TRENTON, NJ - Secretary of State Tahesha Way is pleased to announce that the New Jersey State Museum has been granted reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) at the June 2019 meeting of the Alliance’s Accreditation Commission.  Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, 1,078 are currently accredited.  Nine museums in New Jersey are accredited.

Through a rigorous process of self-assessment and review by their peers, these museums have demonstrated they meet standards and best practices and are educational entities that are appropriate stewards of the collections and resources they hold in the public trust. “Our State Museum is an extraordinary educational and inspirational resource for all New Jerseyans,” said Governor Philip D. Murphy. “We are pleased that the American Alliance of Museums has again recognized that the State Museum is meeting the rigorous standards of the museum field.”

Recognized as the field’s gold standard for museum excellence for nearly 50 years, AAM accreditation signifies a museum’s quality and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Accreditation Program helps to ensure the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforce the educational and public service roles of museums and promote good governance practices and ethical behavior. “I congratulate the Museum staff for their commitment to meeting the standards and best practices of their field,” said Secretary Way. “They are assisted in their work by other departments and agencies of state government that understand the unique work the Museum engages in, and why it is important to safeguard these collections for future generations. Reaccreditation is the result of our state’s ongoing commitment to the responsible stewardship of these priceless collections held in trust for the people of New Jersey.” 

The New Jersey State Museum received initial accreditation in 1974 and has maintained its status since that time. The Museum’s Executive Director Margaret O’Reilly remarks, “It is a privilege to be entrusted with these extraordinary scientific specimens, historic artifacts and fine art objects.  We work every day to ensure that future generations will be able to learn from and enjoy them as well.” Ms. O’Reilly added, “We, along with our partner, the New Jersey State Museum Foundation, strive to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for our visitors, where we can share the stories and knowledge these collections hold. It is through programs, research, exhibitions and outreach in science, history and fine art that we can tell the many stories of our state and bring stories of the world to New Jerseyans.”

To earn accreditation, a museum submits a self-study questionnaire and key operational documents for evaluation, then undergoes a site visit by a two-person team of peer reviewers which produces a report for the Accreditation Commission. The Commission uses these materials and its collective expertise to determine whether to grant accreditation.

 The New Jersey State Museum is open 9:00 am to 4:45 pm, Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Mondays and State holidays.  The Auditorium Galleries are open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm; closed on weekends, Mondays and State holidays.  General admission is free; donations to the NJ State Museum Foundation, a non-government 501(c)3 organization which supports the Museum, gratefully accepted. For additional information, visit www.statemuseum.nj.gov, like the Museum’s Facebook page (@NJStateMuseum), follow us on Twitter (njstatemuseum), or Instagram (nj_statemuseum).

About the New Jersey State Museum
Located at 205 West State Street in Trenton, the New Jersey State Museum encompasses three buildings including a state-of-the-art Planetarium, and holds over 2 million artifacts in its collections in Archaeology/Ethnography, Cultural History, Fine Art and Natural History.  As a center of cultural, educational and scientific engagement, the Museum inspires innovation and lifelong learning through collections, exhibitions, programs and research in science, history and art.  Established in 1895, the New Jersey State Museum fosters state pride, serves as a cultivator of tomorrow’s leaders, and engages visitors of all ages and diverse backgrounds in an exploration of New Jersey’s cultural and natural history presented within a global context.