Preparing for your trip!
Learn how to make your visit to the New Jersey State Museum an unforgettable one!
Please call the Reservation office at (609) 292-6347 at least two (2) weeks before your planned trip. Recommended hours for calling are between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm. However you may leave a message for a return call at any time of the day.
Remember, the school year is the busy season and programs fill quickly, so please have an alternate program and date in mind.
Make a full day of your visit by scheduling more than one Museum program and leaving time for lunch and a stop in the Friends Gift Shop. You may also supplement the Museum experience with a visit to other attractions within convenient walking distance of the Museum such as the State House and the Old Barracks Museum.
New Reservation Policies
In order to reserve seats or to qualify for any applicable group discounts, the NJSM requires pre-payment, in full, ten (10) business days prior to a program.
Payment methods may include: checks, confirmed purchase orders, Visa, or MasterCard.
Groups may change their reservation details two weeks prior to a pre-paid program.
Groups may "walk-in" and purchase tickets on the day of an event at non-discounted prices; seating is based on availability.
If groups bring fewer people than the amount pre-paid for, no refund will be issued.
If groups bring more people than the amount pre-paid for, additional tickets will be sold at non-discounted prices and based on availability.
Credits and refunds must be requested in writing.
Program Scholarships & Bus Stipends
The New Jersey State Museum is pleased to be able to continue to offer program scholarships and bus stipends for the 2010/2011 academic year. Qualifying schools (with a 40% or higher participation in a free lunch program) may be eligible to receive a stipend to help defray the cost of transportation to the Museum as well as the possibility of having program fees waived. The Program Scholarships and Bus Stipends are made possible through the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum through grants and contributions. For an application or additional information, please call: (609) 292-6310.
A Great Spot for Lunch
School groups may choose to eat lunch at the Department of State lunchroom next door to the Museum at 225 West State Street - right next door to the Museum. Lunch reservations are made by calling the State House Tour Office at (609) 633-2709.
On a nice day, Capitol Plaza Park located between the State House Annex and the State Library makes a wonderful picnic setting in view of the Delaware River, the Golden Dome of the State House, and a spectacular fountain. Remember to leave the area as you found it by bringing several heavy-duty trash bags!
Pre-Trip Planning
No matter their age, it is always a good idea to prepare your students for what to expect on a field trip. In addition to preparing them by completing the activities in the Museum curriculum guides, we also recommend preparing them for what to expect during their trip, and how they are expected to behave while at the New Jersey State Museum.
Below are just a few of the things that you might want to review with your students. Having your students prepared for what to expect will make the trip more enjoyable for you and your students.
Some Questions to Start the Discussion
Have your students ever visited a museum? If they have, ask the students to describe their experience, what they saw, and what they did. Compare the students' experiences, the collections they saw, and what they experienced. Identify any similarities and/or differences between different types of museums.
Ask the students if they collect anything. If they do, what is in their collection? How are they taking care of it? How is it displayed?
Ask students to share their stories and to describe their collection (this may also work well as a "show and tell" exercise, for example: Where did the objects come from? What are the ages of the objects? What do the objects have in common? How are the objects different? What is the function of the objects?
Explain the Role and Responsibilities of the New Jersey State Museum
Mission Statement:
The New Jersey State Museum serves the life-long educational needs of residents and visitors through its collections, exhibitions, programs, publications, and scholarship in science, history, archeology, and the arts. Within a broad context, the Museum explores the natural and cultural diversity of New Jersey, past and present.
New Jersey State Museum Mission Statement adopted December 11, 2002
How to act in a Museum
Can you touch?
Please "touch" with your eyes, never with your hands. All of us have oils, dirt, or other residue on our hands that can affect the artifacts we are touching.
When you can touch artifacts, there will be signs or a guide to tell you it is allowed.
Can you play around?
Please only walk in the Museum.
Can you talk loudly, whistle or sing?
Please talk, laugh and share your feelings, but be respectful of other visitors.
Can you eat inside?
Please finish food and all beverage before entering the Museum, and do not chew gum. These items attract unwanted visitors, such as insects and rodents that can damage the Museum's artifacts.
Currently, there is a snack vending machine at the Museum, but no beverage or meal service. However, weather permitting, you are welcome to enjoy your picnic lunch on the grounds around the Museum and in the park behind the State House annex (please be sure to properly dispose of your garbage).
On weekdays, there are a number of restaurants, deli's and coffee shops open in the downtown area and over the Delaware River. On weekends, there are a few pizza parlors and coffee shops open downtown, and quite a number open across the River.
Can you write or draw?
It depends. There are some exhibits within the Museum where students are welcome to draw and even take photographs. For example, writing and drawing is allowed in Pretty Big Things: Stories of Jersey History. However, in other areas of the Museum it is not allowed. Please ask the guards on duty.
Can you take photographs?
It depends. There are some exhibits within the Museum where students are welcome to take photographs. For example, in Pretty Big Things: Stories of New Jersey History, photography is allowed, but we ask that you do not use a flash. However, in other areas of the Museum, taking photographs is prohibited. Please ask the guards on duty before taking photographs.
You're always welcome to...
Take your time and enjoy the many exhibits within the New Jersey State Museum.
Share your thoughts with others who accompany you.
Ask questions of the docents and staff.
Please visit the other museums in New Jersey and the surrounding area - compare the collections, how the objects are exhibited, and your individual and group experiences.
Come back with friends and family to try these and other activities as well as to view other exciting exhibits on view at the New Jersey State Museum.
Attend one of the many educational programs available throughout the year.
Additional information may also be available at the information tables on the first floor of the Museum's main building or in the lobby of the New Jersey State Museum Auditorium. Our web page will have the most accurate and up to date information.
Please contact the Education Bureau at (609) 292-6310 to be added to our mailing list and to receive monthly emails about new programs, activities, and events.
