Storm Sandy-Hoboken residents rescued-photo by McKevin Shaughnessy

Superstorm Sandy was a historic event in Hoboken, and the Hoboken Historical Museum is gathering stories from residents and visitors to document the storm’s immediate and ongoing impact on our community. Everyone’s story, no matter how great the storm’s impact, is a valuable part of our history.

We are inviting people to reach out to us to record their stories through a wide range of options.

• Add your story to our blog by posting in the comments area below.
• Call 201-537-6778, enter 10#, and follow the instructions to record a brief recollection of two to four minutes.
• Send us an email with your story and digital images to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
• You may also mail us your written stories and storm-related photographs to PO Box 3296, Hoboken, NJ 07030, or drop them off at the Museum, 1301 Hudson St.

Selected stories may be added to the Museum’s collections and used in our programs and presentations.

Now I know hundreds of people from all over town, and can truly call Hoboken my hometown. It all started with a call from an acquaintance who was desperate for volunteers for the Museum’s Annual House Tour. I showed up for my four-hour shift, and got to know the other volunteers and the staff at the Museum. It was so much fun, I volunteered every time that friend called, and before long, found myself in charge of the Museum’s volunteer program!

Pretty soon, through the other volunteers I met at the Museum, I got involved in all kinds of interest groups around town – the Hoboken Dog Association, the Hoboken Garden Club, the Quality of Life Coalition, and more. Now I really feel like I belong…which happens to be the name of the exhibition the Museum is planning for the second half of the year. “I Belong” will be an exploration of the various social, fraternal, civic and sporting clubs that have been woven through Hoboken’s social fabric since the 18th century. It opens July 29.

If you’re looking for a way to get more involved in the community, or learn more about Hoboken’s history, I invite you to send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We need volunteers to help staff our booth at the two upcoming city festivals, The Green Fair April 21 and Spring Arts & Music fest on May 6. Both run from 11 am to 6 pm, and we need volunteers in two-hour shifts. No advance training necessary, all we ask for is a friendly smile and a willingness to pitch in.

Following these festivals, we’ll need volunteers for the Baby Parade, May 20, the Secret Garden Tour, June 3, and more events through the summer and fall. Find out more on our volunteer page.

Welcome aboard!

Through our exhibits, our collections and our programs, we celebrate the one-of-a-kind characters and the shared interests that unite us with the people who lived here long ago. Our current exhibit, “Driving Under the Hudson: A History of the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels,” is a perfect example of that. A bold engineering project that required a leap of faith on the part of state and local officials, the tunnels today are an important part of daily life for both Hoboken, New York and our neighboring communities.

Whether you were born here, recently moved here, or are just curious about the “Mile Square City,” we invite you to stop by 1301 Hudson St., six days a week (Tues.-Thurs., 2 – 7 pm; Fri. 1 – 5 pm; Sat.-Sun. 12 – 5 pm), and see what our talented curator and collections manager have dug up lately. If you stop in, say hi to our friendly staff and volunteers, Bill, Eileen, Michelle, Vicky and Dennis, or whoever happens to be helping out that day.

And please explore our website 24 hours a day, at your convenience, and see what’s been added to our highly searchable online collections archive. Or check out our events calendar for upcoming programs, or browse through our past exhibitions to learn more about Hoboken’s past.

We’ll use this blog to highlight elements of our exhibits and events, or aspects of Hoboken’s history that didn’t quite make it into an exhibit. We welcome your questions, feedback and suggestions through the comments section of this blog. Please bear in mind that we’re not a large organization and can’t research all incoming questions, but we’ll try to help point you in the right direction if we can.

– Melissa Abernathy, Communications & Volunteer Coordinator