Morris Museum
Morris Museum
4
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
149 reviews
Excellent
69
Very good
52
Average
18
Poor
5
Terrible
5
ERICA M
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
If you’re taking a trip to the Morris Museum to see the big bear,don’t bother he is no longer there!!! Very disappointing!!
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daffy D
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
For a small venue they utilize the space very well.. Loved the Musical instrument section, fun art room and operational interactive model trains for small and tall kids and more. Glad I stopped in.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorna B.
Bechtelsville, PA766 contributions
Oct 2022
We recently visited here while in Morristown to see its historic sites. We were fortunate to arrive just in time to catch a very interesting and entertaining demonstration called “Musical Machines & Automata.” This was a demonstration of selected samples from the museum’s wonderful Guinness collection of musical and/or mechanical dolls, figurines, instruments, music boxes, toys, clocks, etc. Our one-hour tour led by Bradford was engaging and informative. He was very knowledgeable and fervent about the items he demonstrated for us, including a pinned cylinder, disk player, punched paper player piano, a luminaire, etc. Seeing the demonstration made us appreciate the rest of the items in this impressive collection so much more.
As much as we enjoyed this exhibit, the rest of the museum was disappointing in comparison. Upstairs was a small Native American gallery and one about “Earth Science” (displaying fossils, dinosaurs, minerals, etc.). Also, there was a large model train display and a small decorative arts gallery. A large area of this museum was devoted to photography and avant-garde artwork of a style that we did not care for.
During the time of our visit (1:55pm-3:45pm), there was wedding setup going on in the main hallway; the rows of chairs set up there discouraged us from entering the side galleries. I am certain we missed some features (the museum’s map showed many more galleries than we remember encountering).
There was plentiful free parking here. We had free admission through our NARM membership.
As much as we enjoyed this exhibit, the rest of the museum was disappointing in comparison. Upstairs was a small Native American gallery and one about “Earth Science” (displaying fossils, dinosaurs, minerals, etc.). Also, there was a large model train display and a small decorative arts gallery. A large area of this museum was devoted to photography and avant-garde artwork of a style that we did not care for.
During the time of our visit (1:55pm-3:45pm), there was wedding setup going on in the main hallway; the rows of chairs set up there discouraged us from entering the side galleries. I am certain we missed some features (the museum’s map showed many more galleries than we remember encountering).
There was plentiful free parking here. We had free admission through our NARM membership.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TR26
Dayton, OH904 contributions
Sept 2021
This is reported to be the second largest museum in New Jersey, which says that New Jersey is not big on museums in general--but more importantly shows that the size doesn't matter if you have a distinguished collection.
In this case, they have a pretty nice display of visual arts, including a good deal of contemporary--one special exhibition featured African-American artists--and I think they concentrate on artists from their region. However they had some 19th century works as well, including a Gainesborough. There's also a little but good Native Amerifan gallery, and a modest but excellent paleontology exhibit centered on prehistorical life in New Jersey.
But the main attraction is the Guinness collection of automatons. It's primarily a large number of mechanical musical instruments--not just music boxes, bbut automatic organs, hurdy-gurdies,
In this case, they have a pretty nice display of visual arts, including a good deal of contemporary--one special exhibition featured African-American artists--and I think they concentrate on artists from their region. However they had some 19th century works as well, including a Gainesborough. There's also a little but good Native Amerifan gallery, and a modest but excellent paleontology exhibit centered on prehistorical life in New Jersey.
But the main attraction is the Guinness collection of automatons. It's primarily a large number of mechanical musical instruments--not just music boxes, bbut automatic organs, hurdy-gurdies,
Written 1 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ken j
Manalapan, NJ929 contributions
Sept 2021
We loved the musical automatic collection. The stories, especially of the mechanical Turk, were great. While we were there a staffer played some of the musical instruments, a lot of fun. Liked the mineral display also.
Written 6 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CH.BR
415 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Small museum but full of gems. Especially the art gallery is in the mansion. Automata with music box collection is so cool and fun. The yard is nice with some art pieces and picnic tables. If there is a cafe, that will be great.
Written 12 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
Parsippany, NJ1 283 contributions
Feb 2020
First time visit to the Morris Museum. I went to view the current exhibit "Aerosol," an exhibit of graffiti and street art. The exhibit is amazing especially since all of the pieces are originals painted in the museum. I then ventured to the other parts of the museum and was impressed with each exhibit. The Guinness Collection of mechanical music instruments if fascinating with plenty of hands on interactive things to do. I also enjoyed the other current exhibits.
Daniel Rosin's PomPom mirror is a cool object with black and white pompom tufts that change colors as you move back and forth in front of it.
The Adventures of Baron Von Steubon and Cromwell: A Kinetic Tale by David Bowman is a collection of metal kinetic sculptures that tell a story. Tap on the foot pedals and the sculptures come to life.
Everyday People: Mel Leipzig’s Figurative Realism is a gorgeous display of colorful paintings that you just need to stand in front of for a few minutes.
Throw in the other exhibits including the model railroad and dinosaurs and there is something for people of all ages.
Looking forward to future exhibits.
Daniel Rosin's PomPom mirror is a cool object with black and white pompom tufts that change colors as you move back and forth in front of it.
The Adventures of Baron Von Steubon and Cromwell: A Kinetic Tale by David Bowman is a collection of metal kinetic sculptures that tell a story. Tap on the foot pedals and the sculptures come to life.
Everyday People: Mel Leipzig’s Figurative Realism is a gorgeous display of colorful paintings that you just need to stand in front of for a few minutes.
Throw in the other exhibits including the model railroad and dinosaurs and there is something for people of all ages.
Looking forward to future exhibits.
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen P
64 contributions
Nov 2019
The Morris Museum is a small museum with a big collection and a surprise around every corner. We stopped here specifically to see the Guinness Collection of mechanical musical instruments and automata from the 1800s and early 1900s, and we weren’t disappointed. In the “Musical Machines” exhibit, instruments range from intricate musical snuffboxes to elaborate player pianos, and from the Encore automatic banjo to the Poppers Rex Orchestrion with an orchestra of instruments stuffed inside. The “Living Dolls” exhibit features exquisitely detailed moving figures: a magician clown whose head disappears, a bicycle-riding monkey, a Pierrot writing a letter, a maid dusting a portrait with moving eyes, and many more. Because they are so delicate, the automata are kept behind glass, but there are videos of them in action and a daily live demonstration at 2:00 PM.
In addition to the Guinness Collection, The Morris had many permanent exhibits and several special exhibits that delighted us: an extensive display of rocks and minerals, a wonderful model train room, a walk-through “story” illustrated with intricate mechanical sculptures of fantastical creatures, and a gallery full of street art and graffiti. Another surprise was discovering two floors of the Neo-Georgian Frelinghuysen mansion designed by Stanford White built into the central lobby, with the furnishings and grand staircase intact. In spite of their diverse collection, the museum was very easy to navigate, and the on-site parking was free. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
In addition to the Guinness Collection, The Morris had many permanent exhibits and several special exhibits that delighted us: an extensive display of rocks and minerals, a wonderful model train room, a walk-through “story” illustrated with intricate mechanical sculptures of fantastical creatures, and a gallery full of street art and graffiti. Another surprise was discovering two floors of the Neo-Georgian Frelinghuysen mansion designed by Stanford White built into the central lobby, with the furnishings and grand staircase intact. In spite of their diverse collection, the museum was very easy to navigate, and the on-site parking was free. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom and Heather
Swedesboro, NJ840 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I leave this review with the thought that I will go back and try again on a day when they are not catering to kids for a magic and chocolate themed day.
That being said they are a NARM museum so we didn’t have to pay the $10 per person admission since we are members of the Penn Museum. I wish they had a cafeteria or some option of snacks other than junk food in the gift shop.
The biggest highlight was the art gallery and the automaton music boxes and the way they told the history. Although the art gallery changes the music display is a Permanent exhibit.
I don’t know if it is a permanent exhibit but they also had a really interesting art exhibit intertwining a story and mechanical interpretations of the story. I excitedly went into the gift shop wanting to buy the book to share with my students. I was really disappointed to see that the book is $80.00 and a plastic bound set of pictures of the book is $30.00. I’m a teacher that is way to expensive but i am really disappointed to not be able to share it with my students.
The bottom line, my husband and I love to get out to these places and it is a real source of enjoyment and relaxing. Today was not. The kids in this place were out of control and rude. It was really over crowded and the exhibits did not flow well.
That being said they are a NARM museum so we didn’t have to pay the $10 per person admission since we are members of the Penn Museum. I wish they had a cafeteria or some option of snacks other than junk food in the gift shop.
The biggest highlight was the art gallery and the automaton music boxes and the way they told the history. Although the art gallery changes the music display is a Permanent exhibit.
I don’t know if it is a permanent exhibit but they also had a really interesting art exhibit intertwining a story and mechanical interpretations of the story. I excitedly went into the gift shop wanting to buy the book to share with my students. I was really disappointed to see that the book is $80.00 and a plastic bound set of pictures of the book is $30.00. I’m a teacher that is way to expensive but i am really disappointed to not be able to share it with my students.
The bottom line, my husband and I love to get out to these places and it is a real source of enjoyment and relaxing. Today was not. The kids in this place were out of control and rude. It was really over crowded and the exhibits did not flow well.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScenicTrek
New Jersey1 975 contributions
Jul 2019
We visited here on a Saturday in July. The museum is nestled among trees, bushes, and flowers and sits atop a small hill on a corner property surrounded by well-tended lawns. There are some picnic benches and a few sculptures. The entranceway has a decorative brick gate. The grounds are aesthetically pleasing and create a peaceful atmosphere. As the front sign indicates, the museum is dedicated to art, science, history, and performing arts.
There are three levels to the museum. The upper level has (at the time of our visit) the Steampunk Kinetic Art displays, a conference room and a few smaller galleries (dinosaurs, geological timeline with fossils). The main level has the entrance pavilion, the mansion galleries, the Guinness Collection, the museum court, the gift shop, the Bickford Theater, and restrooms. The lower level has classrooms, the Guinness Viewable Storage area, the Guinness Resource Center, and restrooms.
Part of the charm of the museum is the fact that a structure was built around a pre-existing mansion. The entrance pavilion is an eye-catching structure that is two stories tall. One side of the mansion (an external wall) is to the left, a wall of glass panels is directly ahead behind the admission desk, and the gift shop is to the right.
Children will find the model trains and railroad displays (two of them) to be a source of nearly endless fascination, complete with a bunch of moving components that can be activated with the press of a button. Great attention to detail was obviously used when making this display, and museum patrons will be delighted to see some very recognizable elements like trucks bearing advertising for Chips Ahoy, Planters Peanuts, Oscar Mayer products, and Oreo cookies and a billboard for Life Savers candy and local references like street signs for NJIT, Rutgers University, NJPAC and the good old NJ Turnpike. You could spend quite some time just taking in all the elements of this display.
The mineral display is really quite impressive, with specimens from around the world and samples of the three kinds of rock (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic). There are some samples that are placed on a shelf in front of the display cases so that people, especially children, can actually touch them and see them up close. Some of the highlights of the mineral display include a large piece of petrified wood, a fluorescent mineral display (the minerals glow under UV light), and a piece of a large amethyst geode that patrons can touch.
Equally impressive is their gallery with historical letters that includes documents from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison, and Charles Darwin.
The Guinness Collection forms the heart of the museum’s collection, and it is truly amazing. It consists of antique mechanical musical instruments and automata (performing mechanical figures) spanning the late 16th through early 20th centuries. Here you can see cylinder and disc music boxes, a player piano, a fairground organ, a barrel organ, and a host of motion devices, to name a few. The automata are truly fascinating, and they display an extraordinary degree of detail and craftsmanship. They are all encased in glass displays, but there is a small sitting area with five videos that show the automata working. They are absolutely worth watching because these devices are truly a marvel to behold. In my estimation, the Guinness Collection alone is worth the price of admission to the museum.
Other collections include American Indian (textiles, bead work, basketry) and the Dodge Room (paintings, sculptures, decorative clock). There are rotating (temporary) displays as well. During our visit the featured exhibitions were Bob Gruen (Rock ‘n’ Roll pictures), Steampunk Fashion (men’s and women’s fashion, locomotives, and airships), and Pen to Paper (historical documents). There is also the Dinosaur Den, a clean and open space on the second floor that is clearly meant for children. It houses a T-Rex skull, fossils, dinosaur eggs, a large dinosaur mural, and dinosaur footprints painted on the floor.
Helpful Things to Know:
1) The museum is closed on Mondays.
2) The museum has an elevator and hence is handicap accessible.
3) Their parking lot, which is divided into several sections, is substantial and it surrounds the museum on three sides at the north end. It can accommodate 150 cars or so (for both the museum and Bickford Theater patrons). Parking is free.
4) Except for a few restrictions, photography of the displays and the mansion is allowed.
5) The museum is close to other attractions, most notably the Washington’s Headquarters Museum, the Schuyler-Hamilton House Museum, and the Morristown Green, all of which are within one mile or so. Hence you could make an entire Saturday, for example, out of your visit.
I would absolutely recommend this museum. In fact, given that some of the exhibits change, I will almost certainly return to see what else they offer.
If my review was helpful, please consider clicking the thumbs-up button. Thank you!
There are three levels to the museum. The upper level has (at the time of our visit) the Steampunk Kinetic Art displays, a conference room and a few smaller galleries (dinosaurs, geological timeline with fossils). The main level has the entrance pavilion, the mansion galleries, the Guinness Collection, the museum court, the gift shop, the Bickford Theater, and restrooms. The lower level has classrooms, the Guinness Viewable Storage area, the Guinness Resource Center, and restrooms.
Part of the charm of the museum is the fact that a structure was built around a pre-existing mansion. The entrance pavilion is an eye-catching structure that is two stories tall. One side of the mansion (an external wall) is to the left, a wall of glass panels is directly ahead behind the admission desk, and the gift shop is to the right.
Children will find the model trains and railroad displays (two of them) to be a source of nearly endless fascination, complete with a bunch of moving components that can be activated with the press of a button. Great attention to detail was obviously used when making this display, and museum patrons will be delighted to see some very recognizable elements like trucks bearing advertising for Chips Ahoy, Planters Peanuts, Oscar Mayer products, and Oreo cookies and a billboard for Life Savers candy and local references like street signs for NJIT, Rutgers University, NJPAC and the good old NJ Turnpike. You could spend quite some time just taking in all the elements of this display.
The mineral display is really quite impressive, with specimens from around the world and samples of the three kinds of rock (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic). There are some samples that are placed on a shelf in front of the display cases so that people, especially children, can actually touch them and see them up close. Some of the highlights of the mineral display include a large piece of petrified wood, a fluorescent mineral display (the minerals glow under UV light), and a piece of a large amethyst geode that patrons can touch.
Equally impressive is their gallery with historical letters that includes documents from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison, and Charles Darwin.
The Guinness Collection forms the heart of the museum’s collection, and it is truly amazing. It consists of antique mechanical musical instruments and automata (performing mechanical figures) spanning the late 16th through early 20th centuries. Here you can see cylinder and disc music boxes, a player piano, a fairground organ, a barrel organ, and a host of motion devices, to name a few. The automata are truly fascinating, and they display an extraordinary degree of detail and craftsmanship. They are all encased in glass displays, but there is a small sitting area with five videos that show the automata working. They are absolutely worth watching because these devices are truly a marvel to behold. In my estimation, the Guinness Collection alone is worth the price of admission to the museum.
Other collections include American Indian (textiles, bead work, basketry) and the Dodge Room (paintings, sculptures, decorative clock). There are rotating (temporary) displays as well. During our visit the featured exhibitions were Bob Gruen (Rock ‘n’ Roll pictures), Steampunk Fashion (men’s and women’s fashion, locomotives, and airships), and Pen to Paper (historical documents). There is also the Dinosaur Den, a clean and open space on the second floor that is clearly meant for children. It houses a T-Rex skull, fossils, dinosaur eggs, a large dinosaur mural, and dinosaur footprints painted on the floor.
Helpful Things to Know:
1) The museum is closed on Mondays.
2) The museum has an elevator and hence is handicap accessible.
3) Their parking lot, which is divided into several sections, is substantial and it surrounds the museum on three sides at the north end. It can accommodate 150 cars or so (for both the museum and Bickford Theater patrons). Parking is free.
4) Except for a few restrictions, photography of the displays and the mansion is allowed.
5) The museum is close to other attractions, most notably the Washington’s Headquarters Museum, the Schuyler-Hamilton House Museum, and the Morristown Green, all of which are within one mile or so. Hence you could make an entire Saturday, for example, out of your visit.
I would absolutely recommend this museum. In fact, given that some of the exhibits change, I will almost certainly return to see what else they offer.
If my review was helpful, please consider clicking the thumbs-up button. Thank you!
Written 2 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna M
Fair Lawn, NJ
I would like to take my 4 grandchildren to the museum. However, I cannot find out how much it costs to get in. Do I have to pay for a child under 2?
kavithasrinivasan
Fords, NJ374 contributions
Children under 3 enter free. Also if you are a Bank of America card holder you can take advantage of their museums on us program where the first weekend every month is free for card holders.
Anna M
Fair Lawn, NJ
I cannot find out how much it costs to enter the Morris Museum and is there an added cost for each exhibit. If so for which exhibit and how much. We will also have a 2 year old with us does she enter free of charge?
Denise M.
Morristown, NJ139 contributions
Check website for the prices for admission. It looks like a child over 3 years is a $7.00 charge.
I advise to go on the Thursday where you just make a donation of your choice. It may be the 3rd Thursday of the month. Check the website I have above for questions. I don't believe it is every Thursday.
Yes one price you can see all the exhibits. Unless there is a stipulation for a special exhibit. I advise to check out the website to see what is on display before you go.
morrismuseum org website under visit for prices
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Frequently Asked Questions about Morris Museum
- Morris Museum is open:
- Sun - Sun 12:00 - 17:00
- Tue - Sat 11:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near Morris Museum:
- (0.89 km) The Westin Governor Morris, Morristown
- (2.02 km) Best Western Plus Morristown Inn
- (2.44 km) Archer Hotel Florham Park
- (1.34 km) Hyatt House Morristown
- (2.00 km) The Madison Hotel
- Restaurants near Morris Museum:
- (0.88 km) Blue Morel Restaurant and Wine Bar
- (2.03 km) Rod's Steak And Seafood Grille
- (2.77 km) The Committed Pig
- (0.97 km) Friendly's
- (2.13 km) Laku Sushi