Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. The Robert J. Novins Planetarium
- Rating: 4.7/5 (58 reviews)
- City: Toms River New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated museums in New Jersey by visitors
Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.
Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.
Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.
No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.
With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in New Jersey on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
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Tripadvisor
2 / 30#29. Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (164 reviews)
- City: Millville New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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3 / 30#28. Montclair Art Museum
- Rating: 4.2/5 (131 reviews)
- City: Montclair New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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4 / 30#27. Franklin Mineral Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (69 reviews)
- City: Franklin New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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5 / 30#26. Waterloo Village Historic Site
- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- City: Stanhope New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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6 / 30#25. Imagine That! Children's Museum
- Rating: 4.1/5 (168 reviews)
- City: Florham Park Morris County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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7 / 30#24. Insectropolis, the Bugseum of New Jersey
- Rating: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
- City: Toms River New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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8 / 30#23. Red Mill Museum Village
- Rating: 4.4/5 (114 reviews)
- City: Clinton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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9 / 30#22. The Doo Wop Preservation League Museum
- Rating: 4.2/5 (105 reviews)
- City: Wildwood Cape May County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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10 / 30#21. Space Farms Zoo & Museum
- Rating: 3.4/5 (236 reviews)
- City: Sussex New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
11 / 30#20. Tuckerton Seaport
- Rating: 4.1/5 (152 reviews)
- City: Tuckerton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park
- Rating: 4.3/5 (165 reviews)
- City: Edison New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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13 / 30#18. New Jersey State Museum
- Rating: 3.9/5 (139 reviews)
- City: Trenton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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14 / 30#17. Morven Museum and Garden
- Rating: 4.3/5 (85 reviews)
- City: Princeton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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15 / 30#16. Morris Museum
- Rating: 4.2/5 (152 reviews)
- City: Morristown Morris County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
16 / 30#15. Allaire State Park
- Rating: 4.2/5 (186 reviews)
- City: Farmingdale New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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17 / 30#14. Museum of NJ Maritime History
- Rating: 4.8/5 (128 reviews)
- City: Beach Haven Long Beach Island New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. World War II Lookout Tower
- Rating: 4.4/5 (318 reviews)
- City: Cape May Cape May County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. Old Barracks Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (251 reviews)
- City: Trenton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. Historic Cold Spring Village
- Rating: 4.4/5 (343 reviews)
- City: Lower Township Cape May County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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21 / 30#10. Sterling Hill Mining Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (256 reviews)
- City: Ogdensburg New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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22 / 30#9. Princeton University Art Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (729 reviews)
- City: Princeton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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23 / 30#8. The Newark Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.6/5 (297 reviews)
- City: Newark New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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24 / 30#7. Silverball Retro Arcade Asbury Park
- Rating: 4.8/5 (640 reviews)
- City: Asbury Park New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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25 / 30#6. Emlen Physick Estate
- Rating: 4.3/5 (718 reviews)
- City: Cape May Cape May County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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26 / 30#5. Battleship New Jersey
- Rating: 4.6/5 (622 reviews)
- City: Camden New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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27 / 30#4. Liberty Science Center
- Rating: 4.1/5 (786 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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28 / 30#3. Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,054 reviews)
- City: Cape May Cape May County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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29 / 30#2. Cape May Lighthouse
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,174 reviews)
- City: Cape May Cape May County New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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30 / 30#1. Grounds For Sculpture
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,980 reviews)
- City: Hamilton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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