Historic Happenings Blog

Friday, August 31 – Union County William Livingston Day 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Liberty Hall Museum invites you to celebrate the 242nd anniversary of William Livingston becoming New Jersey's first elected Governor! Join us on the beautiful grounds of Liberty Hall Museum while we celebrate - colonial style! Learn about William Livingston and experience signing your name with a quill pen, colonial dancing & crafts, and much more. Light refreshments will be served. Program Fee: FREE Reservations are required as space is limited, email  libertyhall@kean.edu  to reserve your spot Liberty Hall Museum: 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083

"Something New Under The Sun: An Evening Of Original Music"  MONTHLY MUSIC SERIES CONTINUES Music at the Mansion, hosted by Audra Mariel August 30 • 7:15 pm • $15 Join us for performances from five local musicians creating new sounds! There will be four sets of music, with one intermission.  Gabriella Grinwald-Alves is a filmmaker/ musician from Toms River, NJ. She is the other half of local duo Yūgen alongside Jules Murtha. During the year she attends Sarah Lawrence College where she studies filmmaking and screenwriting.  Flora and Fang  (Kasey Gillette and Jenny Santamaria) Kasey of Long Branch and Jenny of Brick met and decided to join forces about a year ago after they played their own sets at a house party in Montclair.  Both agreed their music needed harmonies and a collaborative partner to develop small pieces of songs into full songs. Taking inspiration from their own experiences involving love, death, pleasure and pain, the name Flora and

Thursday, June 28 -- Atlantic County     FREE YOGA SUMMER, beginning THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 6:30PM      FULL MOONRISE CLIMB, JUNE 28  FREE YOGA instructed by The Leadership Studio will be held every Thursday this summer at 6:30 pm, beginning June 28.  Bring your own mat & a friend! Atlantic City has a stunning skyline at night, and to top it off,  a full moon will float up from the ocean and join the magnificent lights of the city on Thursday evening, June 28th. If you'd like to see the only 360-degree view of this breathtaking panorama, grab your date for a memorable, romantic experience.  The last climb is at 8:30pm. Tickets are just $10 beginning at 5pm and include the full moon climb and a FREE artist's print of Absecon Lighthouse. You don’t want to miss this recession-busting date night out!                 Made possible by funds from the Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a partner of the NJ State Council on t

Thursday, August 30 – Morris County ·         Design a Shop Sign Description: Design, create and decorate a sign for your own imagined business. Make your shop the most appealing to passing stagecoach riders! Stick around for our METC Travel Stories Welcome Home Party , a free event to celebrate our summer adventures and mourn the end of summer. Party starts at 4pm and includes refreshments. Time:  11 am- 4 pm Price:  $5 per child. No registration required

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Wednesday, August 29 – Union County Uncork History: Documents of Liberty Hall Wednesday, August 29 - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy our summer series in the garden and join us for Uncork History: Documents of Liberty Hall. Guests will enjoy the summer evening with a VIP tour learning about the historical documents found at Liberty Hall. You'll learn about these historical documents, read some copies up close and learn about their significance. Afterwards, relax in our historic gardens with wine and finger foods. It's perfect for a summer date night or a night with friends! Must be 21 years or older to attend. Program Fee: $25 per person, $20 for museum members/KU Alumni Reservations required by August 25 To purchase tickets, visit  www.kean.edu/libertyhall  or call 908-527-0400 Liberty Hall Museum: 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083

Learning Opportunities Continue at METC over the Summer  Madison, NJ  – Summer may be in full swing, but you can still check out our exciting camp programs! In August, the METC education department is offering  creative, engaging and hands-on summer camps in a series of one or two-day sessions . All sessions run from 10:00am-2:00pm. All camps are for children entering grades 1 through 4 except  Clay!  which is geared toward students entering grades 3 and up.    In  American Revolution Home Front ,  offered on Wednesday , August 1,  children will discover what it was like for those left at home during the Revolution and will try out many of the chores that would have been performed on a daily basis, from making butter to weaving.    The Art of Eric Carle .  Join us on  Wednesday, August 8  for this creative camp day which provides children the opportunity to try out a variety of art projects, inspired by beloved author-illustrator Eric Carle.    Clay!   is   o

Tuesdays, August 14, 21, 28 -- Union County Child's View of History Tuesdays August, 14, 21, 28 - 11 a.m or 2 p.m. In this unique tour, children and their parents will view the museum through the eyes of its youngest former occupants: the children who inhabited Liberty Hall over the past 240 years. History has never been so "hands-on" with each room your child visits featuring a variety of artifacts they are welcome to touch! The tour ends with kids experiencing farm chores, playing colonial games and light refreshments. Recommended for ages 5-12. Program Fee: $10.00 per child, $8.00 per adult, reservations required. To purchase tickets, visit  www.kean.edu/libertyhall  or call 908-527-0400 Liberty Hall Museum: 1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083

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July 28 and 30 and beyond – Ocean County Kayak and Nature Trail Programs  Kayak Tours: July 30, August 13 and August 27                            10am and 1pm   Join guides from Ocean County Parks & Recreation as they lead an eco-tour of the Tuckerton Creek! Kayaks and flotation devices provided. You don't need to be an expert, but for safety, some kayaking experience is preferred. Free with the cost of Tuckerton Seaport Admission.  Call 609-296-8868 to reserve your spot today!  Tuckerton Seaport, Main Street, Tuckerton

Sunday,  August 26   - Cape May Point, Cape May County Cape May Lighthouse Full Moon Climb Let the light of the full moon guide you up the 199 stairs to the starry top, overlooking historic Cape May. Since it opened to the public in 1988, some 2.5 million people have climbed the 199 steps to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse; but a smaller, select group can say they have experienced the grand vista of the evening sky from atop this majestic beacon at nighttime. Climb the 199 steps of the Cape May Lighthouse to the top where you'll be able to see the full moon in all its glory on clear nights and enjoy a spectacular moonlit view.  The Cape May Lighthouse is located in Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township. Climbs will be held between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Admission: $12 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tower admission is free for “Friends” members. Purchase tickets from the Keeper at the Lighthouse the night of the event. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the

Saturday - Sunday, June 20 to August 26,  Sandy Hook, Monmouth County The Big Three: Battery Potter, Battery Granger, and Mortar Battery Meet with park staff to tour three historic batteries at Sandy Hook this weekend. Battery Potter: Explore and tour Sandy Hook's oldest disappearing gun battery.  This is also the first concrete gun battery that was built in America, completed in 1895.  Mortar Battery:  Join a park ranger guided tour of the Mortar Battery and learn about the first Endicott era (1894 - 1910) concrete gun battery that defended New York and its harbor against attack by enemy warships. Nine Gun Battery: When construction began 1897, the battery was originally intended to mount three 10-inch caliber disappearing guns, but when construction was completed in 1902, an additional six guns were emplaced creating a nine-gun battery that operated until 1944. These free tours begin at 1:30 pm and run continuously until 4:30 pm. They are located with the Fort Han

Sunday,  August 26   - West Orange, Essex County Geothermal Tour at the Glenmont Estate Go "behind the scenes" at the Edison home. Join a guide for a walk through the basement of the famous house and learn about its new geothermal heating and cooling system. This program will last about 30 minutes at take place at 1:30 and again at 2:30 pm. It focuses on the technical aspects of the environmentally friendly geothermal system. The basement is not wheelchair accessible. The tour is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .

Sunday, August 26 - Fair Lawn, Bergen County Garretson Forge and Farm Open House Garretson Forge and Farm will hold an open house on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The Gerretson, one of the oldest historic sites in Bergen County, was home to six generations of the Garretson family and remains a rare surviving example of simple farming life that was prevalent in the 1700s and 1800s. Admission is free but donations are welcome. The Forge and Farm are located at 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ. For more information, call 551-206-4380 or 201-797-7545 or visit  www.garretsonfarm.org .

Sunday, August 26  - Morris Township, Morris County Ice Cream 'Sunday' On Sunday, lend a hand cranking homemade ice cream at Fosterfields Living History Farm. Enjoy a sample while supplies last. Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Sundays, July 22 and August 26 – Bergen County Summertime Tours 1:00 - 5:00 pm Museum site open for tours. Visit Bergen County's Premier Historic Site. All 3 Jersey-Dutch sandstone houses, including the Steuben House, a state historic site, are connected by an ADA compliant gravel walking path. The Westervelt-Thomas Barn will be open. A Take-away kite-making project included for children and kite flying in the Meadow if conditions are right. Historic New Bridge Landing: An American Revolutionary War Battleground including 3 Jersey-Dutch sandstone houses, exhibits of BCHS collections, tavern, gift shop, out kitchen & barn. Free parking is available or take a train on the Pascack Valley Line from Secaucus via NJ Transit to the "New Bridge Landing" train stop. Walk one block north & east. By car, HNBL is only 7 miles from the GWB. $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. HNBL, 1201-1209 Main St., River Edge, NJ. Sitemap & direct

Saturday - Sunday, August 18 - 19  - Holmdel, Monmouth County Potato Harvest On Saturday and Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to learn how potatoes are grown and harvested. Help the Longstreet Farm staff bring in the crop, and dig some potatoes to take home for your own family. Stop by the summer kitchen for some 19th century inspiration on how to prepare them at home. This free event runs from 12:00 - 2:00 pm each day. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit  www.monmouthcountyparks.com .

Saturday - Sunday,  August 25 - 26  - Cape May, Cape May County Seafarers' Weekend at Historic Cold Spring Village Ahoy, matey! Historic Cold Spring Village invites you to celebrate the maritime culture and history of the Jersey Cape at Seafarers' Weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. The event will feature pirates, music, family fun, and a variety of displays and demonstrations of all things nautical. The Village buildings will also be open, featuring historical interpreters in period clothing who demonstrate the trades, crafts and lifestyles of Early America. Valhalla's Pirates will join the event, bringing thrilling fight scenes both days at 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm. Captain Black and his crew will also meet with guests throughout the day to take pictures and tell tales of the sea. The Sea Dogs, an authentic maritime reenactment crew, will perform sea shanties on both Saturday and Sunday at the Village Gazebo. Children should be on the lookout for go

Sunday, August 26 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County The Annual Rolling Iron Auto Show Returns to Allaire Village -  Rescheduled The Historic Village at Allaire is proud to present its 23rd Annual Antique Rolling Iron Auto Show on Sunday from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. Antique vehicles will be coming in from all over the tri-state area. Vehicles must be over 25 years to be entered. On display will be unique, antique vehicles from the area; many of these vehicles you may not see at other shows. Awards will be given out for Best in Show, People's Choice, Rusty Bucket, and many more! This show takes place in the parking lot of Allaire State Park, next to the Pine Creek Railroad. There will be plenty of macadam, with grass and shade to keep the vehicles dust-free, and of course, keep the spectators cool and comfortable. Our food vendors, will be tempting you with hot-dogs, hamburgers, french fries, Italian ice, sodas, funnel cakes, and much more. A State parking fee of $5.00 is in

Saturday, August 25  - Morristown, Morris County Meet the Irish Servant and the Cook at the Willows On   Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, discover the life of domestic help at the Foster home on a guided tour. Assist the maid with household chores and see what the cook has prepared using the wood-burning stove. Two tours times available: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit  www.morrisparks.net .

Saturday, August 25 – Burlington County Roebling Museum Saturday Lecture Series “Telling the Story of the Community" Oral History Workshop w/ Dr. Abigail Perkiss @ 1pm Included with Museum Admission ($6 for Adults, $5 for seniors and children 6-12) ROEBLING, N.J.  –  Come and explore ways to preserve your family and community history through personal experiences in an oral history workshop led by Dr. Abigail Perkiss of Kean University  on Saturday,  August 25 th  at 1 p.m. at the Roebling Museum. Roebling and Trenton are unique communities, with some important shared themes, experiences and stories. Community oral histories provide a way to understand our shared experiences through different voices and perspectives.  How can we record and preserve this type of information in a thorough and accurate way? How do we navigate the roles of the interviewer who asks questions and the person who tells their story? In this hands-on, guided s