Explore New Jersey history with a focus on the life and stories of 18th and 19th century craftspeople and artisans.  Drawing on its rich collection, METC connects the lives of people and their stories, providing a bridge from the past to the future.  The museum is housed in a stunning Richardsonian Romanesque Revival building donated by D. Willis James to the people of Madison in 1900. This 1899 building has vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, stenciled and painted brick interiors, elaborate fireplaces, carved stone and wood detailing and an elegant clock tower. 

The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts began in 1969 as a small private collection assembled by the museum’s founders, Edgar and Agnes Land. Today the museum displays 8,000 objects representative of over 40 crafts and trades (with concentrations in woodworking, metalworking, leather working, and textiles) all practiced in 18th and 19th century New Jersey. Permanent collections display the tools and technologies of New Jersey blacksmiths, woodworkers, shoemakers, distillers, coopers, carpenters and much more.

Of Special Note:

• Make note of the gargoyles on the museum’s exterior
• The James Library’s stained glass windows feature famous quotes
• The clock tower was wound manually once a week from its installation in 1899 to its automation in 1990
• Weddings at METC Host an intimate event in a beautifully historic building.https://metc.org/venue-rentals/

Read about Madison and 38 other great Morris County towns in our Towns Blog

Check out the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts current exhibits on our Ongoing-Exhibits page.