Historic Morven: A Window Into America’s Past
The struggle for liberty
Forming the New Nation
The American Spirit of Enterprise
The Governors’ Era: New Jersey’s Home
Keeper of the Flame
Inhabitants of Morven
Exhibit Support Provided by:
Robert N. Wilson and Michele Plante
Liza and Schuyler Morehouse
Valerie and Jim McKinney
Ann and Steve West
Ruth and Nick Wilson
Daphne A. Townsend
Jill M. Barry
Carol and Richard Hanson
Eileen and Bob O’Neil
Barbara and J. Richard Pierce
The Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation
Holly Pyne Connor & The Helen R. Buck Foundation
Georgia T. Schley
This exhibition was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
Morven Museum & Garden received a project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Richard Lounsbery Foundation for Morven’s French-American Connections.
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the William Short Fund for New Jersey of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
As home to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and five New Jersey governors, Morven has played a role in the history of New Jersey and the nation for more than 200 years.
A museum since 2004, Morven has, until recently, focused on the better-known patriarchs who led on the national scene. This exhibition expands these stories while adding the voices of the many people who lived and worked at Morven, including women, children, generations of enslaved men and women, immigrant servants, and later, employees.
Morven was built by Richard Stockton (1730–1781), a signer of the Declaration of Independence, in the 1750s on property granted to his grandfather by William Penn (1644–1718) in 1701. Of course, European settlers were not the first to call this land home. Native Americans lived in the Mid-Atlantic region for more than 12,000 years. Archaeology at Morven has uncovered evidence of Lenni-Lenape tool-making on its current five acres.
Morven’s history is America’s history, and we welcome you to experience it through the lens of this National Historic Landmark.
This exhibition is self-guided but Morven is happy to offer docent-led tours on the hour. Please note that during Festival of Trees in December, no formal tours are given, but docents are available to answer questions.
Morven’s second floor features five elegant galleries that showcase several changing exhibitions a year. For more information on visiting Morven Museum please click here.