Museum of Early Trades & Crafts

Museum of Early Trades & Crafts To inspire a connection to NJ history, culture, trades, and crafts.

Housed in a 1900 Richardsonian-Romanesque Revival building listed on the National Register of Historic places, the Museum explores 18th- and 19th-century American history, with a focus on New Jersey. Drawing on its collection of over 8,000 hand tools and their products, METC uses material culture to interpret the lives and technologies of people who lived and worked before the rise of large-scale

industrialization in this country. The Museum offers visitors of all ages a broad range of changing exhibits, and related programs that address many facets of early American history, craftsmanship, and the diversity of trades performed by men and women.

We end Museum Week with Hope. Our mission is to share the past and imagine the future. This gives us hope for the future...
06/05/2026

We end Museum Week with Hope. Our mission is to share the past and imagine the future. This gives us hope for the future as we constantly innovate, learn, and adjust to be our best selves.

If objects could speak, what would they say? Do we take time today to enjoy the little things in life? Take this butter ...
06/04/2026

If objects could speak, what would they say?

Do we take time today to enjoy the little things in life? Take this butter mold from our collection. When was the last time you used decorative butter? (or did you ever!) Thought and care were taken by a craftsperson to design and then used by a homemaker to feed her family. What did the craftsperson think about? What did the homemaker?

Saturday is the last Makerspace of the 2025-2026 school year!Drop in between 11AM and 3PM for hands-on activities in our...
06/04/2026

Saturday is the last Makerspace of the 2025-2026 school year!

Drop in between 11AM and 3PM for hands-on activities in our collaborative work space geared towards kids ages 5 to 12. Kids will use our 3D printer, build with Legos, make jewelry, experiment with our marble run and coding robots, and more!

https://metc.org/event/makerspace-june6/

Have no fear WORKSPACE WEDNESDAY will be back for the summer starting June 24. Stay Tuned!

Today's theme, Museums for Peace. Our latest exhibit, So You Say You Want a Revolution, tells the stories of New Jerseya...
06/03/2026

Today's theme, Museums for Peace. Our latest exhibit, So You Say You Want a Revolution, tells the stories of New Jerseyans (loyalists, patriots, and neutralists) during the American Revolution. Conflict & struggle are part of our history, and continue to be our story as we work towards a better tomorrow.

The Museum will close at 12:30pm today, June 3.Thank you!
06/03/2026

The Museum will close at 12:30pm today, June 3.

Thank you!

Museum Week continues with the theme Museums × AI — Futures. This is the perfect time to tell you that we are working on...
06/02/2026

Museum Week continues with the theme Museums × AI — Futures. This is the perfect time to tell you that we are working on an app! With the support of Unesco, we are bringing AI into METC to create quests to find objects in our collection and learn more about life of the early tradespeople. Visit us Saturday, June 6 to be part of our beta test!

Join us Saturday for an Architecture Tour!Still a few spots left to hear about the architectural style of the James Libr...
06/02/2026

Join us Saturday for an Architecture Tour!

Still a few spots left to hear about the architectural style of the James Library Building and other architectural gems in downtown Madison.

Tickets include entrance to the Museum. Register today -
https://metc.org/event/archjune6/

It's Museum Week! This global movement aims to foster a true sense of global belonging and encouraging audiences to str...
06/01/2026

It's Museum Week! This global movement aims to foster a true sense of global belonging and encouraging audiences to strengthen their connections with one another and the environment.

Today's theme - AI in the Museum. METC immerses you in the tools, trades, crafts, and life of New Jerseyans in the 1800s. Come see life before AI!

On June 11, come learn about the history of one of the oldest remaining homes in Madison, the Luke Miller house, from it...
06/01/2026

On June 11, come learn about the history of one of the oldest remaining homes in Madison, the Luke Miller house, from it's current homeowner and caretaker. During the American Revolution, Luke Miller was a major and welcomed numerous soldiers, including General George Washington to his home and blacksmith shop. This event in our Education Annex includes a discussion about his home, its forge, and a showing of the short documentary, "Luke Miller: Forging History."

https://metc.org/event/lukemiller-bts/

Finials, arches, and stonework, oh my!Join us on June 6 for an Architecture Tour of the James Library Building, the Jame...
05/27/2026

Finials, arches, and stonework, oh my!

Join us on June 6 for an Architecture Tour of the James Library Building, the James Building, and other gems in downtown Madison.

Tickets include entrance to the Museum. Register today -
https://metc.org/event/archjune6/

Address

9 Main Street
Madison, NJ
07940

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(973) 377-2982

Website

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