Summer Will Soon Be History! Visit Liberty Hall Museum for Special Kids Tours, Yoga in the Gardens and More

UNION, N.J. – Families are invited to create a bit of their own history at Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University this summer with activities for visitors of all ages – children’s tours, themed events, afternoon teas and yoga in the gardens.

A Child’s View of History, an interactive tour of the museum geared toward children ages 6 through 12, is held every Tuesday throughout July and August, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Kids will step back in time and see the museum through the eyes of the children who resided at Liberty Hall over the past 240 years. Each room in the tour features a variety of artifacts that young visitors are encouraged to touch and the program also includes outdoor games, activities and light refreshments. Admission is $8 per child and $10 per adult.

Liberty Hall is also excited to kick off Summer Fun Days every Thursday in July and August from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Young museum goers will be treated to a day filled with summer fun while learning about history through hands-on learning, outdoor games, a craft project, and light refreshments. Each week will explore a different theme, including “Olaf’s Summer Adventure” on July 9, subsequently followed by “History Hunt,” “Outdoor Fun,” and “Old-Fashioned Games.” Those who register for three or more weeks will receive a free gift from Liberty Hall. Admission is $20 for one child accompanied by one adult; $15 for museum members.

“We love these special tours for children because it gives us an opportunity to showcase history at a level at which they can relate,” said Lacey Bongard, Liberty Hall’s Coordinator of Museum Programs. “Plus, there are reproduction artifacts on display that they can touch freely; in most museum experiences, they normally wouldn’t be able to explore the artifacts so closely.”

Liberty Hall also offers an ongoing Afternoon Tea series, which will be offered Wednesdays, July 8 and 22, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. In the grand tradition of Mary Alice Kean, Liberty Hall’s last full-time resident, this exquisite traditional tea service features a selection of scones, assorted pastries, traditional finger sandwiches and fresh fruit. Admission is $40 per person; $35 for museum members, and includes a guided tour of the museum.

Yoga enthusiasts can enjoy Liberty Hall’s beautiful grounds on Sunday, July 19 and 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., for Yoga in the Gardens, led by certified instructor, Siobhan Wright. Yoga in the Gardens provides a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere where yoga-lovers will experience the benefits of practicing yoga outside of a studio. Admission is $8 per person; $5 for museum members. Participants are recommended to bring a yoga mat, towel and bottle of water.

Liberty Hall Museum is proud to participate in Blue Star Museums (http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums), a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families from now through Labor Day, September 7, 2015. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.

Reservations are required for all events by calling (908) 527-0400 or sending e-mail to libertyhall@kean.edu. Liberty Hall Museum is located at 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, N.J. For more information, please visit Liberty Hall Museum’s new website at www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine. Liberty Hall Museum is made possible in part through funding from The New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

Tours of Liberty Hall are available Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour; the last tour departs at 3 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Kean alumni, and $6 for children and seniors.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, boasting a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers three doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. The University’s five undergraduate colleges offer 49 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union and Toms River, NJ, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University provides a world-class education. Visit Kean online at www.kean.edu.