9:30 am
For children ages 1 – 5 and their caregiver(s).A museum educator leads exploration of a monthly theme through a story, gallery visit, and fun hands-on activities. Session fee includes a craft to take home. Registration and details available with this link:
10:00 am, Discovery Den
For children ages 2 – 8 and their caregiver(s). This month we’re reading “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth.” The author created a gently humorous user’s guide to living on Earth for children that talks about terrain, space, and humanity. A related craft follows. A great way to celebrate Earth Day at the Museum.
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm We Are Guardians!
3:00 pm Climate Change in our Backyard
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Bring a friend for this gallery walk with the curator of “Spirit of ’76: The Bicentennial.”
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Museum is hosting a second annual humanities-focused Homeschool Day! Workshop stations will run from 10 AM – 2 PM, focusing on the American Revolution and Colonial New Jersey in honor of the 250th Anniversary, along with various art-making opportunities. Day will include a Planetarium program and guided tours of the Fine Art gallery. $10 per person. For complete details and registration use this link:
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm We Are Guardians!
3:00 pm Climate Change in our Backyard
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm We Are Guardians!
3:00 pm Climate Change in our Backyard
7:15 pm
Join us for a free sky observing night with the Amateur Astronomers Assoc. of Princeton! We start at the NJ State Museum with an extended star talk in the Planetarium. We'll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends (around 8:30 pm), we'll drive to Washington Crossing State Park, where the AAAP has the Simpson Observatory. We'll use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed at the Planetarium. If viewing conditions are poor we will stay at the Museum for a free showing of “One Sky Project.”
Please RSVP for this program:
9:30 am - 10:15 am
We are going to be investigating sculpture, and learning all about the different materials and forms that sculpture can take. Let your imaginations fly! We’ll read “Look! Look! Look! at Sculpture”, enjoy some fun hands-on activities, and provide a take home craft. The program is for children up to age 5 and their caregiver. Advance registration required.
12:00 pm 5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm Tales of Mayan Skies
9:30 am - 10:15 am
We are going to be investigating sculpture, and learning all about the different materials and forms that sculpture can take. Let your imaginations fly! We’ll read “Look! Look! Look! at Sculpture”, enjoy some fun hands-on activities, and provide a take home craft. The program is for children up to age 5 and their caregiver. Advance registration required.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Free after school art making program for teens (ages 14+). Get inspired in the galleries and make a new art project every month! For May we’re drawing animals. Learn about proportions; we’ll explore some of our animals in the Natural History collection.
7:30 pm
Join us for a free sky observing night with the Amateur Astronomers Assoc. of Princeton! We start at the NJ State Museum with an extended star talk in the Planetarium. We'll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends (around 8:30 pm), we'll drive to Washington Crossing State Park, where the AAAP has the Simpson Observatory. We'll use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed at the Planetarium. If viewing conditions are poor we will stay at the Museum for a free showing of “One Sky Project.”
Please RSVP for this program:
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
We’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Museum’s Discovery Den with a complete redesign of the space! Join us for special crafts and activities and pick up a free giveaway (while supplies last.) A food truck will be on site from 11 am – 2 pm. Children can enjoy outside activities from 10 – 12 noon. Inside, from 9:30 am – 4:0 pm, visit the Discovery Den and explore the new interactive mural, fossil exploration, puzzles, books and the ActiveFloor games. Pick up your free giveaway here while supplies last. There will also be arts & crafts with a NJ natural history theme!
10:00 am
This month we’re reading “Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book” by Britta Teckentrup and making a related craft. For children ages 2 – 8.
4:15 pm
Join us in the Planetarium for a free talk with Dr. Carrie Filion, Center for Computational Astrophysics. In this talk we’ll learn about some of the tools of Local Group archaeology and discuss how astronomers use these tools to help better understand galaxy formation and evolution. Reserve a seat:
12:00 pm 5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm Tales of Mayan Skies
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
“The Power to Change: Revolutionary Stories from the NJ State Archives” gallery talk.
12:00 pm 5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm Tales of Mayan Skies
12:00 pm 5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Worlds Beyond Earth
3:00 pm Tales of Mayan Skies
3rd Tuesday of each month, April – December, 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Bring a friend and join us for gallery talks by the curators! Upcoming:
April 21 – Gallery talk with State Museum Curator of Cultural History Nicholas Ciotola, “Spirit of ’76: The Bicentennial”
May 19 – Gallery talk for “The Power to Change: Revolutionary Stories from the NJ State Archives”
3rd Saturday of every month, 10:00 am
Join us in Discovery Den every 3rd Saturday of the month to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is designed for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. Families are encouraged to explore the galleries on their own after the program. Pick up a Small Explorers gallery cards throughout the Museum.
Offered the 2nd Thursday of each month, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Free afterschool art program offering a different project each month. For teens ages 14+.
Small Explorers Learning Together is the Museum’s program for families with children ages 1-5. Hundreds of families have experienced the magic of exploring the Museum in these sessions and now you can too! Two classes are offered each month, the 2nd Saturday or the following Thursday, at 9:30 am and are limited to 20 children per class. Classes meets in our Discovery Den play space and begins with an interactive story time. Families move together to playfully explore a gallery and end in our classroom space with thematic activity stations, including a craft to take home. Classes are 45 minutes long and meet October to June.
Cost: Classes are $20 per child, each additional sibling receives a 20% discount. Caregivers attend free. New Jersey State Museum Foundation members receive 10% off. Details and reservations can be found at this link,
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The New Jersey State Museum is a wonderful setting for your special event with changing exhibits that can provide a unique backdrop for any occasion. The Museum is ideally located in the State Capital Complex in Trenton, and offers a one-of-a-kind venue with incredible architecture and beautiful views of the Delaware River. For rates and availability, please view our rental information or email Rentals.NJSM@sos.nj.gov.
Available Rental spaces:
This exceptional space is an ideal setting for buffet receptions, intimate sit-down dinners, business seminars and more. Available evenings and weekends only.
The 384-seat Auditorium is available for a wide variety of lectures, conferences, movie premieres, theater performances and more.
