The non-profit Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society celebrated its 80th anniversary last year.
The society was formed in 1927 by prominent county residents who wanted to preserve the rich heritage of Cape May County, and three years later they opened the first museum of county history in the basement of the Surrogate’s Office (circa 1865) in Court House.
In 1976, the Society purchased its current home, the “Cresse Holmes Plantation,” home of some of the county’s earliest inhabitants. The main house consists of the 1704 John Cresse house and the later Robert Morris Holmes house, built in 1830.
Collections in the house give a picture of early life in Cape May County over more than a century. Exhibits include an 18th century kitchen and bedroom, a 19th century dining room and parlor, an antique toy display, a Victorian room, medical artifacts and a complete room from the circa 1820 Matthews house in Fishing Creek.
Also located on the property is an 18th century “English” barn, originally located in Upper Township. This structure houses one of the best collections of Cape May County decoys and an extensive collection of local Native American artifacts.
The barn houses a stage coach, a peddler’s wagon and a handsomely restored doctor’s sulky, as well as collections of antique agricultural tools, whaling and shipbuilding implements and the original Fresnel lens, which was made in Paris, for the Cape May Point lighthouse.
Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society invites you to explore, discover and learn Jersey Cape history at the Cape May County Historical Museum.
The museum is located at 504 Route 9 North in Court House. Summer hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and admission is free.
There is a library for genealogical research and a gift shop. A number of special programs and Kid’s Club activities are held throughout the year.
For more information, call 609-465-3535, or visit cmcmuseum.org.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
