museum of early trades and crafts

It is a beautiful building and the displays are well presented. I went alone, but children would readily enjoy this museum.

This museum of Early Trades & Crafts is located in what used to be Madison’s first free public library, The James Library. Visitors will find this 1900 architectural beauty filled with exhibits displaying items used in New Jersey during the 18th & 19th century. We found this small local museum fascinating with its wonderfully restored building interior, stained glass windows, and skillfully put together exhibits. When we visited the museum the featured exhibit (Feb 25, 2014 through Feb 13, 2015) was “The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Homefront.” The museum also has a small gift shop where my wife found a pair of handmade sterling earrings. I would definitely recommend spending time here checking out the heritage of NJ residents.

I consider this one of the hidden gems of Madison. If you haven't visited the Museum yet you are in for a real treat. Great architecture and wonderful artifacts and inexpensive. A must do.

We enjoyed this museum directly in the heart (or maybe one would call it the entrance) to Madison just as you come off Park onto Main at 9 Main Street in front of Shanghai Jazz. Lovely building and a small garden. Parking was super easy on a Sunday and convenient to a nice little ice cream shoppe too! Building was once a library and one can definitely see that... Lots of lovely fireplaces. Beyond the Ghosts, Ghouls and Gravestones which is the current exhibit, we enjoyed the exhibit describing the family and why a family was once so large to get many hands to work the farm. On the main floor, there was a walk in safe that hosted an exhibit that we liked. Down stairs are all the tools - printing presses, shoe making, hard cider making delving into some of NJ's history and furniture making traveling tool chests. Most enjoyed the shoe making exhibit. There was no sign about photography so took a few shots hopefully not causing any issue here.There was a nominal fee and we really liked that there was a maximum family cap. We did not benefit from this but we thought that was so visitor friendly.We probably stayed an hour but it can be done quicker depending your "museum visit style". Mine and my spouses are polar opposite hence I shot out early for the ice cream

This historic building in the center of Madison is home to a great collection of early tools and colonial trades in the permanent collection, and varied exhibits focusing on different topisc during the year: apprenticeships, games and leisure activities, etc. Allow at least an hour or more for a visit, more if there is a program. During the summer, monthly concerts are held out front and special events are scheduled during the spring and fall. The wonderfully restored building one of the attractions.