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Department of State

New Jersey State Museum

The Hon. Tahesha Way, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State
Pretty Big Things

Visit The Museum

Science. History. Art. With holdings of more than two million artifacts, explore collections in natural and cultural history, archaeology and ethnography, and fine art at the New Jersey State Museum. Take a tour, participate in hands-on activities, enjoy a lecture, see a planetarium show, interact with scientists working on real fossils, or browse the galleries.  Get to know more about New Jersey and its place in the world!

The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street in Trenton, within walking distance of the State House. Overlooking the Delaware River, the Museum is midway between New York and Philadelphia.

Free parking is available on weekends in lots adjacent to the Museum and on the street in front of the Museum.  Weekdays metered street parking is available, along with a limited number of free visitor spots in the nearby State House garage.

Museum Hours

Address: 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608

Main Museum Building
205 West State Street, Trenton
Tuesday – Sunday: 9 am to 4:45 pm
Galleries begin closing at 4:30 pm

Planetarium
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 4:45 pm
Show times: 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 & 3:00
Visit the Calendar of Events for current show titles

Auditorium Galleries
Open Tuesday – Friday

Closed Mondays & State Holidays

Museum Admission

Museum general admission is free; donations to the New Jersey State Museum Foundation gratefully accepted. Foundation revenue supports the Museum’s collections, exhibitions and programs.

Planetarium Admission
Adults: $10.00
Children 12 and under: $5.00
Seniors 65 and over: $1 off
Members: $2.00 off per ticket
Groups of 15 or more: $5.00 per person
Active duty military: $1 off on up to 4 tickets

Planetarium tickets are purchased in the Planetarium Box Office, located on the lower level.

We participate in the Blue Star program (Memorial Day – Labor Day.) Active duty military members and up to four family members are admitted free with ID.
We also participate in the Families First Discovery Pass Program – free admission for up to four people with a Families First or eWIC card. For more information about the program visit Families First Discovery Pass.

Accessibility

Accessibility Logo All facilities are accessible to visitors with physical disabilities.

Visit The Museum

The New Jersey State Museum welcomes all kinds of groups. If you are a school or camp group you will find the full list of offerings and information in the LEARN section of the website.

Admission to the Museum is free and you do not need advanced reservations to explore the galleries on your own. Guided tours are available Tuesday-Friday by reservation only for groups of 15 or more.

If you would like to add on a program for your group we have a variety of options available:

Planetarium shows are available by reservation only Tuesday-Friday from September to June. To reserve seats in the Planetarium for the group rate of $5.00 per person (groups of 15 or more) contact reservations at (609) 292-1382 or email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov.

Groups may attend weekend public shows without a reservation; payment is accepted at the box office upon arrival.

To purchase take-and-make activity kits for your group to make art, explore Lenape culture or identify fossils contact reservations at (609) 292-1382 or email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov. Kits are available in bundles of 25, include digital worksheets and instructions and are $75.00 per bundle. Kits can be picked up at the Museum during your visit.

Virtual Programs

Groups that would like to have a guest speaker at their next meeting or gathering may choose from the following virtual options:

Ask the Experts: Fossil Hunters in New Jersey

$5.00 per person
New Jersey abounds with fossils! Paleontologist Dr. Dana Ehret shares exciting fossil discoveries from throughout the state, what fossils tell us about ancient ecosystems, and all of the challenges paleontologist face in this adventurous field.

Ask the Experts: People of the Past, Archaeology in New Jersey

$5.00 per person
How do artifacts help archaeologists understand the lives of prehistoric humans? Archaeologist Dr. Gregory Lattanzi leads this exploration of the unique artifacts found here, and what they tell us about the lifestyle of New Jersey’s first people.

Call (609) 292-1382 or email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov to book a program. Payment is due when you place your order. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Museum Floor Plan

Floor Plan

Directions

Map - Directions to the New Jersey State Museum - Link - https://www.google.com/maps/place/205+W+State+St,+Trenton,+NJ+08608/@40.225253,-74.771032,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c159d104138db5:0

Dining

While food services in the city are currently limited due to the impact of COVID-19, we invite you to pack snacks or lunch and have a picnic at the tables in front of the Museum. You can also visit the list of restaurants on Downtown Trenton's website https://www.trenton-downtown.com/listing-category/food to find dining options.

Related Links

 


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