Hoboken Historical Museum

Hoboken Historical Museum Educating the public about Hoboken's history, diverse culture, architecture and landmarks since 1986. Sign up for email alerts: http://bit.ly/hhm_email_list

Open 6 days a week in one of the oldest buildings on Hoboken's waterfront, the Museum's exhibition space may be small, but packs a lot of information into a series of creative exhibits. Admission is just $5. Exhibits change every year, and topics have included a history of music, sweets, social & civic clubs, World War I, Hoboken in the 1970s, and Superstorm Sandy. Our upper gallery hosts six exhi

bits per year by local and regional artists. We employ interactive technology to expand our displays, and much of our collections have been digitized, easily searchable online. We organize lectures, films, tours, family fun and more. Our education programs reach thousands of children each year. We welcome volunteers for our special fundraising events, a great way to get to know people in town. Call 201-656-2240, or visit our website for more information.

We’re so excited to share that Blue Angel Cafe & Bakery will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Cr...
09/02/2026

We’re so excited to share that Blue Angel Cafe & Bakery will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Crawl! ☕🍂

We appreciate our community’s support – this event is now SOLD OUT! We will be continuing to highlight our coffee shop participants, who are making this day of exploration possible.

From the bottom of hearts, thank you. We can’t wait to celebrate our city’s coffee roots on September 20th! You’ll like every minute of this special day. 💛

✨Join the Hoboken Historical Museum for a free lecture with art historian and curator Bonnie Yochelson, author of Too Go...
09/02/2026

✨Join the Hoboken Historical Museum for a free lecture with art historian and curator Bonnie Yochelson, author of Too Good to Get Married: The Life and Photographs of Miss Alice Austen.✨

Presented in connection with the Museum’s current Main Gallery exhibition, What They Saw: Hoboken’s Amateur Photography Clubs 1889–1934, this program explores the life and work of Alice Austen, one of the most distinctive photographers of her generation and a pioneering LGBTQ+ icon.

Alice Austen used photography to record both the social world around her and the rapidly changing streets of New York. Her images ranged from carefully composed scenes of friends and family to photographs of working people and public life. She was also an accomplished amateur photographer at a time when cameras were becoming more accessible, photography clubs were gaining popularity, and women were beginning to claim greater independence behind the lens.

Yochelson will discuss Austen’s development as a photographer, and the ways her images challenged expectations surrounding gender, class, work, and women’s lives at the turn of the twentieth century. She will also share insights from her research for Too Good to Get Married, the first major biography of Austen published in nearly fifty years.

Visitors will also discover Alice Austen’s connection to Hoboken. In 1897, she traveled from Staten Island with her camera equipment to photograph the devastating factory fire that swept through the city, capturing the same remarkable event as Hoboken photographer William Petersen.

Bonnie Yochelson is an art historian and curator specializing in photography and the photographic history of New York City. Formerly Curator of Prints and Photographs at the Museum of the City of New York, she has organized exhibitions and published books on photographers including Jacob Riis, Alfred Stieglitz, and Berenice Abbott. She taught in the MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department at the School of Visual Arts for thirty years.

If you are interested in photography, feminist, and Pre-Stonewall LGBTQ+, history, this is just your kind of lecture. 🙌

Here's the registration link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/hoboken-historical-museum-inc/too-good-to-get-married-the-life-and-photographs-of-miss-alice-austen

✨All are invited to join “Hoboken Jack” Silbert and Bill Curran for our next Second Saturday Storytime session! ✨Jack wi...
09/02/2026

✨All are invited to join “Hoboken Jack” Silbert and Bill Curran for our next Second Saturday Storytime session! ✨

Jack will be reading WE’RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS written by Detroit’s own Jack White of the White Stripes and illustrated by Elinor Blake.

It’s our favorite back to school ritual of celebrating new beginnings knowing that your friends are always there for you. How lucky are we to count on both hands the ones we love, those who help us become our most authentic selves as we start a new school year.

No registration is (ever) required. Please join us for some laughs, stickers and most uplifting vibes! 💛

🗓️ Saturday, September 12th
⏰ 11 AM
📍 Grand Street Library Branch, 124 Grand Street, 2nd floor

We’re so excited to share that Cup in Your Hand, the terrific coffee shop on wheels over by Pier A at 112 Sinatra Drive,...
09/01/2026

We’re so excited to share that Cup in Your Hand, the terrific coffee shop on wheels over by Pier A at 112 Sinatra Drive, will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Crawl! ☕🍂

Join us on Sunday, September 20, from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM for a self-guided coffee adventure through Hoboken, featuring seasonal sips and samples from some of the city’s favorite cafés and coffee shops. It’s the perfect way to welcome fall while discovering new spots or revisiting old favorites.

The Hoboken Coffee Crawl is a fundraiser benefiting the Hoboken Historical Museum, with proceeds supporting the Museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and community events.

We invite you to drop in and have a cup of coffee with a friend. Join us for this special city-wide day of exploration. We can’t wait to see you on September 20th! 💛

Here's the ticket link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/hoboken-historical-museum-inc/hoboken-coffee-crawl

✨The calendar turned to September today — that means Hispanic Heritage Month is just around the corner.✨Please join the ...
09/01/2026

✨The calendar turned to September today — that means Hispanic Heritage Month is just around the corner.✨

Please join the Thomas Edison Film Festival (TEFF) and the Hoboken Historical Museum for a unique program honoring Hispanic Heritage month, featuring special guest filmmaker Trina Bardusco.

The evening kicks off with a wine reception at 6:30pm followed by Ms. Bardusco’s inspiring documentary that highlights the power of people and community to come together to make positive change against all odds. A talk with festival director Jane Steuerwald and Trina Bardusco and Q&A follows the film.

“A Way to Be Together” takes place in the New Jersey town of Lambertville, divided by unseen borders, as the Mexican immigrant community steps into the light. Their festival celebration sparks pride and unity—but as fear grows, even joy becomes a radical act of hope.

📽️ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
The filmmaker, Trina Bardusco, is a Venezuelan-American, award-winning storyteller and Fulbright Scholar with a passion for elevating underrepresented voices and crafting bold, culturally rich narratives. Her work lives at the intersection of art, identity, and community.

For over a decade, she brought to life HBO Latino’s acclaimed Habla series, producing sixteen powerful installments that wove together hundreds of personal stories from Latinos across the United States, including celebrities and everyday heroes.

⭐️”A Way to Be Together” amplifies the importance of standing up for one’s neighbors and the urgent need for unity in uncertain times.

🚙PARKING INFORMATION
The Littleman Parking-Independence Garage (Shipyard Lane, at 12th St.) offers 3 hours of free parking with Museum validation. Make sure to bring your ticket to the event at the Hoboken Historical Museum for validation.

🗓️ Saturday, October 3rd
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Hoboken Historical Museum
🎟️ Free Admission

Please RSVP via this link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/hoboken-historical-museum-inc/hispanic-heritage-month-film-screening-with-the-thomas-edison-film-festival

We’re so excited to share that Joboken will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Crawl! ☕🍂Join us on...
09/01/2026

We’re so excited to share that Joboken will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Crawl! ☕🍂

Join us on Sunday, September 20, from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM for a self-guided coffee adventure through Hoboken, featuring seasonal sips and samples from some of the city’s favorite cafés and coffee shops. It’s the perfect way to welcome fall while discovering new spots or revisiting old favorites.

The Hoboken Coffee Crawl is a fundraiser benefiting the Hoboken Historical Museum, with proceeds supporting the Museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and community events.

We invite you to drop in and have a cup of coffee with a friend. May your heart be joyful by joining us for this special city-wide day of exploration. We can’t wait to see you on September 20th! 💛

Here's the ticket link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/hoboken-historical-museum-inc/hoboken-coffee-crawl

✨Join Hoboken Historical Museum Collections Manager Rand Hoppe and Head of Archives & Special Collections of the Samuel ...
08/31/2026

✨Join Hoboken Historical Museum Collections Manager Rand Hoppe and Head of Archives & Special Collections of the Samuel C. Williams Library Leah Loscutoff for a walking tour focusing on Martha Bayard Stevens.✨

Martha was a dedicated philanthropist who used her privilege to support her community. She was instrumental in the development of key institutions in our city.

Join us to learn more about the philanthropic “Dolly Parton of Hoboken” and her inspiring legacy. For us, the sun will be shining for this special day. 💛

📍 Starting Point: Martha Bayard Stevens Hall, Stevens Institute of Technology campus

👟 Prep: Comfortable shoes and water are highly recommended.🥤

📅 Date: Saturday, September 19
⏰ Time: 11 AM – 12:30 PM
💰 Tickets: $40

Here's the ticket link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/hoboken-historical-museum-inc/martha-bayard-stevens-historical-walking-tour-with-rand-hoppe-leah-loscutoff

✨The Hoboken Historical Museum is excited to invite you to the opening reception of our next exhibit in the Upper Galler...
08/31/2026

✨The Hoboken Historical Museum is excited to invite you to the opening reception of our next exhibit in the Upper Gallery, “In Retrospect: Selected Works by McKevin Shaughnessy” on Sunday, September 27th from 2 PM – 5 PM.✨

A native of Waukegan, Illinois, McKevin made his way east to study art and graphic design – first at the University of Pennsylvania, and then at Cooper Union. As a transfer student, he felt that he had to prove himself. Cooper Union instilled a strong work ethic that made a lasting impact on his approach to art.

While searching for an affordable place to live, McKevin stumbled upon Hoboken. Here he found a creative oasis. The city was teeming with artists and musicians.

The effect on his art was immediate. Upon moving here, he forged collaborations with local creatives who embraced an experimental spirit, including Gregg Pelligrini and Roger Brooks. Their separate art parties happened as a way to connect with friends and celebrate an avant-garde aesthetic.

For one soiree, his friend Gregg’s storefront apartment was transformed into an underwater bar, which included a motorized ceiling tarp to mimic the rolling “surf.” McKevin delved into designing light sculpture installations for the parties, a skill that he taught himself through persistent experimentation.

Between 1987-1993, McKevin exhibited his light sculptures around Hoboken, including a rooftop Sound & Light show at 1500 Park, the Jefferson Trust Gallery, and 720 Monroe. Some of these events were immersive and interdisciplinary in nature, incorporating live music, theater, and poetry.

Many know McKevin for his work as a photographer and graphic designer. Since 1994, he has been involved with the Museum designing our Main Gallery exhibits and promotional materials.

It’s McKevin’s turn to share his creative practice with us, which spans over four decades. This exhibit features a select group of his light sculptures, neon works, metal lamps, retro robots and recent excursions in converting 2D into 3D animation.

McKevin reminds us to harness our own creativity for self-expression and building a vital sense of community. With McKevin at hand, you will see the light. 💛

🗓️ Sunday, September 27th
⏰ 2PM-5PM
📍 Hoboken Historical Museum
🎟️ Free admission
💡 Special thanks to the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development for supporting this exhibit.

We’re so excited to share that Black Rail will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Crawl! ☕🍂Join us...
08/29/2026

We’re so excited to share that Black Rail will be a participating stop on the first-ever Hoboken Coffee Crawl! ☕🍂

Join us on Sunday, September 20, from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM for a self-guided coffee adventure through Hoboken, featuring seasonal sips and samples from some of the city’s favorite cafés and coffee shops. It’s the perfect way to welcome fall while discovering new spots or revisiting old favorites.

The Hoboken Coffee Crawl is a fundraiser benefiting the Hoboken Historical Museum, with proceeds supporting the Museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and community events.

We invite you to drop in and have a cup of coffee with a friend. Tickets are going fast! Be sure to get yours. We know we can count on you. We can’t wait to see you on September 20th! 💛

Here's the ticket link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/hoboken-historical-museum-inc/hoboken-coffee-crawl

✨It’s not always easy to start a new chapter in one’s life. It helps to have dear friends by your side...✨The Museum was...
08/28/2026

✨It’s not always easy to start a new chapter in one’s life. It helps to have dear friends by your side...✨

The Museum was proud to host the Stevens Institute of Technology Class of 2030 as part of their freshman orientation.

The students received a warm welcome from our very own Bob Foster, Rand Hoppe, and Bill Curran so they could get acclimated in their new home. They even had the opportunity to make buttons as part of their visit with Bill as their creative guide.

To the class of 2030 – you have everything you need within you to meet challenges with wisdom and compassion. May your college journey be a meaningful one of exploration.

We wholeheartedly believe in your talents and leadership, and are here to encourage you as you discover which road you are taking.

Wishing everyone a wonderful school year ahead! 💛

📸 Bob Foster

Address

1301 Hudson Street
Hoboken, NJ
07030

Opening Hours

Tuesday 2pm - 7pm
Wednesday 2pm - 7pm
Thursday 2pm - 7pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(201) 656-2240

Website

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