Museums

Museums and Planetariums in New Jersey

The State of NJ's site offers an alphabetical museum list.
Below, we've listed museums appealing to all ages by county (& included some smaller ones not on the state's list).
You should also check out Historic Homes & Sites and For a Rainy Day (including indoor play gyms & kids' museums)
For outdoor fun, please go to The Great Outdoors and Zoos.

Museums

Atlantic County

Noyes Museum of Art (Oceanville) - includes some special events for older kids

Essex County

Montclair Art Museum (Montclair) - family programs; children's classes & workshops for ages 3 to 12 (broken down by age group) as well as a summer camp program for children ages 5 – 12 and Studio Classes and Workshops for Teens and Adults; family learning lab as well
Newark Museum - NJ's largest museum, it has exhibits in the arts and natural sciences; has a sculpture garden; there is a special section of the website devoted to families, including information on drop-in activities for kids; kid-friendly galleries such as the Look-Touch-Learn area; & the planetarium

Hudson County

Jersey City Museum (Jersey City) -paintings & a small selection of sculpture as well as objects relating to local history; offers special events & family events
Liberty Science Center (Jersey City) - located in Liberty State Park. The museum offers exhibits and interactive displays to educate visitors on science and technology. The site includes an IMAX theater and an area just for kids ages 2-5. The Young Guests Guide can help you plan your visit

Hunterdon County

Northlandz (Flemington) - American Railway and doll museum & art gallery & boasts the World's Largest Model Railroad

Mercer County

NJ State Museum (Trenton)- covers archaeology, cultural history, natural history & fine art; the museum offers family programs; free performances on the 2nd Saturday of the month; also a planetarium

Middlesex County

Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission - has links to its historic sites & their exhibits & events
Zimmerli Art Museum (New Brunswick) - offers family programs & drawing club for ages 6 to 8 & 9 to 14
NJ Museum of Agriculture (North Brunswick) - craft and weekend programs as well as parties

Morris County

Museum of Early Trades & Crafts (Madison) - exhibits & demonstrations of the trades & crafts practiced in NJ from its earliest settlement; also host special events, including those for families & children; also scout programs & an after-school Kids Club Program for ages 6-11
Morris Museum (Morristown) - a museum of art, science, theater and history. It's collection includes: collection include costumes and textiles, fine art, decorative art, dolls and toys, natural science, geology and paleontology, and anthropology

Monmouth County

Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) - includes a children's wing; special events

Passaic County

Clifton Arts Center (Clifton) - a sculpture garden containing the works of more than 30 contemporary sculptures & various art exhibits
Paterson Museum (Paterson) - collections including local archaeology, history, and mineralogy

Somerset County

Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission - links to historic sites & more

Sussex County

Sterling Hill Mining Museum (Ogdensburg) - underground mine tours, displays of "glow-in-the-dark" fluorescent minerals, extensive outdoor displays of mining machinery, exhibit halls & special events including fossil & mineral digs

Union County

Liberty Hall Museum (Union) - located at Kean University; special events include those for families & children
Fanwood Museum (Fanwood) - located in the oldest remaining railroad station in Union County; open for visits & special events

Train Museums

Train Page - ParenthoodNJ's collection of train museums & train rides as well as museums featuring planes & automobiles

Planetariums

Essex County

Dreyfuss Planetarium - at the Newark Museum; family programs

Gloucester County

Fredric & Jean Edelman Planetarium(Glassboro) - at Rowan University; public & family shows

Mercer County

Planetarium (Trenton) - at the New Jersey State Museum; planetarium shows on Saturdays & Sundays

Morris County

CCM Planetarium (Randolph) - at the County College of Morris; under renovation

Ocean County

Robert J. Novins Planetarium (Toms River) - at Ocean County College; under renovation until Fall 2010

Somerset County

Planetarium - at Raritan Valley Community College; offers special events & shows just for kids