Community Spotlight: New Jersey Maritime Museum

A trip to the Jersey Shore always brings back memories. From building sandcastles to body surfing to sucking on saltwater taffy on the drive home, these beaches mean a lot to a lot of people.

While they offer a certain sense of nostalgia to everyone who’s ever bought a beach tag, their history dates back before the boardwalks and rides went up. If you want to learn the full history of these beloved beaches and bays, spend an afternoon at the New Jersey Maritime Museum.

A Fleet of Nautical History

If you hop over to Long Beach Island and head south for Beach Haven, you may very well confuse this seaside mansion for just another impressive home. The truth is, it not only looks like an iconic shore home, it also features history on display.

What began with an interest in old shipwrecks has grown into the most extensive collection of maritime history and artifacts in NJ. The New Jersey Maritime Museum features everything from memorabilia to databases of local shipwrecks and coral reefs.

Inside, you’ll see model ships, photos of shipwrecks and sailors, and all sorts of artifacts that were recovered from the ocean. With all this nautical history on display, it’s no wonder it was named Best of Ocean County for Indoor Amusement by the Asbury Park Press.

Join the Crew

Whether you hear the sea calling or you’re a landlubber who just appreciates history, you can contribute to the NJ Maritime Museum. By becoming a member, you’ll be both preserving the Jersey Shore’s past and helping to build its future. You’ll also get unlimited access to the museum’s shipwreck database, library, rare book collection, and more!

If you really want to hoist the sails on this flagship of fun, you can volunteer at the museum too. As a nonprofit, the New Jersey Maritime Museum is almost entirely run by volunteers, so you can get involved in this educational institution.

Climb Aboard

From stepping into the past to helping you appreciate why the Jersey Shore has so much to offer, the New Jersey Maritime Museum has a boatload of history to share. To learn more, see artifacts online, and watch the occasional diving video, follow the museum on Facebook.