Revolution 250! Living history reenactments, demonstrations, talks, and more at Durand-Hedden

Celebrate 250 years since the Revolution at Durand-Hedden on Saturday, April 25 from 10 am to 4 pm

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – April 2026 – As we mark 250 years since the War of Independence, history lovers may wonder how the War touched the lives of early residents as well as those of the Continental Army who fought the British in skirmishes and battles nearby on Maplewood’s doorstep. On Saturday, April 25, from 10 am to 4 pm, Durand-Hedden visitors will have an opportunity to be immersed in an interactive living history encampment on our grounds, presented by the 3rd New Jersey Regiment reenactment group, as well as see demonstrations and hear talks by local history experts.

The 3rd New Jersey, also known as the “Jersey Blues,” formed in 1776, was one of the most distinguished Continental Army units during the Revolution. Visitors will meet Continental soldiers and officers, as well as Women of the Army, and learn about their daily life. Demonstrations throughout the day will include 18th-century food preparation, tentage, musket firing, and traditional crafts and trades. There will also be fascinating talks with local historians.

Throughout the day, historian Mark Hurwitz will give short one-on-one talks on the local battles and answer visitor questions about the Revolution.

Historic firearms expert John Rountree will present his collection of early muskets and explain their use. A knowledgeable and engaging narrator of history, he will also share surprising facts about the beginning of the hostilities in Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the role of riflemen in the Revolution, and the real-life military experience of soldiers.

At 11 am and 2 pm, Millburn Historian Bob Gula, a member of the Forgotten Victory Trail Association, will present a fascinating 18th-century account of the significance of the nearby Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield in 1780, the role of local soldiers, and of his own ancestor Juniah Beach of Maplewood.

Durand-Hedden House is proud to partner with RevolutionNJ. RevolutionNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey.

Tickets are available on the event page. Tickets for the two lecture times are offered separately and space will be limited.

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.

Caring for Family Collections: A Museum Perspective

A talk by Batja Bell at the Durand-Hedden House on Sunday, March 29 at 1 pm

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – March 2026 – Do you live with—and love—family collections and heirlooms? While museums preserve objects under carefully controlled conditions and often limit display, many of those methods are beyond the reach of the average household. The good news is that the same principles of preventive care can be applied at home.

On March 29, from 1 pm to 3 pm, Durand-Hedden will host a talk with museum professional Batja Bell, where you’ll be introduced to practical ways to care for treasured objects in your own collection. Learn how thoughtful documentation, handling, storage, and everyday use can help manage risk and extend the life of the things that matter to you—while still keeping them part of daily life. Participants will also learn to recognize when an item can be safely cared for at home and when professional conservation may be needed.

This two-hour presentation offers an introduction to collections care for personal heirlooms. Participants will also have the opportunity to view rarely displayed objects from Durand-Hedden’s holdings—many of which were once part of family collections themselves—and learn how museums care for them today.

Attendees are welcome to bring questions and photographs of objects from their own collections for discussion. Please do not bring original items. Examples of objects you may wish to ask about include photographs, scrapbooks, books, works of art on paper, ceramics, silverware, jewelry, textiles, and furniture.

Tickets are available on the event page.

About Batja Bell

Batja Bell holds an M.A. in Museum Studies/Collections Management and American Studies from The George Washington University. She has worked with museum collections for more than forty years, serving as a collections specialist, registrar, and conservation technician at several Smithsonian Institution museums, the Newark Museum, and the National Academy of Design. Since 2010, she has worked as an independent project registrar for more than a dozen museums in New York and Boston, and as a reviewer for the New Jersey Association of Museums’ Artifact Assessment Program (AAP). She also proudly describes herself as an “inventory geek.”

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.

News-Record covers Durand-Hedden Black History Month event

Durand-Hedden House & Garden and the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race hosted historical reenactor Leslie Bramlett as Hannah Till. The February 1, 2026, event at the Woodland was well attended with about 60 guests. We thank the News-Record for covering this Black History Month event.