After a Record-Breaking Fall, Liberty Hall Museum Gears Up for Holiday Season

A record-breaking 788 people attended Liberty Hall Museum's annual harvest celebration on October 26th, signaling the museum - the former residence of New Jersey's first elected governor, William Livingston - may be enjoying its most successful fall to date.

"October was a busy month for the museum, with our biggest crowd yet for our annual Pumpkin Patch Day, and - for the first time ever - Ghost Tours of Liberty Hall that were sold out every Saturday," said Bill Schroh, Jr., Director of Museum Operations. "November promises to be just as busy, with our extremely popular Ring for Service exhibit ending on November 16th, and the first floor of the museum transformed for Christmas tours starting November 29th."

Liberty Hall Museum's famed holiday tour, From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus (November 29 - December 28), celebrates five distinct Christmas traditions and eras in history: the Dutch tradition of St. Nicholas (c. 1774), the English tradition of Twelfth Night (c. 1800), "The Night Before Christmas" (c. 1848), a Victorian Christmas (c. 1899), and a WWII Christmas (c. 1942). Tours are available Monday - Saturday during regular museum hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6.00 for children, college students & seniors; $8.00 for Kean University alumni; and $10.00 for adults.

Liberty Hall will again serve as a drop-off center for Toys for Tots throughout the holiday season. Beginning November 20th, the museum will accept unwrapped gifts for children ages 1-17. Donations may be dropped off November 20th - December 16th at the museum's visitor center, known affectionately as "The Blue House."

Finally, Liberty Hall's acclaimed afternoon tea service continues with Thanksgiving Tea on November 20th (2 - 4 p.m.). Guests will have plenty to be thankful for as they sit back and enjoy a soothing cup of tea, delicate finger sandwiches, and Liberty Hall's breathtaking grounds from the comfort of the museum's heated, glass-enclosed porch. Admission is $40 per person, and includes a tour of the museum. Due to popular demand, Christmas Tea will be served every week in December (December 4th, 11th, 18th & 26th).

Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine. Tours of Liberty Hall run Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour; the last tour departs at 3 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Kean alumni, and $6 for children and seniors. Kean students and faculty are free.

For reservations and further information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall. Please follow Liberty Hall Museum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/libertyhallmuseum, or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LibertyHallKean.

Pictured: Visitors enjoy Liberty Hall's corn maze, just one of the museum's many popular seasonal activities. Courtesy of Liberty Hall Museum.