
1893-The oil house was constructed.
The Oil House
1902-One of the keepers’ dwellings was enlarge to provide more space for housing the keepers’ families. Three keepers and their families. Three keepers and their families lived at the lighthouse site.
1902-An incandescent oil vapor lamp was installed and replaced the Funck multiple wick first order hydraulic float lamp that dated back to 1878.
1933-The light apparatus was electrified.
1936-The light apparatus was automated which eliminated the need for lighthouse keepers being permanently stationed at the tower.
1939-The United States Lighthouse Service was discontinued and its equipment and personnel transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard.
1941-The Lighthouse was darkened until 1945 because of the World War II. The Atlantic coast was on black-out due to the presence of enemy submarines.
1946-A DCB-36 rotating light (like an airport beacon) was installed. The original first order Fresnel lens was placed in the Cape May County Museum.
1986-The Lighthouse was leased to MAC by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, who in turn leased the structure from the Coast Guard.
1988-MAC undertook public safety improvements that allowed the public to climb to the top.
1989-A grant from the Bicentennial Lighthouse Fund underwrote the restoration of the Lighthouse’s windows and doors.
1990-The oil house was restored and adapted for use as orientation center and museum shop, with funding from the Bicentennial Lighthouse Fund and the New Jersey Historic Trust.
1992-The ownership of the Lighthouse was transferred from the Coast Guard to the State of New Jersey.
1994-Grants from the New Jersey Historic Trust and the federal ISTEA program administered by the State DOT funded painting of the tower and restoration of the lantern and roof.
1998-Grants from the same agencies funded all remaining restoration of the lighthouse structure.
2000-2001-A grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust funded the grounds restoration project.
2002-The Coast Guard installed a modern light known as a DCB-224. It uses parabolic mirrors to focus the beams rather than lenses.
2010-The Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse group was formed. You are cordially invited to join. Call 609-884-5404 or visit http://www.capemaymac.org.
2016-The Coast Guard installed a new, state of the art beacon known as VRB-25 (Variable Rotating Beacon) replacing the DCB-224 that had suffered irreparable damage due to a lighthouse strike.
2017-Lighthouse Tower was repainted with grants from the Cape May County Open Space Board, the National Maritime Heritage Grant program of the National Park Service and South Jersey Industries, augmented by the fundraising efforts of the Lighthouse Keepers and the Friends of the Lighthouse.
*Is the Lighthouse haunted? Exit Zero Ghost Writer and psychic medium Craig McManus has visited the Lighthouse and detected the ghosts of several former keepers and their families. Perhaps you may encounter them yourself on a Ghosts of the Lighthouse Trolley Tour!
Questions about Lighthouse Restoration
*Why is the Lighthouse leased to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC)?
In the 1980’s , the Coast Guard began a nationwide program of leasing lighthouses to private organizations, like MAC, which are capable of preserving them. In 1986, the Coast Guard leased the Lighthouse to MAC, which assumed the responsibility for its restoration, maintenance and operation as a lighthouse museum. In 1992, ownership of the Lighthouse was transferred from the Coast Guard to the State of New Jersey in order to make the restoration project eligible for state historic preservation funding. The state monitors the historical authenticity of the restoration and also makes available to Lighthouse visitors the parking and restroom facilities of the adjacent state park.
The Museum at the bottom of the lighthouse
*What is MAC?
MAC is a non-profit organization with nearly 4,000 members that was founded in 1970 to save and restore Cape May’s Physick Estate and operate it as a historic house museum. The Physick Estate is also home to the Carroll Gallery with an array of changing exhibitions, a museum shop and the Carriage House Café & Tearoom. MAC has also restored the World War II Lookout Tower (Fire Control Tower Number 23) located nearby on Sunset Boulevard. In addition, MAC promotes Cape May’s Victorian heritage through a year round schedule of special events and trolley, walking and historic house tours. MAC is also one of the area’s leading sponsors of the performing arts with its Cape May Music Festival every May and June. Please call 609-884-5404 for details on MAC’s calendar of events or visit our website at http://www.capemaymac.org.
*How much did it cost to restore the Lighthouse?
Since 1987, closed to two million dollars has been spent to restore the Lighthouse and oil house and allow the public to climb safely to the top.
*Is the Lighthouse open to the public?
Yes, Hours of operation vary throughout the year. The tower is open daily, April through November and on weekends most of the rest of the year. The grounds ground floor, tower and watch room gallery are open to the public. All tours of the tower are self-guided.
Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from a pamphlet from the MAC Cape May Lighthouse Museum. Please call the above number or email address for more information on the site. It is well worth seeing just for the view alone.
I have visited the Physick Estate for a third time, three times for the Christmas decorations and the other times to take the house tour with a different theme. It is an interesting place. The whole house was decorated with garland and trees done with a Victorian theme of the time period. The home is always so beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays and should not missed.
The entrance hall at the Physick House decorated for the holidays
The house is set up for Christmas Day and their are actors portraying the Physick family before the holidays. They explain why the house is set up the way it was for the Christmas holidays and who will be coming for dinner. All the rooms are decorated which would not happen in a normal Victorian home but the society shows how each room would have been interpreted for the holiday festivities.
We started the tour on the first floor touring the Entrance Foyer, the Living Room, Dining Room, Music Room, Sewing Room and Library of the home. Since privacy was the order of the day in a Victorian home, all the rooms were connected by the entrance foyer and closed off with a series of doors so that the occupants could have privacy.
We started first in the foyer, with the tour guide describing the architecture, decorations and fixturing of the lamps and chandeliers. We discussed the make of the fixtures and the type of materials used to build and decorate the house.
The ceiling and fixturing of the hallway. The Chandelier was created with both gas and electricity when it became available. When the ceiling had to be repaired, the members had to use different materials to match what was already on the ceiling and you would never know the difference.
The fixturing of the house went from gas to electric
We next moved into the Living Room where the formal Christmas tree would be placed. During the early part of the century, the family like most Victorians would have had a tabletop tree but as time went on decorations became more elaborate.
The elaborate decorations of the full Christmas tree
The Living Room was so beautifully decorated
Elaborate China wedding gift
You can see the bedrooms with clothes and accessories, the game room with the billiards and work out objects and the living room, dining room and music room and library. It is how a proper Victorian home was set up at a time when families wanted privacy. The tour took us to each room where it was explained its purpose in a wealthy Victorian home. Most houses at the time would not have been this elaborate.
The Music Room would have been another place where the family gathered for entertainment long before the use of TV and radio. Family members would play instruments and sing to entertain guests who came to visit.
The Music Room
The decorative greens around the fireplace in the Music Room
The Table Top Tree would have been one of the first Christmas trees in Victorian times. Gifts, candies and cards would have been attached to the tree and would have been taken apart on Christmas day.
The beautifully carved fireplace in the Music Room
The beautiful flowers in the Music Room
The Parlor on the other side of the hallway was for more informal get togethers and for sewing. This is where the family would do more informal entertaining and use on a day in day out basis.
The Parlor Room for sewing and reading and informal entertaining
The comfortable seats in the Billiards Room
The Sewing Kit in the Parlor
The formal dining room was set for Christmas Dinner and you get to see the kitchen and where everything was prepared for the family.With the house being set up for the holidays, you can see how elaborate the preparations would have been and how the table would have been set and the food would have been served.
The Dining Room at the Physick Mansion set for Christmas dinner
The table was set with the best china, crystal and silver for the holidays
Food would be served from the Dining Room sideboard by the servants
The elaborate sideboard
The sideboard for drinks and dessert
The Dining Room Table set for Christmas dinner
The kitchen was set up for the cooking of the Christmas dinner along with the foods that would have been served and the recipes that would have been used to prepare them. Entertaining during the holidays would not have stopped with just a family dinner as people would be entertaining neighbors, friends and relatives. There would have been teas and receptions on top the formal Christmas dinner to prepare for in a Victorian home.
The Kitchen during the holiday season
Preparations for Christmas dinner
The Christmas Day menu
The coal burning stove in the ‘modern’ kitchen
The smaller original kitchen
Preparations for Christmas dinner and holiday gatherings
Holiday dishes being prepared
Getting the laundry and dishes done
Upstairs are the bedrooms and the Billiard Room that was used for entertaining as well. Men and women would relax and enjoy more informal entertainments. The bedrooms were prepared for the members of the house dressing for dinner, leaving for holiday visits and entertaining.
Mrs. Physick’s bedroom with clothes laid out for dinner or visiting
Christmas presents to family members
Mrs. Physick’s bedroom
Mrs. Physick’s dress
Mrs. Physick’s closet
Dr. Physick’s room with clothes laid out for the evening
The Servants Room
The Modern bathroom with indoor plumbing
The Servants room for mending
The Billiards Room would have been used for light entertainment and after hours play.
The Billiards Room on the Second floor of the Physick House
The Billiards Room
During the warmer months, they have a cafe and an afternoon tea for visitors to the home and more outdoor activities.
The Mansion’s Publicity Pamphlet:
Celebrating our history….Enriching your life
Emlen Physick Estate
Lovingly restored to its original splendor, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate is Cape May’s only Victorian house museum. The 18 room Physick House was built in the Stick Style of architecture, with trademark design features of renowned Philadelphia architect Frank Furness. The Estate provides an in-depth glimpse of the period and offers year-round tours and unique living history programs.
The elaborate woodwork in the Physick House
The new theme for Physick Estate Tours in 2017 is “Let’s Go Shopping! Victorian Consumer Culture.” Revolutions in American industrializing, merchandising, advertising, retailing and consuming in the Victorian era forever changed how people shopped. Take a guided tour of the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate with this new theme for 2017 and you’ll discover how consumer culture has changed since the late 1800’s. The house is air conditioned and the first floor is fully accessible.
The Carroll Gallery and Carriage House Café & Tearoom
On the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. The estate’s 1876 Carriage House now houses a gallery featuring changing exhibits throughout the year and a charming museum shop as well as the Carriage House Café & Tearoom. Dine in the Carriage House or outdoors beneath the gaily-striped tent overlooking the gorgeous gardens. Enjoy a hearty lunch from our Café menu or a traditional English Tea Luncheon or afternoon tea with tea breads and scones freshly baked in our own kitchen. Open late April through October. Air conditioned and fully accessible.
The Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May, NJ
The entrance to the home
MAC is committed to making its programs accessible to as many individuals as possible. For information or if you require assistance, please call 609-884-5404 in advance so we may accommodate you. New Jersey Relay Center for TTY customers, please call 800-852-7899. MAC’s public history programs are funded in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission in the Department of State Restoration work at the Physick Estate has been funded by the New Jersey Historic Trust, the New Jersey Cultural Trust and the 1772 Foundations.
Touring the house for the Cape May Holiday Tour of Homes and Inns in 2025:
I came to Cape May the first weekend in December 2025 to take the Christmas Walking tour of all the places open for touring and the Physick House was the headquarters for the event and was so beautifully decorated for the holidays.
The whole estate so beautifully decorated for the holidays.
The start of the walking tour outside the house
Many houses, inns and museums were open for this walking tour in Cape May and the event takes place for three Saturdays before Christmas. Each of the places are beautifully decorated for the holidays and have tour guides and owners who led you through their establishments with great pride.
These were some of the rooms I was most impressed with in the house when I was on the tour in 2025. Even the gift shop was decorated to the hilt.
The tour guide in the Living Room welcoming us on the walking tour
The Victorian Christmas tree in the Living Room
The Dining Room set for a Christmas feast
The table setting for Christmas
The side board ready for dessert
The Table Christmas tree in the Parlor
Flowers all over the home
The gift shop was beautifully decorated for the holidays
Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Emlen Physick Estate pamphlet. Please call the Estate at the number above for more information.
The Salem Historical Society at 83 Market Street in Downtown Salem, NJ.
History and information on the Salem County Historical Society:
(from the museum pamphlet)
The Salem County Historical Society was founded in 1884 and has grown over the last century from generous donation from the community. It has over 10,000 objects in the collection that include fine arts, textiles, Native American artifacts and a variety of material culture artifacts.
The Society maintains extensive museum and library collections related to the region’s heritage. Our exceptional collection includes furniture, paintings, textiles, glass, china, silver, documents, tools and other family heirlooms. This collection enables us to graphically convey to visitors an understanding of the work, play, society and lifestyles of local inhabitants from generations past.
(The Society’s campus houses three other buildings: the Stone Barn, the John Jones Law Office ( a hexagonal structure housing New Jersey’s first law office) and the Log Cabin Educational Center).
I came across this little ‘gem’ when walking around downtown Salem, New Jersey on my Christmas break back in 2019. This historical society put some of the musty ones I have visited to shame. It is so beautifully set up and maintained. It also has some great exhibitions and was so nicely decorated for the Christmas holidays. It is a ‘must-see’ when visiting Southern New Jersey.
Museum logo
The Salem County Historical Society is housed in three interconnected historic houses, the centerpiece of which is the Alexander Grant Mansion (1721).
In June 2022, I finally got to return to the museum after COVID had closed it for months. The museum had been refreshed with new displays and more interesting artifacts mounted all over the museum.
I was lucky that it was quiet that afternoon and I was able to one of the members take me on a personal tour of the museum. He explained to me that during the pandemic since they were closed they were able to work on the displays and update and refresh the exhibitions. This is the one thing I like about the Salem County Historical Museum is that it is not a musty mish-mosh of displays. Displays are well thought out and explained to the public.
We started in the front room with a display of Revolutionary War memorabilia. Here you will see a ring with a lock of George Washington’s hair, the shoe buckles of General William Hancock, who was a prominent resident of the town who fought in the Revolutionary war.
Various objects from the family and the war years are displayed here.
Off to the main part of the museum and the one section of the museum that stuck out to me when visiting the first time was The Keeping Room, the original part of the house that was built in the early 1700’s. The large hearth was just recently opened from what I learned from the tour and was once the center of the original home due to a place of cooking and heat.
During the Christmas holiday season, this room was decorated with garland and a Christmas tree, which would not have fit the time period but still made a festive environment for the room. Here kitchen and home wares are displayed where the family would have concentrated their domestic chores. Cooking and serving items were displayed along with a spinning wheel to make clothes.
The Keeping Room at the Salem County Historical Society
The Keeping Room at Christmas time
The Keeping Room at Christmas time
The main room displayed many more pre and post-Revolutionary War items including home furnishings of desks, wardrobes and grand father clocks. The most interesting item that I saw the Inauguration dress of local prominent resident, Sarah Hancock Sinnickson, who was married to Thomas Sinnickson, whose family helped found Salem, NJ. The dress is prominently displayed and it was interesting to see an actual item that was on display the evening of that ball. If it could talk.
The historic dress of Sarah Hancock Sinnickson that she wore to George Washington’s Inaugural Ball
The Grandfather clocks and Sarah Hancock Sinnickson dress information
The next two rooms have displays of local materials. One room was dedicated to the local Native American population. There was a large display of arrowheads, hunting spears, cooking materials and grinding equipment to break down corn and wheat for baking. Each piece was displayed related to its use and it was fascinating to see how a society showed its sophistication by creating meals from the use of specialty styled sticks and rocks.
In another room was a display of early ice cream manufacturing including the delivery buckets and carts.
Several families were known for the ice cream making including the local Bassett family whose relatives still make ice cream for their store in the Philadelphia Reading Market and packaged for all over the world.
Evolution of Ice Cream
History of the Salem Ice Cream industry
Their first flavor: Tomato. The tour guide explained how companies would color their buckets differently so you knew where the ice cream came from.
Other standouts in the room was an original Edison Phonograph with the original cylinders which were the precursor to records. It was interesting to see how the modern day record player developed. The item had been housed in someone’s barn before it was donated and still had most of the original cylinders.
The early Edison Phonograph
Another object in the other room was the Lafayette Quilt made by local resident Annabelle Chatter. This quilt was so beautifully designed with pieces of cloth from all over the world including the coat that President Lincoln wore that faithful night. I learned from the tour guide that people were taking small pieces of the coat after the President died. This was strange because I saw the same coat at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Exhibition and the coat was on display there and it looked pretty intact.
There was also an extensive display of items from the 1893 Columbian Exposition that showcased all the modern developments coming into society. This included pictures and objects that visitors could buy. Another display was on the Salem Oak Tree that once dominated the cemetery around the corner from the Society that fell in June of 2019. The room was made up of pictures of the tree and items that were made from limbs that had fallen in the past.
The upstairs had rooms full of Samplers, a way for young girls in the 1800’s to practice their sewing skills for use in homemakingfor things like clothes and domestic items like blankets. There was a Blown Glass display on items made in the area. Companies had use of local sand in manufacturing making blown glass items a big industry in the area.
The last display is dedicated to clocks, both grandfather clocks and the development of the pocket watch. The one thing that I learned was on the creation of the face of the grandfather clock was the use of the Roman Numeral IV as IIII. The tour guide explained that makers of the clock did not find it symmetrical with the other numbers in the placement and that’s why they used the incorrect symbol number.
The latest exhibition that I saw in 2022, is the “Step into our Canvas: 200 years of Salem County Art”, a extensive exhibition of local deceased artists from Salem, NJ. This includes artists who are recognized locally, regionally and nationally for their skills. These range from 18 Century artists to present day with the entire exhibition from the Salem Historical Society Collection. It was an interesting mix of portraits, still life’s and landscapes. This exhibition of the Society’s visual art collection aims to perpetuate Salem County’s heritage and enhance awareness of its artistic roots (Museum pamphlets).
The “Step into our Canvas: 200 years of Salem County Art” exhibition
The exhibition timeline
Also in 2022, I visited the courtyard and gardens in the back of the museum which contains several buildings including a barn, a small schoolhouse that was moved here along with the oldest lawyers office in the country, a small octagon structure.
There was a small bathhouse designed in the “Oriental” style of the time.
The barn in the courtyard
The buildings line the courtyard in the back of the historical society and on a nice day is a very pleasant place to stroll around and see the buildings.
The log cabin that was built on this property
Programs sponsored by the museum:
The Annual “Salem Walking Ghost Tour” event:
In 2022, I attended the ‘Annual Salem Walking Ghost Tour’ which tours the historic homes of the Salem Historic District and the church cemeteries of the downtown. At each stop, we got to hear tales of the haunted houses of the district and the owners in the afterlife still are involved in their current owners lives.
We started the night with a concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church with organist Erik Meyer, who played music that we relate to Halloween.
St. John’s Episcopal Church on Market Street the day of the concert.
The “Tunes from the Crypt” concert was right before the walking tour.
The concert featured five musical numbers that are classic to all horror films. The music being played is what you might hear in a popular horror film or something to do with Halloween. It seemed a little strange to be in a church but the organist told us that a lot of churches are using this for a fundraiser.
Erik Meyer who was the organist at the concert before the walk
He dressed like a vampire which I thought was strange for a church. These concerts have brought people back to these churches and even the priest said that he had not seen crowds like this on Sundays. The church was packed that evening.
The inside of the St. John’s Episcopal Church for the concert
The beautiful stained glass windows the night of the concert
After the concert, we walked down the antique store where the tour started. We stopped at various parts of the historic district to tales of woes, travels and ghosts still haunting the homes they loved so much.
One of the decorated porches on the Haunted Walking Tour
The Historic District of Market Street
A resident of the house talking about his haunted home the night of the walking tour
No walking tour is complete with a trip to the cemetery
The walking tour really was interesting and residents talked about their experiences in their homes that they say are haunted. The tour was about an hour but is really worth the trip. It was interesting to see how Salem, NJ developed over the years. The tour takes place before Halloween every year and tickets do sell out fast.
sited got a kick out of how things have not changed that much but today kids are more into cell phones and video games.
The entrance to the museum during the holiday season is nicely decorated.
For a small museum, the Salem County Historical Society Museum offers a view into our past and how New Jersey played a huge role in the development of the United States as a nation. Really take the time to see each room and admire their objects on display. You’ll learn a thing or two on what modern items are based on.
During the Christmas holiday season, the museum is decorated with trees, garland and the “Keeping Room”, the original part of the house, is decorating for the holidays.
The “Keeping Room”, the oldest part of the museum.
The Hearth decorated for the holidays.
The Victorian Christmas tree in the main room.
The banister to the second floor decorated for the holidays.
The museum was simply but nicely decorated for the Christmas holidays and the exhibits were family friendly for the season.
The Exhibitions:
The Society utilizes its rich museum to present engaging and informative exhibits. Our museum features several ongoing exhibits including The Keeping Room, A Legacy fro Salem County and The Stone Barn. These displays showcase some of the Society’s treasures including fine and decorative arts, Wistar glass and signature quilts.
In addition to our semi-permanent exhibits, the Society features large special exhibits that change every two years. These exhibits take a closer look at specific events or aspects of Salem County history. Check the Society website to get information about current exhibits. The Society has also opened more rooms for small exhibits that rotate and change periodically.
In 2023, the museum exhibited “Through a Child’s Eye: Toys from the Past” toys from the permanent collection. The museum had a collection of dolls, trucks, games and housekeeping play things. Toys from the Victorian era to the 1960’s were based on domestic roles and getting children ready for marriage. Items like dolls were for child rearing, tea sets for etiquette training for entertaining, trucks , cars and trains for transportation jobs and later on tinker toys and erector sets for thinking and construction. Items like board games were for socialization and thinking skills.
The write up for the exhibition.
The selection of Boys and Girls toys.
Contemporary Board games, musical instruments and dolls.
Dollhouses, trucks and cars for future jobs in industry and in the home.
Domestic toys such as kitchen sets and dolls for women to prepare them for motherhood.
Toys were best for creativity and imagination.
Dollhouses were very popular in every generation.
A baby blanket
Dolls, trucks and tea sets were created a future of domestic and work based lifestyle.
The museum had an interesting collection all sorts of toys, games and vehicles from all ages. From what the museum docent told me was that the kids who vi
Research Library and Special Collections
Thousands of researchers make their own connections to Salem County with the help of the Society’s research library. Historians and family researcher trace their ancestors through time with the help of our library’s comprehensive collection of resources, thus helping to bring people closer to Southern New Jersey’s distinctive heritage.
The library’s holdings of family records, manuscripts, deeds and church histories serve scores of genealogical and historical researchers with primary documents.
The Museum at Christmas 2024
Programs and Special Events
The Society has an active calendar with many diverse programs. From our Quarterly Meetings to the popular John S. Rock Memorial Lecture series to genealogical workshops, there is something for everyone.
The Society also sponsors events such as the highly regarded Open House Tour which opens Salem County’s historic homes and churches to the public every spring. In the fall, the Society sponsors the Walking Ghost Tour, an evening of spirits and stories in historic Salem.
The Walking Ghost Tour in 2019 at the Society
Tunes from the Crypt in 2022
The Salem Ghost Tour in 2022 behind the Salem Historical Society
Touring the cemetery during the day is less creepy and very interesting.
Actors telling their tales the night of the Salem Ghost Walk
The Annual Christmas Yuletide Tour of Salem Homes and Museums:
With Sinterklaas being cancelled this year, it gave me a chance to visit Salem and Woodstown, NJ for their Annual House Decorated Tours. I took full advantage of the time and started early on the tour of Downtown Salem, NJ.
I started the tour right after the Salem Christmas Parade by visiting the Salem Fire Museum, which is never open.
I started my tour of Salem the second the parade was over. I did not want my chance to see the museum’s collection.
The inside of the first floor tells the story of early fire servic
The museum first floor was quiet before the parade to tour
The museum’s second floor with offices and a view of the downtown
The wild Christmas tree on the second floor
The antique pumper on the first floor was the main attraction
The more formal Christmas tree on the first floor near the rescue equipment
I found the Salem Fire Museum to be a fascinating look at firefighting at many different eras. It is nicely displayed and organized and the members of the Salem Fire Department were around to answer any questions.
I watched the Salem Christmas Parade in the morning after the tour of the museum, wanting to see that first before the crowds came. The parade was fun but sparsely attended and I swear the police blocked off every road so it was hard to cross or find parking.
The Salem Magic of Christmas Parade
The Salem Magic of Christmas Parade
The Salem Magic of Christmas Parade
The characters in the Parade
The Parade Queen and her Court rode throughout the parade
After the parade was over and I had a quick snack, it was time to start the Holiday tour of the homes and businesses of Salem.
Salem has limited restaurants but Bravo Pizza & Pasta at 179 West Broadway in Downtown Salem, NJ
My favorite place for lunch, Bravo Pizza on East Broadway
While I was downtown, I stopped at the old bank to see their display before I started the walking tour of the homes. This is now an artist school and gallery. Their take on the holidays was quite clever.
The walk in safe decorated for the holidays
The history of the bank and the downtown
I started the tour of Downtown Salem, NJ homes at the antique store to pick up my map and look around. They have some great things to buy here.
The beautiful Federalist homes the lined northern Market Street had all sorts of elegant decorations on them.
He beautiful and historic Downtown Salem, NJ
He first stop on the tour was Salem City park to watch the military display of arms
The gazebo was nicely decorated for the holidays
The whimsical decorations in the park that day
My next stop was the historical cabin in the downtown. It had been a recreation of an original cabin used during the Revolutionary War.
The cabin had been set up for the military display
The inside of the cabin set up to reflex the war years
I then moved on to start the tour of homes and churches along this stretch of North Market Street.
Even the homes not on the tour were decked out for the holidays
The first house on the tour on North Market Street
The Dining Room of the home was set up for an elegant Christmas lunch
The Living Room was decorated to receive guests
The sideboards were maddened with holiday decorations and Christmas cookies
Most of the homes on the tour provided refreshments complimentary. The first home’s kitchen was laden with trays of homemade Christmas cookies and candies
I loved the use of garland and greens on these homes at the holidays
The second home I visited both floors were designed with elegant holiday displays.
The first floor and second floor had several Christmas trees on display
The second tree on the first floor with the theme of Gingerbread homes and people
The elegant tree on the second floor of the home
I then moved on to St. John’s Church to hear the organ music and wondering singers and look at how nicely decorated the church was for holiday services.
The home at North Market Street from the outside
I had been in the church several years before for the ghost tours and knew of its history.
The sign for the historic St. John’s Church
St. John’s Church on the tour
The church was decorated for Christmas Mass
As a fundraiser in their Chapel, the church was selling soup and sandwiches at very reasonable prices. It was a cool morning and I got the New England Clam Chowder and Sourdough bread. It hit the spot!
The homemade New England Clam Chowder was excellent
The strolling carolers entertained us throughout the tour at each site. Even they stopped to enjoy lunch here.
Another house downtown decorated for the holidays
On the way to the next church and some of the historical buildings, I stopped at the new Willows Wisp at 82 Market Street. This cute little shop had just had a soft opening and was just letting hg the community know they were here.
I stayed for the first couple of songs to warm up before I moved to the Salem County Historical Society across the street to take a quick tour of the exhibitions.
The Salem County Historical Society at 83 Market Street
The museum was open for the duration of the tour of homes and had their interesting Portrait and Toy exhibitions (as noted above) still open to tour and view with docents.
Since I had toured them earlier to see what exhibitions were still there and found I had seen the all, I looked over the Dutch Keeping Room to see an early display of a Dutch Christmas activities. This is the oldest part of the original home that houses the Salem County Historical Society. It used to be where the original Christmas tree was placed which is now replaced by the Victorian Christmas tree further in the museum.
The Keeping Room at Christmas time
The Keeping Room set up for a Dutch Christmas
The Keeping Room decorated for Christmas
After visiting the museum. I went over at Old Salem Courthouse and toured the historical building. The building sits on the site of the original building that was built in 1692. This building’s cornerstone was built in 1735 and enlarged in 1817. The building was moved and renovated in 1908. It is now the oldest Courthouse in the United States under continuous use since its inception (Salem Historical Society Guidebook),
The Old Salem Courthouse at 113 Market Street
The beautiful decorations on the side of the building
The inside of the oldest Courthouse being used in the United States
The side of the room decorated for Christmas
The old fashioned bell that was once used outside
When I was finished with my tour of the Old Salem County Courthouse, I was down the block to my next stop, the Salem Friends Meeting Room building, one I had walked past many times.
The historic signs for the Friends Meeting
The Friends Meeting House in downtown Salem
The historic Friends Meeting House
The view from the top of the Friends Meeting House
The Friends Meeting House was indeed old and I was amazed that this building was still being used for worship. I looked like a relic from another era. There was not much decorations either so it did not seem to festive. I walked around the downtown to the next destination.
Historic Downtown Salem, NJ during the tour, the Courthouse to the left and the firehouse to the right
As it got later in the day, I stopped by the old JC Penney building at 225 Broadway, that was now being used as a training ground for carpenters. They were showing us around the old department store.
Then it was a quick tour of the Brown & Smith Building, which was at 193 Broadway. The historic building was now a gift shop and art gallery. I toured the items of the store before I moved onto my last two sites before I got to my B & B. The next place I visited was the Sarah Hall House at 90 West Broadway, which is now an Insurance company. The front of the offices had been decorated for the holidays with vintage decorations.
The former Sarah Hall House at 90 West Broadway in Downtown Salem
Some of the decorations when we entered the house for the tour
The Christmas tree inside the older home portion of the building
This delightful little doll was owned by one of the members of the Insurance company’s grandmother. The home had also once been the Masonic Lodge. So I could see the addition in the back of the building.
The last private home I saw on the tour was the Matlack House at 24 Oak Street, which had been built in 1868. The couple that owned it now were on property to tell us how they renovated and cared for this home.
The beautiful Matlack House at 24 Oak Street
The owners had done all the wallpapering herself and it was very impressive
Their Christmas tree just off the kitchen
One of the decorated trees by the old Library
What I liked about visiting this house was the sheer creativity of the decorations and the beauty of the design of the home. The last place on the tour was the Barrett Plantation House, where I would be spending the night. The B & B was on the tour that evening so I could not check until the tour was over.
It was really nice to be part of the tour as I got to see all the rooms in the B & B and hear more of its history. The fireplaces were going when we toured and they had a Revolutionary violinist playing and telling us stories of the holidays back then.
I never realized that this house was built in 1735 as a plantation which once encompassed five hundred acres. It was so beautifully decorated for the holidays and what was nice about it was that the fireplaces were going and it was nice and warm in the main room.
The inside of the main room during the tour with the fire going
The beautiful decorations were all throughout the home
One of the bedrooms decked out for the holidays
The violinist who entertained us with music and stories of Christmas’s past
This was the end of the former tour and I just relaxed at the Barrett House to warm up and listen to the music. Since my hosts needed some downtime to get the B &. B back in shape, I went back downtown for the Christmas tree lighting outside of the Old Courthouse.
The Salem Tree Lighting was not part of the House Tour but a nice an accompaniment to it and the earlier parade. I have to admit it was a small tree. I thought in a town as old as Salem they would have this large tree in town but it looked like they had just planted it.
The outside of the Salem Courthouse for the Tree Lighting
The Courthouse decked out and lit for the evening
The Choir singing before the lighting
Videos of Santa arriving on the Salem Fire Truck and The Tree Lighting:
The tree lighting with the parade queen and the choir joining in the fun
The tree at the end of the Tree Lighting ceremony that evening
The Tree Lighting ended my tour of the day. It really was a wonderful house tour and there were so many beautiful homes and public building to tour and visit and so many gracious hosts. I highly recommend this tour for people who want to see the beauty of Revolutionary homes decked out for the holidays.
My stay in Salem, NJ the night of the Yuletide Tour and Tree Lighting:
After the tour was over, I went back to Barrett’s Plantation B & B for the evening. My host Gaynel and Craig greeted me warmly after a long and cold day of touring homes and the downtown. I was greeted by my hosts in the Living Room with a warm fire going and a glass of wine. We had small snacks of Shrimp Cocktail and a Roast beef sandwich with a side of Red Skin Potato salad.
After a nice conversation and getting to know the other guests a swapping ghosts stories, it was time for bed. I highly recommend the Dickerson Room, one of the two suites. I slept soundly that night.
The Dickerson Suite
The Dickerson suite when I woke up to start my day touring
The Sitting Room in the Dickerson Suite
The breakfasts at the Barrett’s Plantation are always wonderful. In the warm and inviting breakfast room, warm fire was going and the table was set for us with juice, fresh fruit and tea. For breakfast with the fresh fruit was Amish Honey Bread and Sunday Casserole with a side of potatoes. What a wonderful way to start the day.
The table set for breakfast
The table setting with fresh fruit
The fresh fruit to start the meal
The Amish Honey Bread
The Sunday Casserole with a side of potatoes for the main dish
The decorations around the house
After the wonderful breakfast, I was ready to start my day. I just loved the decoration inside and outside the house. The couple really did a wonderful job making the B & B festive for the holidays.
Decorations around the house
The side of Barrett’s at the holidays
The beautiful decorations outside
The grounds at Christmas time were nice to walk around in
The grounds at Christmas time
I left that morning to tour other museums and to explore the area more for my blog. It was an excellent tour of the homes and the sites and I highly recommend the Yuletide Tour to really get to know Salem, NJ.
Information on the Society:
(Taken from the Museum pamphlet)
Why become a member of the Salem County Historical Society?
The mission of the Salem County Historical Society is to seek, document, preserve, interpret and perpetuate Salem County’s heritage and to enhance the awareness and appreciation of that heritage through research, collections, functions, exhibits, educational programs and publications, for the benefit of future generations and for the betterment of the community.
The Society offers a wide variety of programming and services that are unduplicated regionally. These programs are presented at locations around the county and are designed to reach and serve a wide range of audiences. This includes guided tours, school lessons on site, outreach programs and our Open House in Fenwick’s Colony tour and Quarterly Meetings. Most programs are free and all are open to the public.
Salem County’s history and the evidence of it that is all around us in the origins and architecture of its buildings, is one of its greatest assets and should be a source of pride for all of us. The growing number of visitors using the Society’s research library, museum displays and public programs is testimony to the increasing interest of the general public in enjoying Salem County’s history.
Membership Benefits
*Receive our award winning quarterly newsletter
*Free admission to our library and museum
*Discounted copies and services in the library
*Discounts on Society events and programs
The funds needed to operate the facility and to maintain and improve the level of services provided by the Society, come in part from annual membership dues. If you are not already a member, please consider a membership. You may join online at http://www.salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com or stop by and visit the Society.
Volunteer
Volunteers play a crucial role in the Society’s operation and overall success. The Society welcomes individuals with varying backgrounds and interests to contribute to our overall mission of preserving and caring for the history of Salem County. Please contact us to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Resources & Records:
*Bible Records
*Census, Church and Cemetery
*Military Service
*Published family histories and family files
*Rare manuscripts and subject files
*Birth, marriages and death resources
*Newspapers on microfilm
*Online access to Ancestry.com
Special collections:
*Maps
*Photographs
*Rare books
*Recorded and unrecorded deeds
*Diaries and journals
*Historical publications about county, state, military, ethnic and industrial history, as well as topics of local interest such as glass, brick houses and agriculture
*Unique house and church files
Publications
The Society publications an award-winning Quarterly Newsletter featuring Society news, events and scholarly articles. Our bookstore features books and periodicals on Salem County topics from many local authors. Publications are available to purchase on our website and at the Historical Society.
Education
The Society brings history to life for hundreds of children every year, providing hands-on lessons about life in 18th and 19th century Salem County. Utilizing current exhibits and permanent collections, children are introduced to the region’s rich heritage through presentations and hands-on activities.
These programs complement school lessons for traditional and homeschooled groups. All of our education programs meet state curriculum standards for Social Studies, Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts and Mathematics, grades 4-12.
The Society offers educational programs based on the American Revolution, the Civil War, life in the colonial past, which has students identify objects from the past and modern equivalents. The Society also offers educational programming based on the current exhibits. These programs are available at the Historical Society and the programs on the Revolution, Civil War and “History’s Mysteries” can be presented offsite upon request.
Please check the education section of our website to learn more about these programs. Field trips and group tours can be scheduled by contacting the Society at (856) 935-5004.
Accessibility
The Salem County Historical Society strives to make all of our programs accessible to the public. Our library and museum exhibits are wheelchair accessible. Persons requiring special services should contact the Society in advance of your visit. Group visits are welcome and available by reservation.
The Society’s programs are made possible in part by funds from the Salem County Cultural and Heritage Commission, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and our generous Corporate Sponsors. If you are interested in corporate sponsorship please call the Society.
Museum & Library Admission: $5.00 per person
Directions:
From the Delaware Memorial Bridge:
Take the Route 40 exit and immediately bear right onto County Route 540. Follow 540 to Route 45 south, which becomes Market Street in Salem City.
From NJ Turnpike and I-295: Take Route 40 exit, proceed across overpass and go straight onto County Route 540. Follow 540 to Route 45 south, which becomes Market Street in Salem County.
Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Salem County Historical Society pamphlet and membership forms. It really is a nice place to visit and take about an hour to visit the galleries. Please call the above numbers for more information.
Visiting a Museum: The Unique, Unusual, Obscure and Historical 