Jersey City: Culture, Science and History

Jersey City brings together remembrance, science and historic buildings. When choosing accommodation, it may help to first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay: Empty Sky commemorates the victims of September 11, the Liberty Science Center brings together exhibitions, animals and a planetarium, and several historic sites tell the story of the city.

Remembrance and Science

Empty Sky is New Jersey’s memorial to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Its central feature consists of two 30-foot-high walls clad in brushed stainless steel. The names of 746 victims are engraved on the walls; they either lived in New Jersey or had close ties to the state. If you combine your stay with a visit to the memorial, it offers a tangible connection to the state’s history and the people affected.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal is also worth considering when planning a visit: built in 1889, it serves visitors as a gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The terminal offers a different historical connection from Empty Sky. The two sites appeal to different interests—commemorating the attacks on the one hand, and access to the well-known destinations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on the other.

The Liberty Science Center is located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City waterfront along the Hudson River, near the Statue of Liberty. The center houses twelve museum exhibition halls, as well as a live animal collection featuring 110 species. It is also home to the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Several areas of science come together here: exhibitions, animals and astronomy. For a travel group with varied interests, these topics can be considered separately when planning, rather than limiting a museum visit to a single subject.

Historic Houses and Theatres

The Van Wagenen/Apple Tree House is the second-oldest residence in Jersey City. Its features include historic vaulted cellars and Victorian parlors; the house also has a garden with native plants. These details give the site several dimensions: the history of the residence, its interiors and the garden. Visitors interested in architecture or historic homes can treat these as distinct areas of focus.

Reservoir 3 was originally built in the 1870s and is listed on both the state and national registers of historic places. At Loew’s Jersey Theatre, the focus is on architectural history and theatre design: it was built between 1927 and 1929 as a movie palace with 3,021 seats and could also host live shows. The theatre is one of five “Loew’s Wonder Theatres” in the New York metropolitan area and the only one outside New York City. These details make it a destination in its own right for travellers interested in historic performance venues.

Planning for Culture and Your Stay

The Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center in Jersey City’s Greenville neighbourhood offers residents and visitors cultural, fitness, wellness and educational activities. This broad range differs from the individual focuses of the memorials, historic buildings and science center. If you are travelling together, you can therefore consider whether everyone shares the same interests or whether a range of themed destinations would better suit your stay.

When looking for accommodation in Jersey City, these different reasons to visit can help you identify your own focus: remembrance, science, architecture or a broader range of cultural and educational offerings. The facts presented describe specific sites and their features; together, they offer a choice of themes for planning your trip, rather than one single itinerary.

More destinations to consider for your trip: Harrison, Hoboken, North Bergen, Weehawken, Secaucus.

For the broader travel overview: Hudson.