National Guard Militia Museum 2023 | Sea Girt, New Jersey

National Guard Militia Museum in Sea Girt

This interesting military museum in beautiful Sea Girt, New Jersey is a non-profit museum designed to preserve the military history of New Jersey.

This little museum has many interesting exhibits to explain New Jersey’s important role in various military campaigns.

We visited this museum over 10 years ago, which I wrote about in a now-deleted post.

Since then, they have moved to a smaller building, and the battle-scarred tanks and aircraft that were in front of the other building have been removed. It looks quite different now.

I wondered why they had moved to another building. Perhaps this explains why Hurricane Sandy was the culprit:

This is still an interesting place to visit. Admission is free, and you can conduct your own little tour or be guided by one of the friendly National Guard members available (it’s right near the National Guard Training Center.)

According to the museum website:

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey tells the story of the state’s Militia and National Guard beginning with Dutch, Swedish and British colonization through the War for Independence to the Civil War, World Wars I and II and up to the present day, paying particular attention to the diversity of the New Jersey citizen soldier and his or her experience. Notably, the museum has one of the largest collections of New Jersey related Civil War research material in the country, including copies of diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, memoirs, regimental histories and articles.

Exhibitions

As you will see, the Museum shows exhibits to show the efforts of the New Jersey National Guard during the various wars and attacks on America, including The French and Indian War, The Battle of Monmouth, the two World Wars, and the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

The French 75 Cannon

In the photo below is the “French 75” cannon. This was designed in France and was the primary artillery piece used by the United States during World War I.

The Intelligent Whale

The “Intelligent Whale.” This was an important project in the development of submarines, even though it was never technically used.

According to the museum’s Flickr page:

Our most unique artifact is a pure one-off. The Whale is the only surviving Union Civil War-era submarine. It is comprised of 27,000 pounds of iron and was thought to be able to submerge for up to 11 hours. The submarine was finished by American Submarine Company in Newark, NJ. After a series of setbacks, the Navy’s official test did not go as planned and the Navy decided to cancel their contract. It sat as a lawn ornament at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for nearly 100 years before moving the Washing Navy Yard Annex. It came back to New Jersey on a permanent loan from the Navy in 1999. She is the first resident in our new museum building.

A Commander’s Words

The heartbreaking quote below is from Captain William Joseph Reddan (1883–1944) who served in World War I with the New Jersey National Guard:

The first sergeant reported the company assembled. I looked them over and counted thirteen men. Were my eyes deceiving me? Thirteen men and myself? All that was left of 153 men and five officers who had gone into action twelve hours earlier . . . To explain my feelings at the moment is impossible. I have never felt more alone at any time in my life.

You can read more about Captain Reddan:

Follow-Up to Last Month’s WWI Article on Captain Reddan; Shout-Out from Granddaughter

The New Jersey National Guard and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks:

There are virtual exhibits and oral histories through The Veterans History Project,

Further Reading

Please check out my other posts:

Sea Girt Lighthouse 2023 | Sea Girt, New Jersey

Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park | Basking Ridge, New Jersey

The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum | Oradell, New Jersey

American Labor Museum | Haledon, New Jersey

and check out my book reviews about New Jersey on The Literary Lioness:

Five-Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History by Helene Stapinski | Book Review

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey | Book Review

Last Exit In New Jersey by C.E. Grundler | Book Review

and also

Modern Crossword Puzzles Turn 100!

Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!