Montclair History Center

10/17/2026

This 1889 photograph (taken by W.H. Crocker) shows a landscape view of Montclair from the mountaintop above Bellevue Avenue. This photo highlights the development of not only Montclair but the surrounding area in the years since the photo was taken. What do you think of this photo? Are any buildings here still standing?

10/14/2026

From our archives: this 1907 photo depicts three men posed for a drive to the Essex County Fair, which took place that year from October 10th to 20th. We can see a banner affixed to the back; perhaps a car was still such a novelty that it deserved commemoration at the fair. The car appears to be a Thomas Flyer (year unknown), an American-made automobile best known for winning the 1908 New York to Paris Race. Finally, take note of the man gripping the steering wheel. Does it appear he is trying not to laugh?

What do you think of this photo?

10/11/2026

Today's volunteer shoutout goes to Doug (left) and Daniel (right)! Daniel is working on our Montclair business internal database, updating contact info and information and making sure our records are accurate. Thank you for volunteering with us!

10/08/2026

For our final Old Ways, New Hands class, we made pickles🥒

Students learned about the history of food preservation and the invention of the mason jar🫙

We will miss this group and hope to see you all again soon!

10/08/2026

Join us next Saturday !

10/08/2026

Join us this Saturday for our Women of the House Guided Tour day, featuring a special live hearth cooking demonstration! Learn about the many generations of women who lived in the Crane House & Historic YWCA or called it home. Then, watch a demonstration of how women living and working there would've prepared meals, giving you an insight into their daily lives.

This tour takes place this Saturday, October 10th from 12pm to 3pm at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ. Our gift shop will be open!

10/08/2026

Got plans Saturday morning? Check this out.

This Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m., join Friends of Anderson Park for the free Olmsted Historic Walking Tour of Anderson Park in Montclair. Before Anderson Park existed, three houses and a fire station sat on the park property. Discover where they went and other surprising stories about how this Olmsted-designed Essex County park came to be created 120 years ago, how it shaped Upper Montclair, and how it led to the formation of other Montclair parks. On this illustrated tour, also learn about efforts to rejuvenate the landscape of this park, on the National Register of Historic Places.

Handicap accessible. Anderson Park is at 274 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair. Meet at the boulder at the park’s northeast entrance. Tour is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. No rain date. Call or check the Friends of Anderson Park page for weather updates. 973-477-7207. Sponsored by Friends of Anderson Park, FriendsOfAndersonPark.com.

10/07/2026

Our museum store is open in person and online for the holidays! We have Montclair History Center merch, custom maps, Montclair artwork and prints, antiques, cool trinkets, books, Christmas ornaments, locally made goods... and more! Check us out during our tour days, online, or every Thursday from 9am to 3pm!