Independent Arts News Reporting Morven Welcomes Fall with New September Programs
Reported on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Pictured Above: Afternoon Tea. Photo Credit: Contributed
NEWSROOM POST: PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Morven Museum & Gardends will Feature New Docent-Led Tours of the Special Exhibition for America’s 250th
Princeton, NJ — As summer winds down, Morven Museum & Garden invites visitors to make the most of the season’s final weeks with yoga classes, a twilight tour of the garden, and new tours of the museum’s special exhibition Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey. There’s plenty of time to enjoy Morven’s gardens and explore the story of America’s founding before autumn arrives.
Beginning September 11, visitors can take a docent-led tour of Five Independent Souls and experience an intimate, guided look at the landmark exhibition commemorating America’s 250th and examining the lives, ideals, and contradictions of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey. Visitors will get a deeper look at the history and personal connections behind the extraordinary artifacts on view. Three September dates are offered, with additional options through November.
Morven’s beloved Evening Yoga in the Garden with Gratitude Yoga wraps up its summer season with two final Wednesday classes, on September 2 and 9, from 6-7 pm. The donation-based, all-levels Vinyasa class has been a weekly staple in Morven’s gardens since July, and all are welcome to join for one last outdoor practice before the series concludes for this year
Garden lovers won’t want to miss the final Twilight Garden Tour of the summer on Tuesday, September 1 at 5:30 pm. One of the museum’s knowledgeable horticulturists leads the tour through Morven’s blooming historic grounds. August’s tour sold out! And the fall season of Afternoon Tea with The Secret Tea Room kicks off September 24 and 25, with seatings at 12 pm and 2:15 pm. The popular tea service — which regularly sells out — features fine teas, warm scones, and traditional English tea sandwiches served in Morven’s historic Garden Room, with gluten-free and vegetarian options available.
Details on the full slate of September programs are below.
CALENDAR LISTINGS
TWILIGHT GARDEN TOUR
Enjoy a relaxing twilight tour of Morven’s blooming historic gardens with one of the museum’s knowledgeable horticulturists, followed by light refreshments on the modern Pool House porch. This is the final garden tour of the summer! Capacity is limited; please register in advance.
Dates/Times: Tuesday, September 1, 5:30 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 Tickets: $20 General Admission; $15 Morven Member
Registration: https://www.morven.org/events/september-twilight-garden-tour
EVENING YOGA IN THE GARDEN WITH GRATITUDE YOGA
Practice your flow and connect with nature at Gratitude Yoga’s all-levels Vinyasa class, open to everyone. This weekly donation-based yoga class takes place in Morven’s beautiful garden, located in the heart of Princeton. Please bring a yoga mat, a towel, a water bottle, and an open heart. In the event of rain or excessive heat, the class is held inside Morven’s Stockton Education Center—a lovely, peaceful space with large windows overlooking the garden.
Dates/Times: Wednesdays (September 2 & 9), 6-7 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 Tickets: Pay-what-you-can donation
Registration:
https://www.morven.org/events/evening-yoga-in-the-gardens-with-gratitude-yoga
DOCENT TOUR OF FIVE INDEPENDENT SOULS
Get special insight into America’s 250th on an intimate tour of Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey, led by an engaging docent, who will share the history and connections behind the extraordinary historic artifacts in the landmark special exhibition. Five Independent Souls examines the lives, ideals, and contradictions of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey. Registration for the tour includes full museum admission. Pre-registration is required.
All tours start at 1 pm. Seven dates are available through November; check Morven’s website for details.
Dates/Times: Friday, September 11, 1 pm; Thursday, September 17, 1 pm; Sunday, September 20, 1 pm
Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 Registration: $15 General Admission; $12 Seniors (ages 60+); $10 Students, Active Military, and Veterans (with ID); free for Morven Members
Register at https://www.morven.org/events/meet-the-curators-tour-5IS
AFTERNOON TEA WITH THE SECRET TEA ROOM
Enjoy an enchanting afternoon tea service (with a choice of fine teas, warm scones, tea sandwiches, and more) served on fine chinaware in Morven’s historic Garden Room overlooking the grounds. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available. Registration includes admission to the museum and an optional guided tour.
Dates/Times: Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25; seatings at 12 pm and 2:15 pm Location: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 Tickets: $60 per guest, $50 for Morven Members
Register at
https://www.morven.org/events/september-afternoon-tea-with-the-secret-tea-room
About Morven Museum & Garden:
Most historic sites celebrate a single notable resident—Morven is different. Built in the 1750s for Richard Stockton (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) and his wife, Annis Boudinot Stockton, an early published poet, Morven was home to five generations of the Stockton family as well as generations of enslaved men and women and later, immigrant servants. The twentieth century saw the innovative industrialist and humanitarian Robert Wood Johnson, Jr. and five New Jersey governors. Over 250+ years, its walls have witnessed the lives of governors, political leaders, celebrities, and everyday families alike.
Today, Morven Museum & Garden welcomes visitors to explore this layered history through exhibitions, programs, and historic gardens. The museum, located at 55 Stockton Street in Princeton, NJ, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am-4 pm. The gardens are open daily until dusk. Learn more at morven.org.
