When we talk about Morven, we often consider its place on the national scene: home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, senators, and governors. While the importance of these inhabitants led to Morven’s preservation, consider the space around these better known histories.  This exhibit explores not the battles, speeches, or legislation that Morven witnessed, but rather the quotidian experiences of dressing, child rearing, housekeeping, and hosting that made it a home. 

Morven survived war and fire but it also survived over fifty-five children. What did their coming of ages look like in the 1790s? the 1860s? the 1970s? And what do we know about the women who birthed and raised them? These women were often the tastemakers of their day --  how did they dress themselves and their home? As their families expanded with each generation, so did their landholdings in Princeton, changing the landscape that surrounds us today. 

As we celebrate our twentieth anniversary as a museum we take this opportunity to dig into our collections to share some of these lesser-known stories.  What do we uncover when we consider the everyday moments that made Morven a home for over two hundred years?