Morven Museum & Garden

Built in the 1750s, Morven's history begins as the home of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Come learn who else made Morven their home!

Morven is situated on five pristine acres in the heart of Princeton, New Jersey, and serves as the gateway to this university town. Located in the former New Jersey Governor's Mansion, Morven showcases the cultural heritage of the Garden State through exhibits of fine, folk, and decorative arts and educational programs.

Description borrowed from morven.org

Trail & Path Info

How much walking can be done?Less than a mile (Morven is set on 5 acres). But if you make this the start and end points of a trip to beautiful downtown Princeton, you will can certainly get a lot of steps in :) And is there any elevation change? No elevation change

Things to See & Do

Colonial Revival Garden: This is the site of the first formal garden planted at Morven, the creation of Annis Stockton in the 1760s. It features "old-fashioned" plants popular in the 1890s, such as boxwood, phlox, peonies, irises, and daylilies, as well as other beauties such as hydrangeas, daffodils, and more.

Kitchen Garden: Morven's kitchen garden offers the opportunity to compare what grows in a modern vegetable garden with what might have grown in an historic one. Heirloom, or open-pollinated, seeds were traditionally passed down through generations of gardeners, but can now be obtained from many seed sellers, as well as from the non-profit organization Seed Savers Exchange. Each year Morven cultivates a vibrant garden filled with vegetables and herbs that are all donated to local area soup kitchens. Last year, Morven donated over 500 lbs. of produce.

Pool House Fountain (coming Summer 2015): Morven is in the final stages of completing a Fountain on the rear end of the property outside of the Pool House. Stay tuned for more details on this!!!

Trip Ideas

Morven is conveniently located within walking distance to downtown Princeton (it's only a few blocks away!) and visitors love to stroll into town after visiting the museum and gardens for lunch, shopping or a walk through the Princeton University campus. There is SO much to do in this wonderful town! Plus, all visitors to Morven can take advantage of the museum's free parking (but you have to visit Morven to be able to do so.)

Special / Seasonal Events

Morven event can include everything from garden lectures, outdoor art classes (a collaboration with the Arts Council of Princeton), nature walks, exhibition lectures, educational programs, exhibit openings and much more! One of their biggest annual events, Morven in May, has become a a tradition in Princeton. Held each year on the first weekend of May, the event celebrates art, craft and garden with a juried fine craft exhibition under a grand tent on the Great Lawn, alongside its popular heirloom plant sale.

Tips and Tricks

Check Morven's "Garden" section on their website to see a list of the current blooms on the property. Also make sure you "LIKE" and are "FOLLOWING" Morven Museum & Garden on Facebook to see the "What's in Bloom" photo album that crops up every season (pun intended) with the colorful variety of plants and flowers in our gardens.

Morven's grounds are always free and open to the public. Visitors enjoy bringing a picnic to enjoy on the rear or front lawns, reading or meditating in the shade of the trees, setting up easels to sketch or paint, and more.