8 Best Museums In New Jersey

From family-friendly science centers to longstanding coastal lighthouses, retro arcades, and more, New Jersey's educational and cultural institutions offer a window into a deep well of history, innovation, and eccentricity in the country's most densely populated state.

Learn more about some of its standout museums, each selected for a variety of reasons, from educational value and overall visitor experience to uniqueness and memorability. Whether you are interacting up close with a 19th-century landmark, exploring prehistoric fossils, or delving into New Jersey's storied history, each stop makes for a perfect way to discover the Garden State this year.

Liberty Science Center

Located in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, the Liberty Science Center is one of New Jersey’s most comprehensive science museums. It features interactive exhibits based mostly on engineering, health, and environmental science, along with one of the largest planetariums in the Western Hemisphere.

As with most science centers, this one is designed for visitors of all ages, with hands-on experiments and regularly scheduled demonstrations that are fun for the whole family. Notable exhibits include one about skyscrapers, delving into their engineering and the “Touch Tunnel,” a sensory maze that you navigate in complete darkness, using none other than your sense of touch! The center also hosts rotating exhibits and STEM-focused programs throughout the year, perfect for any budding scientists, doctors, or engineers out there.

After your visit, take a walk along the nearby Liberty State Park waterfront, which provides unobstructed views of landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline. The park itself includes a network of pathways, picnic areas, and access to ferry services for those looking to cross the water into New York.

From Liberty State Park, you can also cross the Ellis Island Bridge on foot to reach the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, another educational draw that highlights the history of the once prominent immigrant processing station.

Princeton University Art Museum

Situated on the Princeton University campus, the Princeton University Art Museum houses a globally recognized collection of more than 100,000 works spanning many genres and timelines, from the ancient world to more contemporary art. Highlights here include Greek and Roman antiquities, Chinese calligraphy, Renaissance paintings, and examples of exceptional American photography.

Though the museum building is currently undergoing a major renovation, temporary exhibitions are being held nearby at Art@Bainbridge and Art on Hulfish, both within walking distance. These satellite spaces maintain the museum’s academic research and accessibility to the public. The Princeton University Art Museum should be opening its doors again at the end of October 2025.

Once you have explored this wonderful array of art and creativity, take time to stroll around the university’s beautifully landscaped grounds. Furthermore, Nassau Street features tons of excellent restaurants, cafes, and more historic buildings. You should also pay a visit to the nearby Morven Museum & Garden, a former New Jersey governor’s mansion that now serves as a museum of state history.

Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial

Moored on the Delaware River in Camden, the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial preserves the most decorated battleship in US Navy history. You can explore the massive Iowa-class vessel by yourself or through guided tours across its navigation bridge, 16-inch gun turrets, crew quarters, and command center.

This legendary ship saw action in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf, and exhibits throughout the decks provide a window into the fascinating and evolving role it played in 20th-century naval warfare. Educational displays provide a detailed historical context of its legendary career alongside personal stories from those who served aboard.

Following the tour, hop over to the Camden Waterfront, home to several other attractions, including Wiggins Park and the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion. Just next door, you will also find the Adventure Aquarium, which houses over 15,000 aquatic species and features walk-through shark tunnels and hippo exhibits, making it a convenient second stop for families and history enthusiasts alike.

Montclair Art Museum

The Montclair Art Museum is known for its dual focus on American art and Native American art, with a permanent collection that spans from the 18th century to the present. The museum boasts works by prominent American artists such as George Inness, Winslow Homer, and Mary Cassatt, alongside a significant collection of Indigenous art from across North America. Rotating exhibitions often highlight regional artists, too.

What also makes the Montclair Art Museum special to the community is that it runs its own art school, offering classes for both adults and children.

Before or after viewing the gallery, be sure to spend some time in the surrounding Montclair neighborhoods, which are filled with draws such as the Van Vleck House & Gardens, a historic Mediterranean-style estate with formal gardens open to the public. Regardless of how you spend your time in town, this art museum and the surrounding area provide a well-rounded outing in the often overlooked suburbs of northern New Jersey.

New Jersey State Museum

Operated by the state government, the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton combines four disciplines under one roof: archaeology, fine art, natural history, and cultural history.

Its natural history exhibits include full-size dinosaur skeletons found in New Jersey, while the archaeology collections showcase artifacts from the state’s earliest inhabitants. On the other hand, the fine art wing focuses on works by New Jersey artists, and the cultural history section traces the state’s role in the grand scheme of the greater United States. Moreover, the planetarium here offers daily shows for visitors of all ages, using advanced projection systems to explore astronomy and space science in general.

The museum is located within walking distance of the New Jersey State House, where guided tours (by reservation) explain the inner workings of the state government. Also nearby is the Old Barracks Museum, a preserved colonial military site used during the Revolutionary War.

Insectropolis

Insectropolis, often referred to as “The Bugseum of New Jersey,” is a small, privately owned museum dedicated entirely to the world of insects. This roadside attraction near the Atlantic coast houses live tarantulas, scorpions, giant beetles, and hissing cockroaches, along with preserved specimens from around the world.

The displays are designed to be approachable for all (besides those who hate bugs, of course), with a heavy emphasis on education through up-close interaction with the creatures. For example, the “Bug University” area explains insect anatomy in detail, while the “Mud Tube” crawl-through lets you intimately experience what a bug's life is like underground! Various touch stations also allow supervised handling of select species, making the experience truly hands-on.

About a 40-minute drive southeast to Island Beach State Park is warranted if you want to further explore this coastal part of the state. The barrier island is one of the last remnants of New Jersey's natural shoreline, and is known for its dunes, oceanside forests, and quiet beaches. It’s an idyllic spot to walk, fish, lounge, and/or catch a glimpse of coastal wildlife, particularly in the summer.

Silverball Retro Arcade Museum

Part museum, part playable arcade, the Silverball Retro Arcade Museum on the boardwalks of Asbury Park is home to over 150 restored pinball machines and vintage arcade games, some dating back to the 1950s! You will have to pay by the hour or day, but you will receive unlimited play during that time, making this destination a fun way to easily pass an afternoon.

Machines rotate regularly from the museum’s full collection, and each is labeled with its year of production and other interesting background information. Alongside pinball, the arcade also includes classic video games like Pac-Man, Galaga, and Donkey Kong, turning the space into an exciting hands-on journey through the broader history of gaming.

See more of the Asbury Park Boardwalk while in the area, which stretches along the extensive oceanfront and features a collection of public art installations, seafood spots, locally owned shops, and beach access points. Must-see landmarks nearby include the restored Convention Hall and the Stone Pony, a live music venue known for launching local legends like Bruce Springsteen.

Cape May Lighthouse

Built in 1859, the Cape May Lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation and a key historic site within Cape May Point State Park. Run by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities, the lighthouse is open to the public, allowing you to climb up its 199 steps.

From the top, you will get the chance to view the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, a strategic maritime location that has made Cape May significant for coastal defense since the earliest days of the country's existence. On location, interpretive panels will explain the structure's construction, keepers’ duties, and the broader history of New Jersey’s coastal beacons in general.

The surrounding state park includes other activities, like nature trails through diverse coastal marsh and forest habitats, where birdwatchers often come to observe seasonal migrations. Also adjacent to the lighthouse grounds is another relic of the past, the World War II Lookout Tower, a restored fire control station historically used to spot enemy ships.

See the Garden State Through These Fun and Educational Destinations

From preserved battleships and art collections to insect zoos and arcade machines, each of these museums shows a different facet of this East Coast state's story. Paired with nearby landmarks, parks, and neighborhoods, these destinations turn simple day trips into fuller experiences that you hopefully won't forget.

Whether you are traveling with kids, are a history buff, or are simply a curious solo explorer, New Jersey's museums cover the full spectrum of interests. So, whether you are a resident of New Jersey or are just visiting, try adding these destinations to your travel plans to up the intrigue in this highly underrated part of the country.