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Train Routes

Bus Routes

50 Pitman Avenue

Ocean Grove, New Jersey 07756

Directions by Car:

Ocean Grove is a 60-90 minute drive from New York City and a 90 minute drive from the Philadelphia area.

For GPS, copy and paste Historical Society of Ocean Grove, 50 Pitman Ave, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 into your smart device map app.

Parking in Ocean Grove is free.

From North Jersey Take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 100A and follow Route 33 East to Ocean Grove.

From South Jersey Take the NJ Turnpike North to exit 7A. Follow Route 195 East to Route 35 in Belmar. Take Route 35 around Shark River & across the Shark River Inlet. Travel north onto Memorial Drive (follow sign for Bradley Beach), parallel to the railroad tracks for 2 miles to Corlies Avenue. Turn right across the tracks and into Ocean Grove.

From the West Take Route 18 South to the Route 33 East exit in Neptune. Follow Route 33 East (Corlies Ave) to the end. Or, take Route 195 East from the Trenton area to Route 35 in Belmar and follow directions from South Jer

Directions by Train:
Take the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line to the Asbury Park (Ocean Grove) Station. Travel time from New York Penn Station ranges from 90 – 110 minutes. Visit NJTransit.com for train times and information. Some trains travel direct in summer. Many trains change in Long Branch with easy transfer across the platform. Some trains change in Newark Penn Station with transfer on another platform. It is about a ten-minute walk or taxi from the Asbury Park train station to the Museum.

Directions by Bus:

Take an Academy Bus from New York and North Jersey directly to Ocean Grove. Travel time from New York Port Authority is about 95 minutes. Visit AcademyBus.com for more information. The bus stops on Main Avenue, Ocean Grove. From there walk a block north to the Museum.

Interested in a Tour?

 FAQs

  • No, as the Historical Society is predominantly a museum, we are only able to help with historical research. We have a limited selection of historic photos of homes that are being added to our digital archive for reference. For questions regarding permits and approved materials, please reach out directly to the Neptune Historic Preservation Commission.

    Neptune Historic Preservation Commission Contact Information:

  • Yes! The the Historical Society of Ocean Grove (HSOG) is a great place to begin is by tapping into the powerful digital tools, maps, and local archives on our website. Click on any of the yellow links to view.

    1. Find the Footprint: Trace your home’s footprint & residents

    • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps allow you to zoom in on individual blocks and properties. These maps reveal building footprints, additions, outbuildings, and what materials the structure was built from over the decades.

    • The Pioneer History Map & Lot Archive: Launched by historian Dell O’Hara, this incredible tool documents Ocean Grove's earliest residents and business owners from 1870 to 1900. You can explore property lots to look up original leaseholders, view early records, and cross-reference them with David Fox's Lot Book Directory data to see who first laid down roots on your land.

    2. Historic Stories:

    • Unearth Stories in the Historic Newspaper Archives:

      • To find out what happened at your address—or who lived there when headlines were made—search the digitized local newspaper collections via DigiFind-It / HSOG

      • Newspaper Archives: The Ocean Grove Times (1875–2004): A goldmine for local history. You can search by keywords, street names, or previous owners' surnames to find mentions of past repairs, community events, social gatherings, or notices tied to your specific property.

      • Regional Papers: Supplement your house history with historical editions of the Asbury Park Journal (dating back to 1876) and the Asbury Park Daily Press.

    3. Historic Images: Search the digital photo archive

    Ocean Grove Digital Home Archive: The HSOG has been compiling a photographic digital archive of local residences. While many images stem from past town-wide events or donations, you can check if your street or house has been cataloged yet. If it has not been digitally catalogued yet, come visit the museum during our seasonal hours or contact us at info@historicalsocietyofoceangrove.org.

  • No! The HSOG is a separate, independent organization from the OGCMA. However, the HSOG Collection, Archives, and Library do contain much information about the organization.

  • Parking in Ocean Grove is all FREE!

    However, it is street parking. Please consider adding in additional time before your tour to find a spot. There are ample parking spots on Main Ave in Ocean Grove, a short walk from the museum.

  • FREE for everyone!

    If you would like to support the HSOG, may we suggest an optional donation of $5 per adult and $2 per child when you visit. Thank you!

  • The Museum and Centennial Cottage hours depends on the season.

    January through March

    We are closed to the public at this time to redesign our exhibits. Open during Ocean Grove special events. Check Events page during this period. We can arrange special visits. Please email us with preferred days and times at info@historicalsocietyofoceangrove.org

    May through Mid-June

    Open May- Friday & Saturdays 10am – 3pm

    June-Open Tuesdays-10am-12:30pm

    Wednesday-Saturday 10am – 3pm

    Mid-June through August

    Museum

    Tuesday : 10am – 12:30pm

    Wednesday-Saturday: 10am-3pm

    Closed Sunday and Monday

    Closed Independence Day

    Closed Sept. 7 for Flea Market

    September through December

    Museum-Open 10am-3pm Friday & Saturday until December 3rd

  • The Museum and Centennial Cottage hours depends on the season.

    January through Mid-June

    Centennial Cottage- Closed

    Old Monmouth Weekend- (May 6 & 7 10-3) OPEN

    Mid-June through September

    Tuesday – Friday 11am – 3pm

    Saturday 11am – 1pm

    Closed Sept. 7 for Flea Market

    Closed Sunday and Monday

    Closed Independence Day

    October through December

    Open for Holiday Festival on December 3rd from 10am-3pm

  • There are beaches, dining, and a vibrant main street to explore! Please visit the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce for more events, and details!

  • Yes! We are always looking for volunteers of any age. Please check out our join page for more information

  • The HSOG is committed to facilitating accessibility and usability, where possible, for all people with disabilities in its buildings, gardens, and website.

    Buildings and Gardens

    The HSOG Museum is accessible to manual and electric wheelchair users, people using manually powered mobility aids (e.g. walkers, canes, crutches, braces), and visitors who need to avoid stairs. The Museum is not accessible to mobility scooters or electronic personal assistance mobility devices (EPAMDs, e.g. Segway® PT) because of constricted aisles.

    The HSOG Centennial Cottage is not accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, EPAMDs or manually powered mobility aids. However, people using manually powered mobility aids may enjoy the surrounding Centennial Cottage Garden, and the Founders Park Fountain.

    For people who cannot walk in or around the Museum or Centennial Cottage, you may request an HSOG iPad with a speaker that provides a virtual tour of each.

    Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant public restrooms are located a block north of the Museum in the Youth Temple. The Museum and Centennial Cottage do not have public restrooms.

  • No! We are excited to show you what Ocean Grove has to offer and the history around us!

  • Entering the Museum and Centennial Cottage

    Some items are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked; other items are not permitted in the building and cannot be checked.

    —Large umbrellas and large backpacks must be checked at the Museum Reception Desk.

    —Small backpacks may be brought into the Museum and Centennial Cottage if they are carried on your front or side.

    —Bicycles, folding bicycles, sporting equipment, strollers, and luggage of any size are not permitted in the Museum or Centennial Cottage and will not be accepted at the Reception Desk.

    —Water in plastic bottles may be brought into the Museum and Centennial Cottage.

    —Outside food or drink is not allowed and may not be checked at the Reception Desk.

    —Smoking and electronic cigarettes are not allowed in the Museum, Centennial Cottage, or near the entrances.

    The Museum operates closed circuit video monitoring for the safety of the collections, exhibitions, and the public.

    —Weapons, firearms, and hazardous materials of any type pose a potential threat to the safety and security of our visitors, staff, and volunteers and are strictly prohibited at all times inside the Museum and Centennial Cottage.

    HSOG visitors may be photographed, videotaped, or otherwise recorded. By attending, you grant the Museum and Centennial Cottage permission to use photographs and/or audiovisual recordings in which you appear for archival, documentary, publicity, advertising, or other purposes.

    Admission to the Museum and Centennial Cottage

    —Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

    —Advance reservations are required for all adult and student groups of ten or more and for any third-party guided tour, regardless of size.

    —Membership benefits may not be refunded, resold, exchanged, or transferred (except where stated).

    While in the Museum and Centennial Cottage

    We want everyone to enjoy their time in the Museum and Centennial Cottage. To create the best environment, we need your cooperation with the following:

    —The artifacts, archives, and library are here for you to study, admire, and explore.

    —Please do not touch artifacts, artwork, frames, bases, or anything used to protect objects.

    —Only pencils are allowed for sketching or note-taking in the Museum and Centennial Cottage.

    HSOG staff lecturing in the Museum and Centennial Cottage have priority. Please yield to HSOG tours and programs.

    Our Museum and Centennial Cottage are for discovering something new and sharing an experience with family or friends. We ask that visitors refrain from disorderly or disruptive conduct that interferes with or distracts from other visitors’ enjoyment of the Museum and Centennial Cottage.

    —Conduct that poses any risk to other visitors or to the Museum’s staff or collections is prohibited.

    —Running, rough play, and disruptive behavior are prohibited.

    —Please keep voices low and be mindful of others. Mobile devices should be set on vibrate or silent.

    —Please be mindful of keeping doorways and hallways accessible to other visitors.

    —The unauthorized playing of music and video, unauthorized theater performances, and sound amplification and noise makers are prohibited in the Museum and Centennial Cottage (except for assistive listening devices for visitors with disabilities).

    —Charitable solicitations, leafleting, signature gathering, picketing, and press conferences by visitors are prohibited.

    Staff and Volunteers at Your Service

    The HSOG’s expert team of dedicated staff and volunteers is here to help you. So they can provide you with great service, remember that:

    —Verbally abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening statements or behavior toward HSOG staff, volunteers, or other visitors are prohibited.

    —The principles of diversity, inclusion, and equal access apply to all aspects of the HSOG’s operations, across all categories of individuals. See Accessibility for visitors with disabilities.

    Please follow the instructions of HSOG staff.

    The HSOG reserves the right to refuse or revoke the admission of any visitor whose conduct violates these guidelines.

  • Unless otherwise indicated, you may take photographs for personal use. The use of flash, video, and selfie sticks is prohibited.

  • Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce. The HSOG is not part of the OGCC. Our Visit page has some information about dining and shopping options in Ocean Grove. The OGCC will always have the most complete and current information.

Other Questions?
We’re here to help.

Phone
(732-774-1869)

Email
info@historicalsocietyofoceangrove.org