New Jersey Historical Society
A Newark-based historical society and museum dedicated to preserving, researching, exhibiting, and interpreting the history of New Jersey.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The New Jersey Historical Society is a historical society, museum, library, and public-history institution based in Newark, New Jersey. Founded in 1845 in Trenton by a group of prominent intellectual and business leaders, the organization was created to collect, preserve, and interpret materials relating to the history of New Jersey. Among the founders identified in historical accounts are Joseph C. Hornblower, Robert Gibbon Johnson, Peter D. Vroom, and William A. Whitehead. The society moved to Newark in 1846 and has remained associated with the city ever since. The institution combines museum exhibitions with research and educational services. Its Newark facility occupies the former headquarters of the Essex Club, a Georgian-style building designed by Guilbert & Betelle and constructed in 1926. The building is located at 52 Park Place on Military Park, in downtown Newark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The society's public spaces include exhibition galleries on the second and third floors, a gift shop, and a lecture hall. Its library reading room is located on the fifth floor, in space that formerly served as the Essex Club's squash courts. The society's collections and library support scholarly research into New Jersey's political, social, cultural, economic, and community history. Library visitors are encouraged to arrange appointments, reflecting the research-oriented nature of the institution's library services. The museum is open to the public, with members admitted free and non-members generally paying an admission charge. In addition to exhibitions and research access, the organization has offered occasional walking tours of Newark, extending its interpretive work beyond the museum building and into the city itself. The society has occupied several significant Newark locations. Its early Newark headquarters were on Market Street. In 1931, it moved from downtown to a large colonial-style building at 230 Broadway, east of Branch Brook Park. That facility was partly financed by Louis Bamberger. In 1997, the organization returned to downtown Newark and established its current home in the former Essex Club building. The move materially increased public visitation: attendance in the first year at the downtown location was reported to have risen almost fivefold. Historically, the New Jersey Historical Society also published the academic journal New Jersey History. Although the society formerly issued the journal, it is not identified in the available material as a current publication. Today, the institution's public identity rests on its museum exhibitions, historical collections, library and reading-room services, lectures, educational programming, and occasional Newark tours. Steven Tettamanti is identified as the current director in the referenced material.
History
The New Jersey Historical Society was established in 1845 in Trenton by intellectual and business leaders who sought to preserve and study the history of New Jersey. The founders named in historical accounts include Joseph C. Hornblower, Robert Gibbon Johnson, Peter D. Vroom, and William A. Whitehead. In 1846, only a year after its creation, the society relocated to Newark. Newark has remained its institutional home, linking the organization to one of the state's principal historic cities and civic centers. The society's first Newark headquarters were on Market Street. As its collections, programs, and institutional ambitions developed, it later moved away from the downtown core. In 1931, the organization relocated to a substantial colonial-style building at 230 Broadway, near Branch Brook Park. The building was partly paid for by Louis Bamberger and served as the society's home for many decades. A major change occurred in 1997, when the Historical Society returned to downtown Newark. It moved into the former Essex Club building at 52 Park Place on Military Park. The structure is a Georgian-style building designed by Guilbert & Betelle and completed in 1926. It had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 22, 1991, before the society established its current presence there. The building's earlier use as a private club shaped several of its later adaptations: exhibition galleries occupy the second and third floors, while the fifth-floor library reading room is located in space that formerly contained squash courts. The downtown move also changed the society's public reach. Visits during the first year in the new location were reported to have increased almost fivefold, suggesting that the central site improved public access and visibility. The current facility accommodates museum exhibitions, a gift shop, a lecture hall, and research services. The society is open to the public, while members receive free admission and non-members generally pay an admission fee. Library researchers are encouraged to make appointments. The institution's work extends across collecting, preservation, scholarship, and public interpretation. Its exhibitions present aspects of New Jersey's history, while its library and reading room support visitors conducting historical research. The society has also offered occasional walking tours of Newark and public lectures, connecting its collections and interpretation to the surrounding urban environment. It formerly published the academic journal New Jersey History, adding a scholarly publishing role to its museum and library functions. The available reference material identifies Steven Tettamanti as the current director. Beyond that leadership information, detailed records of successive directors, collection growth, exhibition titles, and publication history are not provided in the source material used for this entry. The society remains an active historical institution whose principal role is to preserve and share New Jersey's past through exhibitions, research access, educational activity, and public programming.
- 1997
Return to downtown Newark
[1]The society moved into the former Essex Club building on Military Park. Visits reportedly rose almost fivefold during the first year at the downtown location.
- 1991
Current building added to the National Register
[1]The former Essex Club building at 52 Park Place was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1931
Move to 230 Broadway
[1]The organization left downtown Newark for a large colonial-style building at 230 Broadway near Branch Brook Park, partly financed by Louis Bamberger.
- 1846
Relocation to Newark
[1]The society moved to Newark, which has remained its home city.
- 1845
Society founded in Trenton
[1]The New Jersey Historical Society was founded in Trenton by New Jersey intellectual and business leaders, including Joseph C. Hornblower, Robert Gibbon Johnson, Peter D. Vroom, and William A. Whitehead.
Products and positioning
A statewide historical institution with a strong Newark base, combining museum interpretation, archival and library research, public education, and preservation of New Jersey's historical record.
Public history
Museum exhibitions
The society presents exhibitions on New Jersey history in galleries on the second and third floors of its Newark facility. These exhibitions are a primary public-facing activity, translating historical collections and research into displays for visitors. The available material does not identify individual exhibition titles or opening dates.
Research service
Research library and reading room
The New Jersey Historical Society maintains library and research facilities for people studying the state's past. The reading room is located on the fifth floor of the former Essex Club building, in space previously used as squash courts. Library visitors are encouraged to make appointments, indicating that access is organized around research visits rather than ordinary walk-in museum attendance.
Education
Lectures and educational programs
A lecture hall forms part of the society's public facility and supports talks and educational programming connected with New Jersey history. The reference material confirms the availability of a hall for lectures but does not provide a complete schedule, program names, or details about recurring series.
Public history
Newark walking tours
The society has offered occasional walking tours of Newark. These tours extend the institution's interpretive work beyond its museum and library and place local history within the city's streets, buildings, and civic spaces. The available source describes them as occasional rather than as a continuously scheduled product.
Academic publication
New Jersey History
New Jersey History was an academic journal formerly published by the society. It represented the institution's scholarly publishing role alongside its museum exhibitions and research library. The available material does not establish the journal's complete publication run or current status beyond noting that the society formerly published it.
Brand decisions
1997
Return the institution to downtown NewarkStrategyBackground
After operating for decades at 230 Broadway near Branch Brook Park, the society selected the former Essex Club building at 52 Park Place on Military Park as its new home.
Action taken
The Historical Society moved its museum, public facilities, and research operations back to downtown Newark.
Aftermath
The first year after the move reportedly brought an almost fivefold increase in visits, indicating substantially greater public visibility and access.
Recent events
- 1997
New Jersey Historical Society returns to downtown Newark[1]
Other
The society moved into the former Essex Club building at 52 Park Place on Military Park, returning to downtown Newark after decades at 230 Broadway.
Steven Tettamanti identified as director[1]
Leadership change
Referenced institutional information identifies Steven Tettamanti as the current director of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Sources3 sources
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