Morven Museum & Garden, Richard Stockton House, Princeton, NJ

The Museum:

A National Historic Landmark, Morven is situated on five pristine acres in the heart of Princeton, New Jersey. This former New Jersey Governor’s Mansion showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Garden State through regular exhibitions, educational programs and special events.

History:

Home to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and to five New Jersey governors, Morven has played a role in the history of New Jersey and the nation for more than 250 years.

Richard Stockton (1730-1781) built Morven in the 1750s on land granted to his grandfather by William Penn in 1701. After a fire in 1758, the home was rebuilt and christened Morven, (“big mountain” in Gaelic) by Richard’s wife Annis Boudinot Stockton (1736-1801). Richard was a graduate of the first class of The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and became a prominent lawyer. He was one of five New Jersey delegates appointed to the Continental Congress where he signed the Declaration of Independence. The British ransacked Morven later that year, capturing and imprisoning Stockton. He was released in January 1777. Annis is one of America’s earliest published female poets, immortalizing heroes of the Revolution such as George Washington, who called her “the elegant Muse of Morven.”
Four more generations of Stocktons resided at Morven through the early 20th century before the property was leased to General Robert Wood Johnson, Chairman of Johnson & Johnson and the first non-family member to live there (1928-1944). He was followed by five New Jersey governors when Morven served as the state’s first Governor’s Mansion (1945-1981).

After the Governor’s Mansion was relocated in 1982, Morven went through an extensive restoration and archaeological investigation. Morven re-opened as a museum and garden in 2004.

Restoration:

An unprecedented public and private partnership coupled with an extensive document search and archaeological excavation provided the foundation for a comprehensive renovation of Morven that began in 1999.

The program restored historic features of the grounds, including an 18th-century horse chestnut walk and a colonial revival garden. The buildings were returned to original colors, 20th century alterations were removed, and historic features, such as the renowned parquet floors, were re-installed.

An extensive nine-zone environmental system allows the museum to individually regulate temperature and humidity in each gallery, and security, lighting, fire suppression, and handicap-accessibility systems place Morven at the forefront of industry standards for museums.

What’s happening at Morven:

Of the Best Materials and Good Workmanship: 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking

This exhibition explores the craft of chairmaking in New Jersey from the 1790s to the end of the nineteenth century. This was an era when chairmakers worked actively in virtually every corner of the state, from large cities and towns to small crossroads communities.  April 23-October 18, 2015

Morven Museum & Garden

55 Stockton Street

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

609.924.8144

www.morven.org

 

 

Princeton Area Highlight: Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) in Hamilton, NJ

Nestled in the heart of central New Jersey lies Grounds For Sculpture, a magical place where art and nature are always at play. At its core are more than 270 sculptures by renowned and emerging contemporary artists, each thoughtfully positioned on meticulously landscaped parkland full of thousands of exotic trees and flowers. It is a feast for the senses.

Grounds For Sculpture’s largest exhibition to date, Seward Johnson: The Retrospective, will be extended into July 2015 due to its overwhelming popularity.  Seward Johnson: The Retrospective presents an overview of the popular sculptor’s 50-year career through a lifetime collection of his works, including Forever Marilyn, the 26-foot tall, 36,000-pound Marilyn Monroe sculpture from his Icons Revisited series.

forever-marilyn.jpg

The permanent collection at Grounds For Sculpture includes works from such distinguished artists as Clement Meadmore, Anthony Caro, Beverly Pepper, Kiki Smith, George Segal, Magdalena Abakanowicz, and Isaac Witkin. They join the enchanting works of the visionary founder Seward Johnson as well as many others by the finest up and coming artists of our time.

Grounds For Sculpture was established in 1992 to promote an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture by:

  • maintaining a 42-acre sculpture park composed of works by well-known and emerging American and International artists in Hamilton, NJ,

  • organizing accessible exhibitions, and

  • interpreting these exhibitions through publications, lectures, workshops and other educational programs.

Join countless visitors and discover the beauty, charm, whimsy, and inspiration that Grounds for Sculpture holds.

Grounds for Sculpture is located at:
18 Fairgrounds Road
Hamilton, NJ 08619

www.groundsforsculpture.org

During your visit, dine in one of their restaurants:



History Buffs: Memorial Day Re-enactment at Princeton Battlefield!

The Princeton Battlefield Society is presenting a Memorial Day re-enactment of Mercer's attack and the British counter attack on Jan.3, 1777.  The re-enactment takes place throughout the day at the battlefield.  People from around the world visit Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey and make a special trip to visit the battlefield.

Thomas Clarke House is a must see while at the battlefield.  The structure, built in 1772, is a white clapboard farm house. This building is central to the Battle of Princeton, fought on January 3rd, 1777, between the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington, and British Crown Forces.  The house also became hospital after the battle taking in both British and American wounded. American General Hugh Mercer, who the county is named after, died here nine days after the battle from being shot and bayoneted.

Below, we have listed facts on the Battle of Princeton:

  1. Turning Point Battle that Saved the Revolution and the culmination of the 10 crucial days campaign that started with Washington’s crossing of the Delaware
  2. Washington’s First Victory over the British on a Battlefield (Trenton was fought against the Hessians just 8 days before on December 26, 1776)
  3. US Marines suffer their first battlefield death at the Battle of Princeton. 3 companies of marines came with Washington from Philadelphia, including one African American Marine named Orange.
  4. A brilliant daring night march of 18 miles by Washington’s army around the flank of a larger British army which was positioned just yards from his front lines to attack its rear. By marching his army around the flank of the British army he avoided almost assured destruction by the British army at Trenton while demonstrating his ability to pick off British outposts and threaten British supplies and communications. His victory ultimately leads to the liberation of New Jersey.
  5. Washington’s leadership abilities and personal bravery are demonstrated by his rallying of two broken brigades and leading them back into battle and facing a British volley at 30 paces. Washington threatens a double envelopment of the main British force and drives them off the field.
  6. Washington threatens the British payroll 20 miles up the road from Princeton in New Brunswick and guarded by a mere 100 men. Washington places his own army between British army and their payroll which panics the British. 

CHRONOLOGY

I. British seizure of New York City and defeat of Washington’s army from June 1776 until November 16, 1776 with the capture of Fort Washington in Manhattan.

II. Washington’s retreat across New Jersey November 18 –December 7, 1776.

III. Washington retreats across the Delaware on December 7 and the British set up outposts in Trenton, Princeton, Washington has lost 90% of his army.

IV. First Battle of Trenton- December 26, 1776  Washington crosses the Delaware and seizes Trenton from the Hessians and retreats across the Delaware with prisoners V. Washington recrosses the Delaware and goes to Trenton Dec 30-31, 1776 to gather troops and invite attack by the British based in Princeton.

VI. The Second Battle of Trenton. January 2, 1777 British General Cornwallis gathers 8000 men at Princeton and launches attack towards Trenton down Route 206 and is met by American forces to retard the British so that Washington can set up defensive lines on the Assunpink Creek-January 2, 1777.

VII. Night of January 2-3rd 1777 Washington marches his army around the left flank of the Cornwallis’ army to the rear of the British army at Princeton. Washington’s army  has around 5600-5800 men. The British garrison at Princeton is estimated at 1500.

VIII Battle of Princeton on the morning of January 3, 1777

Inn at Glencairn: Certificate of Excellence Recipients!

For nearly 10 years, we have been proclaiming that the Inn at Glencairn Bed and Breakfast in Princeton, New Jersey, is the premier lodging destination in Mercer County.  Now, we can proudly say that our guests feel the same way!  We were recently awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2015.  This Award is given to the top 10% of Hotels, B&Bs and lodging providers who offer exemplary customer service to their guests.

Travelers come to TripAdvisor to plan and book their perfect trip.  The Certificate of Excellence celebrates the accommodations, attractions and eateries that make these perfect trips possible.  Now in its fifth year, the prestigious Certificate of Excellence award recognizes establishments that consistently earn great TripAdvisor reviews from travelers.  As president of TripAdvisor for Business, Marc Charron knows how important the Certificate of Excellence is: "By putting a spotlight on businesses that are focused on delivering great service to customers, TripAdvisor not only helps drive an improvement to hospitality standards around the world, it also gives businesses both large and small the ability to shine and stand out from the competition."

From everyone at the Inn at Glencairn, we thank you, our loyal customers!!