Spring Programs at Morven Include Live History Mystery, Earth Day Celebration, and More
Solve a mystery at the museum—plus returning favorites, live performances, and a free community celebration this spring
Spring at Morven Museum & Garden brings a vibrant season of programs celebrating history, creativity, and community. From immersive historical experiences and thought-provoking talks to annual traditions and a festive outdoor celebration, Morven invites visitors of all ages to explore the stories of America’s past while enjoying the beauty of the historic property.
The spring lineup continues Morven’s yearlong commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, with illustrated lectures and performances that explore the lives, ideas, and contradictions of the nation’s founding era. Highlights include the Generation Declaration speaker series and the new Signer Stories series, including a musical evening exploring the life of Francis Hopkinson—New Jersey signer of the Declaration of Independence credited as the first native composer of the United States. Also new this year is an immersive Live History Weekend, where visitors solve a mystery in the mansion with help from characters in Morven’s past.
Seasonal traditions return to Morven, including the museum’s annual online plant sale fundraiser, elegant Afternoon Teas with The Secret Tearoom, and a free Earth Day Celebration presented in partnership with Sustainable Princeton.
“Spring is always an exciting time at Morven, when our gardens begin to bloom and our programs bring together history lovers, families, and the community,” said Rhonda DiMascio, Executive Director of Morven Museum & Garden. “This season’s events reflect the creativity and curiosity that define Morven—whether visitors are exploring the stories behind the Declaration of Independence, celebrating sustainability on Earth Day, or discovering the beauty of local gardens.”
Other highlights include the annual Princeton Garden Tour, where stunning private gardens open for one day to support Morven Museum & Garden and the Historical Society of Princeton.
Registration is now open at morven.org/events. Details on the full slate of spring programs are below.
Annual Plant Sale
Now through April 6, Morven Museum & Garden hosts its annual online plant sale featuring an affordable selection of flowers, vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs, and more. Morven’s expert horticulturalists have curated a diverse selection of in-demand, unique, and hard-to-find plants, including seedlings from the historic garden. All proceeds benefit Morven.
Sale dates: Through Monday, April 6
Order pick up: Friday–Monday, May 15–18
Location: Order online at morven.org/plantsale; pick-up at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Grand Homes & Gardens
Freedom at Home: Telling the Full Story of America’s Founding Homes and Gardens
Blending history, architecture, and horticulture, this series explores the residences and landscapes of the Declaration’s signers while sharing the stories of the people who lived and worked there—including enslaved people, families, and servants.
Upcoming Programs:
March 26 – Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden
April 16 – Middleton Place
Dates/Times: Thursdays, March 26 and April 16, 6:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm for refreshments)
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
In-person tickets: $40 general admission, $30 Morven Member, $10 student
Virtual tickets available.
Register at morven.org/signature/grandhomes
The Declaration in Script in Print
As part of Morven’s Generation Declaration speaker series, John Bidwell, Curator Emeritus at the Morgan Library, explores how the Declaration of Independence became a work of art in the nineteenth century through elaborate decorative printing, and its impact on popular culture.
Date/Time: Thursday, April 9, 6:30 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
In-person tickets: $20 general admission, $15 Morven Member, $10 student
Virtual tickets available.
Register at morven.org/events
Live History Weekend at Morven
Morven Museum & Garden presents “In Time,” an interactive mystery theatre experience with Live History USA. Visitors travel through the historic mansion solving a mystery with help from characters from Morven’s past.
Dates/Times: Saturday and Sunday, April 11–12, 10 am–4 pm (approximately 45 minutes)
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tickets: $15 general admission, $12 seniors/students/active military and veterans, $10 Morven members, free for kids ages 6 and under
Register at morven.org/events
Afternoon Tea with The Secret Tearoom
Enjoy an enchanting full afternoon tea service (fine teas, warm scones, tea sandwiches, and more) served on fine chinaware in Morven’s historic Garden Room overlooking the grounds. Registration includes admission to the museum and an optional guided tour.
Dates/Times: April 16 and 17; May 21 and 22; September 24 and 25; October 15 and 16; November 5 and 6; seatings at 12 pm and 2:15 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tickets: $55 per guest, $45 for Morven Members
Register at morven.org/events
Earth Day Celebration Trashion Show
Walk the runway in the second annual Trashion Show, turning everyday items like paper bags, broken umbrellas, and plastic utensils into wearable works of art. Prizes will be awarded in three age categories.
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 3
Event Date: Sunday, April 19, 3:15 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Details at sustainableprinceton.org
Earth Day Celebration 2026
Join Sustainable Princeton and Morven Museum & Garden for a free afternoon of sustainable outdoor fun, with crafts, activities, a book and puzzle swap, clothing drive, raffle prizes, and more.
Date/Time: Sunday, April 19, 12–4 pm (rain or shine)
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Admission: FREE
Details at morven.org/events
The Ingenious Mr. Hopkinson – A Life in Words & Musick
A musical evening exploring the life and works of Declaration signer Francis Hopkinson, led by The Practitioners of Musick’s John Burkhalter.
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 29, 6:30 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tickets: $35 per person or two tickets for $60
Presented in partnership with the Historical Society of Princeton
Register at morven.org/events
250th Exhibition Premiere & Founding Feast
Be among the first to experience Five Independent Souls, a landmark exhibition illuminating New Jersey’s five signers of the Declaration of Independence. The evening includes the exhibition premiere followed by an elegant sit-down dinner inspired by New Jersey’s agricultural heritage.
Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 6–9 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Register at morven.org/events/250th-founding-feast
New Jersey Women’s Revolutionary Experiences
Historian Lucia McMahon explores the varied experiences of New Jersey women during the era of the American Revolution.
Date/Time: Thursday, May 14, 6:30 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 Morven member, $10 student
Virtual tickets available
Presented in partnership with the William Trent House Museum
Register at morven.org/events
Slavery and the Declaration of Independence: The Deleted Clauses
Part of Morven’s Generation Declaration series, OAH (Organization of American Historians) Distinguished Lecturer Holly Brewer discusses the deleted clauses of the Declaration, and why those condemning the actions of the English king related to slavery were removed. Tickets include museum admission the day of the event. Light refreshments will be served.
Date/Time: Sunday, May 17, 2 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 Morven member, $10 student
Virtual tickets available
Register at morven.org/events
Princeton Garden Tour 2026
Be a part of an inspiring celebration of horticulture, history, and community as stunning private gardens open to participants for one special day to support two pillars of local history and preservation— the Historical Society of Princeton and Morven Museum & Garden. This year’s tour features a new slate of historical and contemporary properties.
Date/Time: Saturday, June 13, 11 am–4 pm
Tickets: $55 Garden Tour admission; $100 Garden Contributor admission (includes breakfast at the Historical Society of Princeton from 10-11 am)
Founding Sponsor: David Schure and Grant Wagner of Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty
Details at princetonhistory.org
About Morven Museum & Garden:
Most historic sites celebrate a single notable resident—Morven is different. Built in the 1750s for Richard Stockton (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) and his wife, Annis Boudinot Stockton, an early published poet, Morven was home to five generations of the Stockton family as well as generations of enslaved men and women and later, immigrant servants. The twentieth century saw the innovative industrialist and humanitarian Robert Wood Johnson, Jr. and five New Jersey governors. Over 250+ years, its walls have witnessed the lives of governors, political leaders, celebrities, and everyday families alike.
Today, Morven Museum & Garden welcomes visitors to explore this layered history through exhibitions, programs, and historic gardens. The museum, located at 55 Stockton Street in Princeton, NJ, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am-4 pm. The gardens are open daily until dusk. Learn more at morven.org.