Enjoy 'Historic' End-of-Summer Events at Liberty Hall Museum!

UNION, N.J. – This August, Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University invites families and individuals of all ages to enjoy “historic” end-of-summer activities including children’s tours, afternoon tea, yoga in the gardens and a member-only preview event.

“Summer is a perfect time to visit Liberty Hall Museum,” said Bill Schroh, Director of Museum Operations. “Visitors can join us for one of the many scheduled events or spend the day in our beautiful gardens for as little as $5 per person.”

A Child’s View of History, an interactive tour of the museum for children ages 7 through 12, will be held on Tuesdays through August 25, 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 two centuries. Each room in the tour features a variety of artifacts that young visitors are encouraged to touch, and the program also includes outdoor games and activities. Admission is $8 per child and $10 per adult, and includes light refreshments.

Liberty Hall’s Summer Fun Days will continue every Thursday in August from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Young museum goers will learn about history through hands-on activities, outdoor games and crafts. A different theme will be explored each week, beginning with “Firehouse Fun” on August 6, followed by “Olaf’s Summer Adventure,” “See How It Works,” and “Life as a Colonial Kid,” respectively. 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, and includes light refreshments.

Yoga enthusiasts can enjoy Liberty Hall’s beautiful grounds on Sundays, August 2 and 9, 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 encouraged to bring a yoga mat, towel and bottle of water.

Reservations are also available for Afternoon Tea, on Wednesdays, August 12 and 26, 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.

Liberty Hall’s newest exhibit, Toys Through Time: The History of American Fun, opens to the public on October 5, but museum members are invited to a special preview event on Thursday, August 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests will enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and get a firsthand look at some of the toys that will be on display this fall.

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. In celebration of Liberty Hall Museum’s 15th anniversary, visitors can receive 15% off their entire purchase in the Museum Store. Liberty Hall Museum is located at 1003 Morris Avenue in Union, N.J. For more information, or to become a member, please visit Liberty Hall Museum’s new website at www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

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Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum 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. 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. Liberty Hall Museum is made possible in part through funding from The New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

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.