Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum

10/21/2026

Whose stories are missing from the history we thought we knew?

Comment ‘Revolution’ for the registration link or click the link in bio/pinned comment.

For anyone who loves local history, this is an opportunity to look deeper into the people and stories that shaped the Sourland region and our understanding of America’s past.

Join the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) for All Who Served, a virtual program exploring the African American men from the Sourlands who served during the American Revolution, often while their own freedom remained uncertain.

Hosted by the Pennington Public Library, this program will explore SSAAM’s ongoing research documenting their military service, along with a preview of research into New Jersey’s US Colored Troops during the Civil War.

Leading the discussion is Sharece Blakney, SSAAM’s Staff Historian, whose work brings archival research to life and helps recover stories too often left out of the historical record.

Whether you’re a local history enthusiast, a researcher, or simply curious about the people and places that shaped Central New Jersey, this is a chance to learn something new and connect with others who share an interest in our region’s history.

📅 Thursday, November 12, 2026
⏰ 7 PM
💻 Via Zoom

10/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Historic Skillman Camp Meeting Reenactment.

This annual gathering offers an opportunity to remember and share the history of the African American Camp Meeting held in Skillman in 1899, while connecting that history to the community today.

We are grateful to our reenactors, volunteers, community partners, and everyone who helped make this year’s program possible. We are especially grateful for the support of the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, which helped make the participation of our reenactors possible.

Preserving this history is a community effort, and we are honored to continue telling these stories and creating opportunities for future generations to learn from them.

Made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey State Historical Commission.

10/19/2026

10/17/2026

This is your last chance to visit SSAAM in 2026.

Join us at the National Historic Register listed Mt. Zion AME Church and heritagegardenssaam to explore the deep rooted history and contributions of African Americans in Central New Jersey.

Our staff and docents are ready to welcome you and share the stories that shaped our region and continue to inform its history today.

The museum is open to the public at no cost on:

Saturday, October 17 | 10 AM–1 PM
Saturday, November 7 | 10 AM–1 PM
Sunday, November 8 | 1–4 PM
Saturday, December 12 | 10 AM–1 PM

📍 Mt. Zion AME Church
39 Hollow Road, Skillman, NJ

Looking for a deeper experience? SSAAM also offers private tours for corporations, student groups, families, and friends.

Private tours are $25 per adult and $15 per child or student. For sponsorship opportunities or group bookings, contact [email protected].

We hope you’ll visit us before the 2026 season comes to a close.

10/10/2026

🍑 TODAY AT SSAAM! 🍑

The 1899 Camp Meeting Reenactment is happening TODAY, Saturday, October 10, with a full day of history, performances, special guests, hands on activities and family fun.

Here’s the full schedule so you can plan your visit:

📍 MT. ZION AME CHURCH
10 AM–5 PM

Explore the video exhibit Voices of the Camp Meetings and special exhibit The Head That Wears the Crown: Black Women’s Headwear from Slavery to Freedom.

🎤 SPECIAL PERFORMANCES & GUESTS

12:10 PM | Special Welcome from Mayor Singh and SSAAM Executive Director Anita Williams-Galiano

12:25 PM | “The Sweetness of the Sourland” Original Piece by Michelle Washington Wilson

1:05 PM | Meet Jarena Lee

1:40 PM | SSAAM Heritage Choral Ensemble

2:05 PM | Oral History led by SSAAM Co-founders

2:25 PM | Meet the United States Colored Troops

2:30 PM | Exclusive Updates on SSAAM’s Future Plans

2:50 PM | SSAAM Heritage Choral Ensemble

📍 REASONER-TRUE HOUSE
12–4 PM

🐴 Horse & buggy rides
🎲 19th-century games
🌱 Garden tours & harvesting
🍦 Ice cream making
🎨 Arts & crafts
🍪 Baked goods all day
🥪 Boxed lunch sale, 12:30–2 PM
🍑 Peach basket scavenger hunt

Come spend the day learning, celebrating and experiencing the history of the Sourland African American community.

And if you’ve been meaning to visit the museum, today is the day. ❤️

The Somerset County Journey Through the Past continues through October 11.

10/10/2026

We got to see SSAAM’s panels at Somerset County headquarters this week, and it felt like the perfect reminder that Journey Through the Past weekend is happening now. 🌿

Today, Saturday, October 10, you can experience that history firsthand at SSAAM’s annual Historic Skillman Camp Meeting Reenactment.

If you’ve been looking for something FREE, meaningful and family friendly to do this weekend, consider this your last minute reminder to register!

Admission is FREE, but please register ahead of time so SSAAM has an accurate headcount for activities and box lunches available for purchase.

Here’s what’s happening:

✨ Face Painting by Maya, the Face Painting Fairy
🎶 SSAAM Heritage Choir
🐴 Horse and buggy rides through the Sourlands
📖 Stories from the past
🎨 Family crafts
🎲 Historic games
🥪 Box lunches available for purchase
🍑 Homemade peach inspired bake sale celebrating the Sourland’s historic peach industry and the African American communities who helped shape it

You can also explore historic Mt. Zion AME Church, where African American camp meetings brought communities together from the 1800s through the 1930s.

It’s a beautiful opportunity to gather, learn and experience a living piece of Sourland history while supporting the work of preserving these stories for generations to come.

📅 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 12–4 PM
📍 Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
189 Hollow Road, Skillman, NJ

🎟️ Admission is FREE. Please register in advance!

The museum will also be open Saturday 10 AM–5 PM and Sunday, October 11 from 12–4 PM as part of Somerset County’s Journey Through the Past weekend.

Save this post and share it with a friend looking for something free and meaningful to do this weekend. 🌿

Learn more and register at SSAAM.org

09/29/2026

Welcome October in with reflection at SSAAM!

Experience the rich stories inside the historic Mt. Zion AME Church and experience the stories, resilience, and legacy of African Americans in the Sourland Mountain region. Our open hours are free, welcoming, and a meaningful way to connect with local history.

Upcoming Open Hours
Sat, Oct. 3 | 10 – 1 PM
Sun, Oct. 4 | 10 – 1 PM
Sat, Oct. 10 | Camp Meeting 10 - 5 PM
Sun, Oct. 11 | Journey Through the Past 12 -4 PM
Sat, Oct. 17 | 10 - 1 PM

Bring a friend, bring your family, or come solo for a quiet, reflective visit. Our docents are ready to guide you through the space, answer questions, and share the stories that shaped this region.

We look forward to welcoming you.