Each year the HSOG offers a multitude of exhibitions, events, tours, and educational programs to residents and visitors, peaking in the summer months. We offer a permanent exhibition, History of Ocean Grove, and three special exhibitions every year, each on an interesting aspect of Ocean Grove culture or history. Our Exhibitions, Events, and Education sections describe them all! Our Museum is filled with an extensive collection of artifacts from Ocean Grove’s history, and we’ve highlighted a number of important pieces in the Collection section. Don’t forget to save some time for our Museum Store when you visit.
In addition to the Museum, Centennial Cottage and Garden, the Beersheba Well, the Fitzgerald Fountain, and several historic urns around town provide fascinating glimpses of how people lived, what was important to them, and the culture of the time in a Victorican shore community at the turn of the 19th century.
From the casual researcher to the academic scholar, we offer an extensive Archives and an onsite and online Research Library. There are many ways to become involved with the HSOG whether you are an individual, a company, or a government or nonprofit organization. You can volunteer a little or a lot, join one of our membership programs, and we always appreciate donations.
Since its founding in 1969, the Historical Society of Ocean Grove has pledged to preserve, document, and encourage community interest in Ocean Grove.
The purpose of this nonprofit Society is to sustain the heritage and honor of being designated a State and National Historic District.
1. Advocate for the protection of Ocean Grove’s historic structures, material culture, and built environment.
2. Maintain Ocean Grove as the largest assemblage of authentic Victorian architecture in the nation, and its establishment as a 19th century planned resort community.
3. Enrich the Camp Meeting heritage of Ocean Grove and the town’s unique heritage.
The HSOG’s permanent exhibition, History of Ocean Grove, highlights the fascinating historical, cultural, and architectural aspects of Ocean Grove. Be sure to visit this permanent display.
Protecting and preserving our collection for future generations is one of our greatest responsibilities. The Museum has more than 15,000 objects, cultural materials, artifacts, and pieces relative to the history of Ocean Grove, Monmouth County, and 19th century shore life.
We would like our education and social impact programs to connect thousands of young people and their families, including students, community members, aspiring historians, and educators. Our goal is to offer enriching history experiences, nurture critical thinking at all levels, and harness the power of history to make meaningful differences in people’s live.
Ocean Grove and the HSOG are designated on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail, the Monmouth County Historical Commission’s A Weekend in Old Monmouth Tour Trail and the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail.
The HSOG Museum is housed in the first floor and basement of the former Wainright and Errickson Store at 50 Pitman Avenue, Ocean Grove. The story of the building is one of late 19th and early 20th century commerce and retail, household utility and tastes, and the evolving purchasing needs of residents and visitors living near the shore.
Our Museum library contains a wide variety of over 1000 books, ranging from many on Victoriana and Victorian architecture, history of Monmouth County and New Jersey, books signed by Elwood Stokes, the first president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, historic preservation, historic home renovation, and more....
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: False
Please make your first shopping destination the HSOG Museum Store with more information on our Website Shop page. In addition, Ocean Grove offers many places to shop for clothing, bath and body products, food, art, jewelry, books, crafts, home decor, and vintage items to round out your HSOG experience.
Group visits of 10 or more people are available with any of our three types of Walking Tours. Group visits can also include dine-in breakfast or lunch from an Ocean Grove restaurant.
Transport your guests to a Victorian garden as they stroll through the Centennial Cottage Anna DeYoung Skold Memorial Garden, enjoying the outdoor beauty of this one-of-a-kind venue. Open May through September, this Garden surrounds Centennial Cottage, which is a charming, picturesque, Victorian period house. The House and Garden are at the corner of McClintock Street and Central Avenue – on which the Garden opens.
Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours