Historic 1740 Apple Tree House To Become Museum Of Jersey City History

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City planned to move forward this week to lease the 1740 National Historic Landmark Apple Tree House to the Museum of Jersey City History (MJCH), a new museum.

Located at 298 Academy St. in Journal Square, the building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is named after the apple tree under which General George Washington dined with French Major General Marquis De Lafayette in 1779 to strategically plan for battle against the British during the Revolutionary War.

Mayor Steven Fulop committed to restoring and reviving the Apple Tree House early in his tenure. Following construction, the historic landmark was reopened to the public in 2017.

The Apple Tree House, also known at the Van Wagenen House, was built in 1740. Since being restored and reopened in 2017, the Revolutionary War relic has hosted various community events, including heritage celebrations, history exhibitions, family programming, educational lectures, and tours. It also housed city offices.

The Museum To Come

The first floor of the Museum of Jersey City History at Apple Tree House will host permanent historical exhibits highlighting different aspects of the city’s history. The level above
will feature rotating Jersey City-themed historical exhibitions.

The project is meant to build upon the administration's initiative to "revive Journal Square as a regional destination and the standard-bearer for arts and culture in New Jersey," the city said Wednesday.

Besides the museum, the Centre Pompidou is coming to the Pathside building, the Loew’s Theatre is being renovated, and Liberty Science Center is expanding.

“The Apple Tree House embodies Jersey City’s rich history and diverse communities, which is why it was our priority to restore the historical landmark as part of our broader efforts to bring Journal Square back to life as the premier destination for arts and culture,” said Fulop. "Establishing this Jersey City-centric museum furthers our efforts to preserve our city’s history and culture while also expanding opportunities to educate and inspire our community.”

“The Museum of Jersey City History (MJCH) is grateful to the Mayor and Council of the City of Jersey City for providing the museum with a perfect home in the splendidly restored and maintained Apple Tree House, rich in memories of every period of our City's history from the Lenni Lenape to the present renaissance of Journal Square," added Martin Pierce, MJCH Board President.

MJCH was recently gifted with an oil portrait of Mayor Frank Hague by Bill Doyle, great-nephew of John Malone, Hague’s long-serving deputy mayor. The painting will serve as the centerpiece of the museum’s inaugural exhibition, “Frank Hague’s Jersey City: Yesterday and Today.”

“After successfully partnering with MJCH over the past several months, this will mark the transition to full-time operations as the Museum of Jersey City History at Apple Tree House, promoting an interest in and a knowledge of Jersey City history,” said Christine Goodman, Director of Jersey City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. “This is a historic day for Jersey City
in many ways.”

MJCH negotiated the return of much of the historical material that was formerly part of the defunct Jersey City Museum’s collection from the Zimmerli in New Brunswick.