Liberty Hall Museum

Description

Liberty Hall Museum was the family home to the Livingston and Kean families for over 225 years. In 2007 Liberty Hall Museum merged with Kean University for a financial and educational partnership.

William Livingston, first governor of the state of New Jersey and a signer of the United States Constitution, built Liberty Hall in the 1770’s and resided at the house until his death in 1790. Peter Kean purchased the house in 1811 in trust for his mother, Susan Livingston Kean Niemcewicz, William Livingston’s niece and widow of John Kean. In 1932, Captain John Kean and his wife, Mary Alice inherited Liberty Hall. Captain John died in 1949 leaving Mary Alice alone at Liberty Hall until her death in 1995. During her time at Liberty Hall, Mary Alice became a fervent supporter of historic preservation. In 1974 she received National Historic Landmark status for Liberty Hall as well as adding the house to the National and NJ State Register of Historic Places. It was always her dream to see Liberty Hall opened to the public as a museum.

Using the Livingston and Kean family as our focal point, the museum’s main goal is to educate and entertain visitors about the history of New Jersey and the United States. The museum does this through several different types of programming, tours of the museum, special events, school programs and exhibitions.