Monmouth County Historical Association

Monmouth County Historical Association Over the past century, the MCHA has become a multi-faceted organization comprised of our Museum, Research Library & Archives and five Historic House Museums.
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Welcome to the Monmouth County Historical Association, an organization with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1898 when a dedicated group of county residents incorporated to “discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever relates to the history of Monmouth County.” We have been continuing that important effort ever since. Our Traveling Trunk Program, lectures and special events he

lp us to provide a variety of opportunities for people of all ages to engage in learning about and appreciating the interesting history and cultural heritage of our unique area.

06/02/2026

🌼NEXT WEEK!🌼

Put on your best patriotic flair! ❤️🤍💙

🌸Please Join Us for MCHA's 51st Annual Garden Party, celebrating America's Semiquincentennial!🌸

Honoring The DeFelice Family, Circle Auto Group and Circle Motor Group for their support of the restoration of the Allen House.

Located on the beautiful Navesink River, enjoy delicious cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, music and a fantastic silent auction!

Tickets, sponsorships and ads at the link below:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/garden-party-2026-tickets-272281

We can just feel the breeze on our faces and smell the salty air! Artist George Cochran Lambdin (1830-1896) was a Philad...
06/01/2026

We can just feel the breeze on our faces and smell the salty air! Artist George Cochran Lambdin (1830-1896) was a Philadelphia artist and a regular Jersey Shore summer visitor. And along with appropriate summertime garments, Lambdin brought his watercolors. This gentle, peaceful scene - a simple view of sea, sky, beach grass, and two barefoot boys in their shady hats - captures the essence of a summer's day. Lambdin titled his scene "Manasquan Beach," looking northward up the Monmouth coast. The artist was well known for his scenes of children and landscapes. Visit our eMuseum website to see more of our shore-related artwork!

Did you miss "The Enduring Myth of Blackbeard's Raid on Middletown?" AAAAARRRGGH! Fear not, mateys - catch it on our cha...
05/31/2026

Did you miss "The Enduring Myth of Blackbeard's Raid on Middletown?" AAAAARRRGGH! Fear not, mateys - catch it on our channel at YouTube.com/

05/29/2026

🌼TWO WEEKS AWAY!🌼

🌸Please Join Us for MCHA's 51st Annual Garden Party, celebrating America's Semiquincentennial!🌸

Honoring The DeFelice Family, Circle Auto Group and Circle Motor Group for their support of the restoration of the Allen House.

Located on the beautiful Navesink River, enjoy delicious cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, music and a fantastic silent auction!

Tickets, sponsorships and ads at the link below:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/garden-party-2026-tickets-272281

If you're looking for something historic to do this coming weekend, we have a few suggestions! On Saturday, May 30th, Mi...
05/29/2026

If you're looking for something historic to do this coming weekend, we have a few suggestions! On Saturday, May 30th, Middletown is hosting its first Block Party! From 4 to 7 p.m., enjoy the historic sites and modern block party vibes along Kings Highway. Trolleys will stop at selected sites, including MCHA's own Marlpit Hall and Taylor Butler House! We'll have a spinning and weaving demonstration by director of collections Bernadette Rogoff, a fun kid-friendly paper weaving craft, and walk-through tours of Marlpit Hall. Stop by Taylor Butler House to see the amazing Colonel Tye installation and virtual reality experience. On Sunday, visit Manalapan's Nature Fest on Sunday from 9 to 2 p.m. where Bernadette will be spinning again! We hope to see you at both events!

Memorial Day is fast approaching and the beginning of the summer season! We love this in-the-moment photograph of an ext...
05/27/2026

Memorial Day is fast approaching and the beginning of the summer season! We love this in-the-moment photograph of an extended family group. The photographer recorded the scene around 1900 along the Asbury Park beach. Two children in the foreground have their sand shovels and pails. And those bathing suits are all made of wool! We're always adding new photographs to our on-line library catalog, so we invite you to pay us a virtual visit and take a look!

05/26/2026

🌸Please Join Us for MCHA's 51st Annual Garden Party, celebrating America's Semiquincentennial!🌸

Honoring The DeFelice Family, Circle Auto Group and Circle Motor Group for their support of the restoration of the Allen House.

Located on the beautiful Navesink River, enjoy delicious cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, music and a fantastic silent auction!

Tickets, sponsorships and ads at the link below:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/garden-party-2026-tickets-272281

This Thursday, May 28th at 7 PMJoin us at the historic Monmouth Boat Club forThe Enduring Myth of Blackbeard's Raid on M...
05/25/2026

This Thursday, May 28th at 7 PM
Join us at the historic Monmouth Boat Club for
The Enduring Myth of Blackbeard's Raid on Middletown
Doors open at 6 PM*
Also broadcast by Zoom

Monmouth County has been the scene of many enduring historical myths - some of the most fantastic stories ever published - yet many historians believe that such myths often have some kernel of truth behind them. So it is with the notorious pirate Blackbeard and his raid on Middletown, a local legend that endures to this day. John Barrows, editor of MonmouthTimeline.org and historian for the Monmouth Boat Club, will present his research findings into this myth: Could it possibly be true? And if it is a myth, where did it originate? And is there any truth behind it? The answers might surprise you...

Visit MonmouthHistory.org for details on registration for this free event. Seating is limited, so register today!
*Doors open at 6 PM for tours of the boat house

Memorial Day, originally known as "Decoration Day," was first celebrated on May 30, 1868, honoring the fallen of the Civ...
05/25/2026

Memorial Day, originally known as "Decoration Day," was first celebrated on May 30, 1868, honoring the fallen of the Civil War. By 1890, every state adopted the commemoration - usually on the last Monday in May. After World War I and World War II, the day included all those in the United States Armed Forces who died in service. This postcard, dating to around 1910, includes the emblem of the G.A.R. Considered the first veteran's activist group in America, The "Grand Army of the Republic" was made up of veterans of the Civil War who had fought in the Union Army. At its peak, the organization had almost a million members and lobbied for pensions, widow and orphan support, and legislation to assist veterans. Five Presidents - Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley - were all veterans and members of the G.A.R.

Moving right along! Progress on the scraping and repainting of Covenhoven House's front door is going well. Kevin Sweetm...
05/23/2026

Moving right along! Progress on the scraping and repainting of Covenhoven House's front door is going well. Kevin Sweetman and his fantastic crew at WOW painters simply won't give up - ten or more layers of paint have already been taken off. It's amazing to think that the last time the beautifully made pine molding was unpainted was more than 270 years ago, when builder John Davies and homeowners William and Elizabeth Covenhoven watched it being installed! Delicate details such as the hand-carved spirals adorning the circular bracket finials are much easier to see. If you're passing by 150 West Main Street in Freehold, why not swing by and take a look? A special thank you to the Monmouth County Historical Commission for funding this grant project! Covenhoven House is open every Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., and the fourth Saturday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m.

Address

70 Court St
Freehold, NJ
07728

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