John Holmes House

Cape May County Hist. Society
504 Rt. 9 North
Cape May Courthouse, NJ 08210
(609) 465-3535
Internet: http://www.cmcmuseum.org/

Located in the pre-Revolutionary War John Holmes House, the Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society operates an historical museum and a research library for its community and visitors.

The Library, open primarily to researchers, contains mainly genealogical information on Cape May County families, including a large concentration of Pilgrim descendents.

The Museum features an eighteenth century kitchen and bedroom that illustrate early county life. The more modern Victorian dining room is furnished with early 19th century pieces and houses a number of interesting artifacts that are explained in the tour.

Other rooms display various collections of china, furniture and glass dating from the late seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. The Medical Room represents changes in surgical instruments and techniques from the American Revolution to the Spanish American War.

The Museum displays a fine military collection with artifacts dating from the Revolution to Desert Storm. Guns, swords and uniforms are exhibited. The prized item here is the flag from the Merrimac. A recent addition of an antique toy collection and a sewing alcove increases the Museum's ever expanding inventory.

Out back is the Historical Barn. Here visitors will find a cedar shingle mining exhibit, a decoy collection, whaling implements, a stage coach, peddlers wagon, doctor's silky, and even the lens from the Cape May Lighthouse .

All told this Museum has quite a lot to offer to enlighten visitors about the long and interesting history of this area.

School Programs consist of Guided Tours for elementary and secondary level groups. A variety of audio-visual programs are also available for school and other groups. A group must have at least fifteen people.

Throughout the year audiences enjoy a number of special events that highlight a selected theme. Call for a calendar.

Hours: Open from 10am - 2pm as follows: Saturdays in October thru May, Tuesday thru in June thru August, Thursday - Saturday in September.

Admission: Adults $5.00, Seniors and Students $4.00, Children 4 - 12 $ 2.00.

Group Reservations: 1 week.

Lunch: Nearby restaurants.

Handicapped: Call to make arrangements.

Directions: I-76 East to I-295/I-76 East to Rt. 42 (North/South Frwy.) South to Atlantic City Expwy. to Garden State Pkwy. South to exit 11 (CR 609). West on 609 to Rt. 9. Turn left. Museum is a short distance on left.

Time: 90 minutes southeast of Philadelphia.

Nearby: Leaming's Run Gardens , Wetlands Institute , Hereford Inlet Lighthouse , George F. Boyer Museum , Ocean Discovery Center .