Jersey City's Apple Tree House To Become Historical Museum

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City's Journal Square could be gaining yet another museum — this one holding pieces of the city's history and in a building with a story of its own.

The Apple Tree House, located at 298 Academy Street, will be the new museum hosting pieces of Jersey City history. The house has a historical past of its own, with a famed role in the Revolutionary War — the Apple Tree House is the reported site of a historic war meeting between General George Washington and France’s Marquis de Lafayette.

The city previously renovated and restored the home, moving city offices into the space. According to City Spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione, the city is moving its offices out of the building in July to make way for the museum process.

"The Apple Tree House will become a Jersey City Historical Museum with active changing exhibitions based on Jersey City’s rich history," Wallace-Scalcione said, "We are starting the process to create an individual autonomous board for oversight and a firm budget to curate the space on an ongoing basis."

Officials held a meeting last week with stakeholders in the museum including the New Jersey Room at the Jersey City Free Public Library, Councilman Boggiano, Bergen Square Historical Society, Journal Square Community Association among others.

The city is hoping to have a framework in place for the board by Labor Day.

The Apple Tree House Museum announcement comes on the heels of the city's announcement of the incoming Pompidou Center. Jersey City will host the first North American museum outpost for the Pompidou Center in Paris.

Jersey City has been working hard to brand itself as a hub for the arts across the Hudson, promoting a street art festival that included national artists, pushing the $72 million renovation of the Lowes theater in Journal Square, supporting an arts incubator space on Morgan Street and backing the newly implemented arts trust fund.