The mission of the Morris County Historical Society, as the representative of a county with an exciting and unique place in the history of the United States, is to discover, preserve, and make known the history of Morris County through exhibits, programs, publications, and preservation advocacy.

The Morris County Historical Society was founded in December 1945, through a committee formed by the Lion’s Club of Morristown. Beginning with 56 charter members, the Society initiated regular meetings, raised money and planned for future development. Originally housed in a room at the Morristown Morris Township Joint Free Public Library, MCHS started to collect artifacts of local history. While the Society waited for the opportunity to acquire their own building, committees of the MCHS membership worked on publishing books and pamphlets on local history, advocating the preservation of Morris County’s historical resources and sponsoring lectures and walking tours.

In 1971 the Society received its current building, Acorn Hall, and five acres of surrounding property from Miss Mary Crane Hone. Acorn Hall, built in 1853, was the home of generations of the Crane Hone family. The restoration of the house and gardens gave the society not only a place for its collections, research library and exhibits, the beautiful 1853 Italianate home provided MCHS with another avenue for reaching its audience.

Restoration of Acorn Hall and the surrounding gardens began in 1971 and continue on an ongoing basis. The Home Garden Club of Morristown restored the gardens and continues to maintain them today. The State of New Jersey contributed a Historic Trust grant to the society in 1995 to refurbish the exterior of the lovely Victorian building.

Today the Morris County Historical Society has a membership of 400 members. Two full time and two part time staff members oversee every aspect of the Society’s mission. Acorn Hall and the MCHS exhibits are open to the public three days a week and staff members field phone calls and other requests for information Monday through Friday.