Hands-On History is a series of free, fun and interactive family-friendly programs celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation! Join us on select Saturdays, June - November 2026, from 11:00 AM - Noon to: 

• Play with colonial toys and games!
• Make your own tricorn hat!
• Listen to revolutionary tales and stories of the past!
• Explore artifacts as a junior historian... and more! 

Each program is hosted by a local history organization and hosted at a Somerset County Library System branch. 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT SCLS.ORG AND REGISTER TODAY!

Saturday, June 27, 2026  |  11:00 AM - Noon
A Child Like Me! How 18th Century Children Lived & Played

SCLS Peapack and Gladstone Library Branch
1 School Street, Peapack, NJ 07977

Join the Jacobus Vanderveer House Commission to take a trip through time - back to the days before cars, telephones, and internet! 

In this hands-on, family-friendly program, children and their families will listen to the story of Revolutionary War General Henry Knox as a child, compare historic images of the Jacobus Vanderveer House to the homes we live in today, play with colonial toys and games, and make your own colonial-era hat! Don’t forget to sign your name on the life-size replica of the Declaration of Independence before you leave!

Thank you for joining us! Scroll down for the next Hands-On History program!

Saturday, July 25, 2026  |  11:00 AM - Noon
Act It Out! The Story of the Declaration of Independence

SCLS Hillsborough Library Branch
379 South Branch Road, NJ, 08844

Step into 1776 and discover the story behind one of the most important documents in American history – the Declaration of Independence!

Join the Heritage Trail Association for this interactive, family-friendly program bringing the founding of the United States to life. Young historians will have fun acting out the signing of the Declaration in a role-playing skit - and don’t forget to take a copy of this historic document home with you! 

Registration for this program is now open! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Saturday, August 22, 2026  |  11:00 AM - Noon
Touch the Past! Exploring Montgomery's Heritage 

SCLS Montgomery Library Branch
100 Community Drive, NJ 08558

Join the Van Harlingen Historical Society for an interactive, family-friendly program celebrating Montgomery’s rich history!

Explore a hands-on “show and tell” experience featuring artifacts, maps, photographs, and postcards from Montgomery’s past. Families can move from table to table to examine historic objects up close and learn about the stories behind these pieces of local history. 

Registration for this program will open on August 1st. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Saturday, September 19, 2026  |  11:00 AM - Noon
Colonial Kids Adventure! Toys, Tricorn Hats, and More!

Wilson Memorial Church
7 Valley Road, Watchung, NJ 07069
(Near Warren Township & Watchung Library Branches) 

What was life like for children during colonial times? Step back in time with the Somerset County Historical Society for this fun, hands-on history program exploring daily life in early America!

Young historians and their families will rotate through interactive stations where they can examine real artifacts, discover colonial toys and games, make their own whirly-gig toy and tricorn hat, learn about clothes of the past, and more!  

Registration for this program will open on August 29. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Saturday, October 3, 2026  |  11:00 AM - Noon
Tall Tales of the American Revolution! 

SCLS Bridgewater Library Branch
1 Vogt Drive, NJ 08807

Read, draw, and play with Liberty Hall Museum! Listen to and illustrate the story of Liberty Hall Museum’s mascot, Livingston Fox, and explore the tall tales of the heroes of the American Revolution.

Tall tales and folktales have been passed down through generations and offer a rich tradition to be shared in stories, illustrations, and music!

This program is recommended for children ages 3-12 and their families.  

Registration for this program will open on September 12. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Saturday, November 14, 2026  |  11:00 AM - Noon
Revolutionary Kids! Family Life During the American Revolution

SCLS North Plainfield Library Branch
6 Rockview Avenue, NJ 07060 

Step back to the time of the American Revolution and discover what daily life was like for families and children!

Join the Friends of Vermeule Mansion for an interactive, family-friendly program exploring the children of the Revolutionary War – what they did for fun, how they helped their families, and what everyday life looked like in the late 1700s! Enjoy hands-on activities, historic toys and games, crafts, and music!

Registration for this program will open on October 24. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Contact Us! 

Katie Himics, Program Coordinator
Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission
CulturalHeritage@somersetcountynj.gov
(908) 231-7022