MISSION

To know where you are going, it is best to know where you came from. This is true in the lives of individuals, and also in the life of a town like Atlantic Highlands. That is why the historical society works to build awareness of our common past among the townspeople of  today.  Its headquarters, museum and archives in the Strauss Mansion, its knowledgeable members and public activities are a community resource for achieving this objective.

The goals of the Society are to:

Research and document the history of Atlantic Highlands
Share and publicize our history
Preserve and protect our physical heritage (historic buildings)

PROGRAMS

We organize community events and historical celebrations, publishing and lectures, museum and exhibit programs, school outreach and public education, research and archival work, and sharing of restoration experience in our Older Homes Group.  We also collaborate with others on identification, preservation and restoration of historic sites, structures and streetscapes, developing restoration guidelines and incentives for owners, and encouraging historic tourism to reinforce other local economic activities. 

 

HISTORY

In 1973, like towns all across the country, Atlantic Highlands began planning how to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States in 1976. On March 2, 1973, the town's Bicentennial Committee decided one very important event could not wait three more years: they decided to form the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society." 

Soon, there were 78 charter members, and public lectures were being offered. In 1974 the Society incorporated as a non-profit organization. In 1975 it conducted the first "house tour" in town. In 1976, it was a key actor in U.S. Bicentennial programs, culminating in the visit of the "Tall Ships" to Sandy Hook Bay just off our breakwater.

In many ways during 25 years of existence, the Society has both plumbed our past, spanning 11,000 years, and helped preserve it for future generations. For example, it has:

• restored the neglected and vandalized Henry Hudson Spring in 1977, with landscaping and erection of a stone marker.

• focused attention, through 20 annual tours, on the history and sensitive restoration of many interesting houses.

• hosted dozens of expert speakers on topics ranging from evidence of Lenape presence to stories of earliest European colonists, and from trolley and railroad lore to Prohibition-era rum-running.

• collected, preserved and displayed many historical materials  including slides, photos, newspapers and other memorabilia.

• published a reprint of the area's history, From Indian Trail to Electric Rail; a child's history coloring book; historic recollections of a long-time resident; a regular newsletter on events, historical information and research results; and a self-guided tour booklet on 62 historic houses.

• helped define our historic district in the town Master Plan, nominate structures for the County Historic Sites Inventory, and provided plaque    markers for century-old buildings.

• provided information and referrals for research and restoration work on many historically interesting structures