- Open year-round on Thursdays from 10am to 4pm
- Open weekends from 12pm to 4pm
- Visit the website for more details
- Guided tours offered of the museum’s permanent exhibit, From Indian Trail to Interstate
- Lectures and seminars offered starting in the summer of 2023
- Researchers can access archived material by appointment
- Other exhibits interpret the development of the Raritan River Valley from prehistoric time to the present, using transportation as the connecting theme
- Collection provides snapshots of the history and various modes of travel in America. Artifacts include Native American tools, architectural remnants, furniture, pottery, coins, needlework, paintings, grave markers, and other early 19th and 20th century pieces.
- ADA accessible parking, walking paths, and restrooms
- Group tours
- Gift shop
- Guided tours
- Interpretive material for hearing and/or visually impaired
- Free - donations accepted
- Guided tours $5 for adults and $3 for children
Metlar-Bodine House Museum
1281 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
732-463-8363
The Metlar-Bodine House was built in 1728 overlooking the Raritan River. It is the official historical and cultural museum for Piscataway, which was founded in 1666 as one of the nation’s oldest communities. The house is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and the site offers a wide range of public programs and services including guided tours, lectures, and seminars.
The museum’s collection of more than 2,000 artifacts includes the Ross Hall Wall, recently designated as an American Treasure by the National Park Service. In 1778, directly after the Battle of Monmouth, General George Washington and his Continental Army marched to Piscataway to rest along the banks of the Raritan River. Washington headquartered at nearby Ross Hall, and it was there on July 3rd that he wrote his military order that Independence Day should, from that day forward, be celebrated on the 4th of July. Ross Hall was destroyed in 1960, but one of its walls was saved and will be installed in the museum’s permanent gallery.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
- Take an architectural tour of the historic site
- Learn about the house’s place in Revolutionary era history
- Explore the museum’s collection of over 2,000 artifacts, including the Ross Wall Hall
- Embark on a guided tour or attend a lecture
Journey through Jersey strives to have the most up-to-date information, but always check with the site itself before planning a visit.
