The Historic Cold Spring Village Museum is located right outside of Cape May in New Jersey. You’ll find it on US Route 9 on your way into Cape May…about 10-15 minutes from the Cape May County Zoo. You could do BOTH attraction in the same day if you’re visiting the Jersey Shore. Convenient drive from Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Cape May.
Museum is open seasonally June through August and then open for various educational events throughout the year. You’ll want to visit their website for their hours of operation. There is a reasonable admission fee with children under 3 free. Current active Military gets in FREE with a valid ID. You’ll find their admissions fees on the website.
When visiting we recommend you dress appropriately for current weather conditions. This is an open-air museum, you’ll be outside and doing a lot of walking. Wear sunscreen and if you have bug spray, I suggest you use that too. The bugs can get bad since it’s situated with trees all around the village. Bring along a bottle of water too!
Before you begin your visit stop by the Cold Spring Village Welcome Center (not far from the admission gate). Start your tour there by watching a short video on the history of the Cape May area. These tours are self-guided, you can take your time as you walk around visiting each of the buildings and demonstrations. Some areas are shaded, while other areas are out in the blazing sun. Plan accordingly.
You’ll find a blacksmith shop, a book bindery, a pottery shop, woodworker’s shop, a country store, an inn, a little jail, farm barn, poultry store, etc. There’s a lot to see and do while you’re there. If you get hungry…the Cold Spring Restaurant is located at the back of the property. We have never dined there, so I can’t tell you anything about it. (menu, prices, etc.).
From start to finish we spent around 90 minutes walking around the outdoor museum and watching some of the demonstrations they had going on. It’s a nice family-friendly, affordable activity to do while you’re down at the shore. Here’s a few photographs from our afternoon at the Cold Spring Village Living History Museum.