Rockingham offers a wide variety of programs throughout the year. Our largest annual events are the Holiday Candlelight Tour in early December and Children's Day in early May, both presented with the help of the volunteers from The Rockingham Association, the Montgomery High School Live Historians and the Stony Brook Garden Club.

CALLING CHILDREN OF ALL AGES!

OYEZ! OYEZ! (hear ye, hear ye!)  On Sunday, May 19, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, Rockingham will once again offer its Annual Children’s Day.  The site will be offering activities and demonstrations of 18-century life with support from the Montgomery High School Live Historians Club and the Rockingham Association. 

In addition to some of our regular activities such as trying on replica 18^th-century clothing and learning to write with quill and ink, new this year children will have the opportunity to play historic games like battledore and an early form of baseball, try crafts such as making paper aprons and watch actual basketweaving demonstrated by Deborah Buonocore and then try weaving with paper strips.  Past Muster will be on hand in their new uniforms to talk about soldier’s life and musket drilling and the house will be open for mini tours.  You can visit the Museum Store with its many interesting wares and trinkets for sale and there will be light refreshments available. 

No registration is required.  While admission to the event is FREE, donations are very gladly accepted!  The event is held rain or shine, though in the case of rain some activities may have to be curtailed.

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Other programs focus on various aspects of Colonial life and may be more appropriate for adults only or may be of interest to children as well.

Recent events have included:

• a workshop "From Fleece to Wool and Flax to Linen",  explaining harvesting, preparing and spinning sheep's wool and flax in the 18th century; attendees were given the chance to card wool and spin yarn on a drop spindle.
• a celebration of George Washington's birthday. Director Lisa Flick designed an afternoon of special Washington themed tours and trivia questions for which visitors--adult and children alike--could win prizes. Special birthday tri-corner hats, Washington cake and punch were provided to all those who attended.
• "Anatomy of a Death: Death and Dying in the 18th Century" - Volunteer actors re-enacted the activities which occurred after a death in the colonial period. Participants then followed a trail along the Delaware and Raritan Canal to the Kingston Presbyterian Church Cemetery for a tour of the gravestones there.
• entertainment by The Practioners in Musick with English flute and harpsichord.
• reenactments of the Berrien family and Revolutionary War artillery units

Please check the website regularly for announcements of future events and programs.

History to Go!  

The Children's Museum at Rockingham sponsors an outreach history project: History to Go!. This program is an opportunity for your groups to prepare to come to Rockingham, or to have Rockingham come to them! This program enables groups to see and use some of the most popular items from our Children's Museum in the convenience of their own classroom, living room or civic center.

How did this program begin?

Rockingham, with the support of the New Jersey State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, realized that many people of all walks are interested in learning about American History. The most effective way of teaching is a "hands-on" approach where one can touch items, play games, and try on clothing from Colonial times. Rockingham wanted a program that would be available to all, regardless of their ability to come to our historic site.

Who can use this program?

Anyone who wants to learn! Classroom groups that are planning to come to Rockingham while studying the Revolutionary War may use History to Go! In preparation for their visit. Other schools who are unable to come to Rockingham may want to use this project to supplement textbook explanations of the Colonial period. Scout troops, church groups, community centers, clubs, families, or home school organizations and all interested parties are encouraged to contact the site office for further information.

What is included in the project?

The basic program consists of lesson plans, recipes, children's period-style clothing pieces, accessories, hats, personal items, games, books and craft projects all housed in three baskets. Extra quill pens with ink can be requested (must be ordered in advance) for an additional charge of $4.00 each.

What is the fee for?

There is a $35 fee for this program, to be paid at the time the baskets are picked up.

To Reserve the Program:

Call the Office (609) 683-7132 when the site is open to arrange a time to see the baskets and contents. We will help you to tailor the program to the needs of your group!

Or write:

Rockingham State Historic Site
P.O. Box 496
Kingston, NJ 08528

This program was made possible by a generous donation of the New Jersey State Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Children of the American Revolution, Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, and Forbes Newspapers.