5 OF THE BEST MUSEUMS IN DRIVING DISTANCE OF WAYNE, NJ

If you are near Wayne, NJ, you are about an hour away from some huge, prestigious museums in NYC. However, there is so much history located closer to home and maybe even right next door to you. Here are some of the best museums within a short driving distance of Wayne.

5 OF THE BEST MUSEUMS IN DRIVING DISTANCE OF WAYNE, NJ

1. THE WAYNE MUSEUM AT THE VAN RIPER-HOPPER HOUSE

Yes, there is a museum right in your own backyard and it captures the essence of what it was like to live in the area in the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries. The house was built and used by the Van Riper family for about one and a half decades before being turned into a museum that teaches about the town’s history of agriculture, as well as the workers and enslaved people who tended the farms.

2. AMERICAN LABOR MUSEUM

Also known as the Pietro and Maria Botto house, this museum is another local slice of history with big lessons to teach. Built by a working-class family of Italian immigrants, it was used as an assembly point for workers during the Paterson Silk Strike of 1913. Here you will learn not only about the lives of local silk workers but about the labor movement throughout the world.

3. MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM

The Montclair Art Museum is often recognized as the leading art museum in North Jersey. Opened in 1914 as the first in the state dedicated solely to art and the first to allow access to the public, it has grown to amass a collection of over 12,000 pieces of American and Native American art. This is a great visit for any art lover but there are also tons of art classes offered for people of all ages.

4. YOGI BERRA MUSEUM AND LEARNING CENTER

Located on the campus of Montclair State University and right nearby Yogi Berra Stadium is The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center. Here you can find all sorts of items from baseball legend Yogi Berra’s career, as well as educational programs not only about sports but about practicing sportsmanship in all areas of life. It is a great place for children and adults alike.

5. MEADOWLANDS MUSEUM

Many local museums are dedicated to New Jersey’s colonial roots, but this one celebrates the state’s real roots: the botanical roots that thrive in the wetlands. While so much of the landscape has been paved over, there are still rich ecosystems of plants and animals living in the middle of it all, and the Meadowlands Museum is here to teach you all about the land you inhabit.

New Jersey is rich with history of all kinds, and there are an abundance of places to engage with it. Whether you’re driving to the city or staying local to satisfy your educational cravings, you’ll want one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market and the 2022 Mazda CX-5 has your back. Stop by Wayne Mazda today for a vehicle with optimum power and performance.