Durand-Hedden and the SOMA Community Coalition on Race to honor Juneteenth

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom at Durand-Hedden House & Garden on Friday, June 19, 12 pm to 4 pm

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – May 2026 – Celebrate Juneteenth in Maplewood with historical reenactors, musical performances, an art exhibit, quilters, dance, poetry, face painting, crafts for children, and more on Friday, June 19 from 12 pm to 4 pm. Delicious food will be available for purchase. Join friends and neighbors for this annual tradition.

The Durand-Hedden House & Garden and The South Orange-Maplewood Community Coalition on Race invite everyone to celebrate this important holiday at Grasmere Park, the beautiful grounds surrounding Durand-Hedden House, 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood.

Visitors will also have a unique opportunity to view the exhibit Slavery in New Jersey: A Troubled History, which provides historical context for Juneteenth and the history of enslaved people in New Jersey.

The event is free, and all are welcome. Donations are appreciated and accepted. Free pre-registration is available at DurandHedden.org. Parking is available on local streets.

This event is supported by a generous grant from The Maplewood Foundation.

About Durand-Hedden House and Garden

The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is Maplewood’s historic house museum, dedicated to creating engaging and informative educational programs and materials about the local history of Maplewood and surrounding communities, natural history, and other related topics. The House, at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, is open once a month between September and June. For more information, visit our website at durandhedden.org. To arrange group tours, write to info@durandhedden.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the SOMA Community Coalition on Race

The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is a nationally recognized non-profit organization that envisions a community that is a model for the nation in which people of different races, ethnic groups, and backgrounds can interact, form friendships, and participate fully in the community’s economic, political, civic, educational, and cultural life. The Coalition creates strategies to support stably integrated residential neighborhoods, advocates for racial equity and excellence for all students in the schools, and brings the community together to learn, to build relationships across racial and cultural barriers, and to celebrate differences. The Coalition’s website is www.communitycoalitiononrace.org.

Download a hi-resolution flyer here.

News-Record photo gallery of Durand-Hedden Revolution 250 event

Joe Ungaro of the News-Record stopped by Durand-Hedden House & Garden on Saturday, April 25, to check out our Rev250 event. And he took some wonderful photos.

"How do you know it's real?" A talk with document expert Stuart Lutz

Learn about the art and science of authenticating historic documents at Durand-Hedden on Sunday, May 17, from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. The House and Country Store will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – May 2026 – Join Durand-Hedden as noted historic document expert Stuart Lutz leads an illustrated talk on antique manuscripts on Sunday, May 17, from 1:30 pm to 3 pm, at Durand-Hedden House in Maplewood. Lutz will discuss what is available, pricing, and the question he gets most of all: “How do you know it is real?”

Lutz has been operating his business from South Orange for 35 years and makes frequent appearances on the History Channel’s hit show Pawn Stars. He is one of the few experts in the US who can authenticate documents and autographs. Lutz will demystify the work of a professional document and manuscript collector and seller, and display documents related to the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Vietnam War, as well as those associated with famous figures. Lutz’s Vietnam collection is the largest in private hands.

The talk will include a general Q&A. However, we ask that participants not bring documents to be assessed or evaluated.

Lutz’s oral history book, The Last Leaf: Voices of History’s Last-Known Survivors, will be available for sale and autographing at the conclusion.

While this event is free, please consider purchasing a donation ticket. All donations are welcome, appreciated, and support Durand-Hedden's mission, upkeep, and community events. Both complimentary and donation tickets are available at DurandHedden.org. Parking for Durand-Hedden House is available on nearby streets.

The House and the Country Store will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm.

About Durand-Hedden House and Garden

The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is Maplewood’s historic house museum, dedicated to creating engaging and informative educational programs and materials about the local history of Maplewood and surrounding communities, natural history, and other related topics. The House, at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, is open once a month between September and June. For more information, visit our website at durandhedden.org. To arrange group tours, write to info@durandhedden.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Download a hi-resolution flyer here.