Celebrate Camden County's History Oct. 13-21

The lineup has been set for Camden County’s inaugural History Week, which is set for Oct. 13-21. Events will be held by 12 history organizations at 24 historic sites throughout the county. Most events and activities are free.

Camden County History Week is hosted by the Camden County History Alliance, an association of over 40 Camden County history organizations, historic sites, and support agencies. The History Alliance was created in 2016 to identify resources, increase the number of visitors, and institute projects that promote Camden County heritage.

“There simply is no better way to understand the world around you than to look back and to understand the history of what brought us to where we are,” Camden County Freeholder Jeff Nash said. “We are fortunate in Camden County to be surrounded by an abundance of fascinating historical sites, and there has never been a better time to explore them than this first-of-its-kind week-long event. I hope everyone has an opportunity to get out and learn something new about the rich history of our community.”

The Camden County History Week Event Guide and Passport are now available at any of the participating history organizations. Visitors are encouraged to get their passport stamped at each location they visit, and send their passport to the Camden County Historical Society, before Nov. 1 to be entered into a drawing for prizes.

The individual with most stamps from the participating history organizations will win a family overnight stay on the Battleship New Jersey, which includes dinner and breakfast served on the chowline, a tour of the ship, and opportunity to sleep in the bunks that the crew of the Battleship New Jersey once did.

Other prizes include admission for four to the Center of Aquatic Sciences in Camden or one of five $20 Wawa Gift Cards. These winners will be selected at random from all the stamped Passports submitted to the Camden County Historical Society before Nov. 1.

Below are a dozen highlights from the schedule for Camden County History Week:

• The Heights Heritage League, in the Borough of Haddon Heights will be hosting a Revolutionary War Encampment; spinning display; walking tour of historic sites, on Saturday October 13, from 10AM. to 3PM rain or shine, the 3PM Walking Tour meets at North Park Drive and Green Street, Haddon Heights; Cannons and muskets will be fired at 11AM and 2PM, Free.
• Peter Mott House and Underground Railroad Museum of the Lawnside Historical Society will be having The Peter Mott House Anniversary Party, and features food, merchandise and performers to mark the museum’s 2001 opening, on Saturday October 13, Noon to 3PM, Free.
• The Haddon Heights Historical Society will host a presentation by Dr. Mark Molesky, entitled “An Anniversary Celebration of the Great War’s Armistice,” at the Haddon Heights Public Library on Monday, October 15, 7PM to 8:30PM, Free.
• The Esther Raab Holocaust Museum & Goodwin Education Center, located inside the Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill, will have a trained docent available who will share personal stories of the artifacts at the Holocaust Museum, on Wednesday, October 17, 7PM to 9PM, Free.
• The Berlin Township Historical Association in West Berlin, NJ is hosting a Genealogical Presentation by professional genealogist, Shemele Jordon, demonstrating her Online Genealogy Quick Start method to find your ancestors online using popular websites, on Friday October 19, 7PM to 8PM, at the Berlin Township Municipal Building, 135 Route 73 South, West Berlin, NJ 08091, Free.
• The Walt Whitman House Historic Site in Camden, will offer a Special Program Guided House Tour where you will explore the great writer's last residence, discuss everyday life in late nineteenth century Camden City and share the thoughts of the many visitors who came to see the aging poet in his final years, on Friday October 19, Saturday October 20 and Sunday October 21. Tour times all days 1:30PM – 2:15PM, 3:00PM-3:45PM, tours start at 328 Mickle Boulevard (MLK Blvd), Free.
• Barclay Farmstead Museum in Cherry Hill, will host an event called Sample Quaker Life: churn butter, saw wood, try tinsmithing, play games, see hearth cooking, on Saturday October 20, 10AM to 4PM and on Sunday, October 21, Noon to 4PM, Free.
• The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial in Camden, offers visitors a tour of our nation’s most decorated battleship – the Battleship New Jersey, berthed on the Camden Waterfront, NJ. Enter at 100 Clinton St., Camden, NJ 08103, Open every day from October 13 to 21 from 9:30AM to 3PM, $21.95 per adult, $17 for veterans, seniors and children 12 and under. During weekdays of October 15 to 19, guests can get a free tour with the purchase of adult tour.
• The Burrough-Dover House of the Pennsauken Historical Society, in Pennsauken is offering a visit by Freedom Center for Wildlife with educational animals 1PM to 3PM on Sunday October 21, Free.
• The Long-A-Coming Historical Society in Berlin NJ, is hosting the Berlin Cemetery Tour with re-enactors portraying colorful local residents, on Saturday October 20 1PM to 4PM at 40 Clementon Rd., Berlin, NJ, $5.00 per person.
• The Mid Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities at Rutgers Camden campus, invites visitors to join MARCH for walking tours, arts and crafts, and pop up exhibits related to historic Cooper Street, on Saturday October 20 from 10AM to 4PM, meet at 325 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ, Free.
• At the Gabreil Daveis Tavern in Glendora, the Gloucester Township Historic & Scenic Preservation Committee is offering Games and Chores of Colonial Children and Tours of the Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House on Saturday October 20 from Noon to 4PM, Sunday October 21 from Noon to 4PM, Free.

A full list of all 36 events during Camden County History Week is available at www.camdencountyhistoryweek.com.

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