We know it’s July, and all of our minds are on the outdoors. But sometimes, a cool day inside hits the spot. Whether it’s raining or you just need to beat the heat, the Morris Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, has something for everyone. And even better news? If you can’t decide whether you want to be inside or out, this premier museum in Morris County has BOTH! Here are our top FIVE reasons to visit the Morris Museum in July.
1. Lots for the kids: The amount of engagement this museum provides for local littles is incredible. The Spark!Lab, which is open during most afternoons, encourages kids to create, innovate, and invent to their heart’s delight. The Mega Model Train Gallery is a favorite for both kids and adults. The nearly 300-square-foot train set holds a new treasure around every corner. And the Earth Science Gallery caters to any kid going through their rock-collecting phase (don’t they all at some point?). Dinosaurs, fossils, rocks, and minerals will keep them fascinated—you can even stop in the gift shop on your way out and contribute to their collection.
2. Step back in time: Want to get lost in history? Passing through the glass doors that house the Guinness Collection of mechanical musical instruments and automata will immediately transport you back in time. The breadth of the collection is overwhelming (750 mechanical marvels spanning 400 years), and wandering through the endless collection of music boxes, mechanical dolls, and the massive orchestrion makes you think—if these specimens could talk, the stories they would tell!
3. There’s always something new: The Audubon Songbirds Collection—opening June 26th—brings together a rare and detailed group of original Audubon prints depicting bird species from the private collection of New Jersey Philanthropists and Art Collectors Dr. Michael and Elyn Stubblefield. A cache of 71 drawings by Henri Matisse, on loan from the Mourlot Archive, depicting various literary themes throughout his life, is on display through August 9th.
4. Don’t miss outdoor monuments: From the end of May through August, for the first time, large-scale sculptures will transform the Museum’s campus. Common Ground: NJ Artists Think Monumental includes works in a variety of mediums that respond to light, weather, and the natural environment and reimagine our relationship to landscape and community.
5. Fresh air and live music: The Morris Museum has been a longtime venue for live music and performance. The Back Deck Series is a special opportunity to enjoy dynamic music outdoors. This year’s lineup includes jazz vocalist Alexis Morrast, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, ArcoStrum, the Orpheus Chamber Players, and Little Johnny Rivero & His Giants: Tribute to our Legends of Jazz & Latin Jazz, among many others. They invite you to bring a chair, enjoy a nice bottle of wine, and watch the sunset as you listen and unwind.
Housed in the Twin Oaks Mansion on the territory of the Munsee Lenape people, the Morris Museum is an ever-changing cultural landmark and a testament to local heritage. Located right in Morristown, plan a visit to this exceptional place right in our own backyard. Learn more at: www.MorrisMuseum.org