Pick up a “Play Passport” for Museum exploration and let loose with our Active Floor in the Discovery Den all day long. For more hands-on learning, have fun in our AR sandbox, located in the STEAM Center from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
12:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
1:00 pm Magic Tree House: Space Mission
2:00 pm Áróra
3:00 pm Secrets of the Universe
4:15 PM – 6:00 PM
Join us for a free showing of the new NASA documentary “Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope.” Go behind the scenes with the dedicated NASA team and its partners to uncover Webb’s exciting, untold story. Discover the immense challenges, groundbreaking innovations, and extraordinary efforts behind humanity’s most powerful eye on our universe, from its complex development to its nail-biting deployment a million miles away. After the documentary, we invite you to join us for an exclusive, in-person Q&A with the director, James Tralie! Learn even more about the Webb telescope and how Tralie brought its construction to the big screen.
Reserve your seat.
12:00 pm To Space and Back
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
3:00 pm EXO: Are We Alone?
6:15 PM
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:15 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends around 7:15 pm, we will drive to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to https://princetonastronomy.org/public_nights. Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
It’s Spooky Season! We will explore New Jersey wildlife that come out at night. Owls, bats, foxes and more! We will read “Night Animals,” learn about animal tracks and pretend to go camping!
Tickets and registration: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-october-program
12:00 pm To Space and Back
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
3:00 pm EXO: Are We Alone?
It’s Spooky Season! We will explore New Jersey wildlife that come out at night. Owls, bats, foxes and more! We will read “Night Animals,” learn about animal tracks and pretend to go camping!
Tickets and registration: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-october-program
12:00 pm To Space and Back
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
3:00 pm EXO: Are We Alone?
6:00 PM
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:00 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends around 7:15 pm, we will drive out to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to https://princetonastronomy.org/public_nights. Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Come enjoy fun, spooky activities and games, then participate in the trick or treat costume parade at 12:00 pm! Don’t forget to pick up a coupon for $2 off any Planetarium show that day.!
11:00 am Destino Marte: La Nueva Frontier
12:00 pm To Space and Back
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
3:00 pm EXO: Are We Alone?
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
For Native American Heritage Month we will explore Lenape harvest traditions and community celebrations. We will read "Bear Says Thanks", learn about Woodland Period Lenape crops and share our family food traditions.
Tickets and registration: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-november-program
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
For Native American Heritage Month we will explore Lenape harvest traditions and community celebrations. We will read "Bear Says Thanks", learn about Woodland Period Lenape crops and share our family food traditions.
Tickets and registration: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-november-program
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
11:00 am Cuentos de cielos mayas
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm One Sky Project
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
9:30 am to 12:30 pm, ONE SESSION ONLY
This special event is a winter solstice tradition. It is the only session to include a Planetarium show with your program fee! Beginning at 9:30 am, caregivers and children will participate in activities that introduce the stars and constellations that exist in our night’s sky. Families will have the opportunity to learn more about the Earth’s moon and participate in activities that engage in observation and play. All participants will get to take home multiple arts and crafts projects related to the theme and attend a showing of “One World, One Sky” in the Planetarium. This event is different from the other sessions and has a capacity of over 200 people; it will be more of a celebration than the regular small learning groups.
Tickets and registration: https://events.humanitix.com/small-explorers-december-program
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
11:00 am Chispa: El universo en nosotros
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
October 4, 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Join us for a free showing of the new NASA documentary “Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope.” Go behind the scenes with the dedicated NASA team and its partners to uncover Webb’s exciting, untold story. Discover the immense challenges, groundbreaking innovations, and extraordinary efforts behind humanity’s most powerful eye on our universe, from its complex development to its nail-biting deployment a million miles away. After the documentary, we invite you to join us for an exclusive, in-person Q&A with the director, James Tralie! Learn even more about the Webb telescope and how Tralie brought its construction to the big screen.
October 10, 6:15 pm
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:15 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends we will drive to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to https://princetonastronomy.org/public_nights. Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
October 24, 6:00 pm
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:00 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends we will drive to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to https://princetonastronomy.org/public_nights. Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
October 25, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Come enjoy fun, spooky activities and games at our annual Halloween event! Enjoy making slime and playing games, then participate in the trick or treat costume parade at 12:00 pm. Don’t forget to pick up a coupon for $2 off any Planetarium show that day.
Small Explorers is the Museum’s program for families with children ages 1-5. Hundreds of families have experienced the magic of exploring the Museum in these sessions and now you can too! Two session options are offered each month, the 2nd Saturday or the following Thursday, at 9:30 am and are limited to 20 children per session. Sessions meets in our Discovery Den play space and begins with an interactive story time. Families move together to playfully explore a gallery and end in our classroom space with thematic activity stations including a craft to take home. Sessions are designed to maximize caregiver-child interaction and connect with a community of families to share in exploration. Each session is 45 minutes long and meet October to June.
Cost: Session are $20 per child, each additional sibling receives a 20% discount. Caregivers attend free. New Jersey State Museum Foundation members receive 10% off. Tickets for each session are sold on Humanitix, links will shared on the Museum’s Events Calendar.
If you are not on our mailing list but would like to learn more please contact Devra.Hock-Reid@sos.nj.gov.
The New Jersey State Museum is a wonderful setting for your special event with changing exhibits that can provide a unique backdrop for any occasion. The Museum is ideally located in the State Capital Complex in Trenton, and offers a one-of-a-kind venue with incredible architecture and beautiful views of the Delaware River. For rates and availability, please view our rental information or email Rentals.NJSM@sos.nj.gov.
Available Rental spaces:
This exceptional space is an ideal setting for buffet receptions, intimate sit-down dinners, business seminars and more. Available evenings and weekends only.
The 384-seat Auditorium is available for a wide variety of lectures, conferences, movie premieres, theater performances and more.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
