The Story of Our Museum
Founding (1984)
The New Jersey Museum of Agriculture was established as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization in 1984. The vision was to create a place that would tell the story of New Jersey's agriculture - past, present, and future.
Opening to the Public (1990)
After years of planning and preparation, the Museum opened to the public in 1990. The 30,000 square foot facility was made possible through the support of many individuals and organizations who believed in the importance of preserving New Jersey's agricultural heritage.
Key Figures
Walter E. Foran
A Hunterdon County State Senator who helped secure funding for the Museum and was instrumental in making the dream of an agricultural museum for the Garden State become a reality in 1990. His portrait is prominently displayed in the Museum's Rotunda.
Dr. Wabun C. Krueger
For over 40 years, Dr. Krueger served as the Museum's curator and individual collector responsible for most of the historical agricultural implements that make up the Museum's extraordinary collection. The heart of the Museum is the 8,000-piece Wabun C. Krueger Collection of Agricultural, Household, and Scientific Artifacts.
Pioneers in Founding the Museum
- Pioneer Grange
- Bob Simpkins
- New Jersey State Grange
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- The State of New Jersey
- American Cyanamid
Major Benefactors
The Museum has been supported by many generous benefactors over the years, including:
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- CTW Foundation
- FMI Corporation
- Large Foundation
- New Jersey Farm Bureau
- New Jersey State Grange
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- The State of New Jersey