Tu-Sa 11AM to 3PM; Su: 1PM to 4PM. Closed Mondays and Municipal Holidays
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Gravitas: 
Proximity:
A city museum that’s actually interesting? Yes, if it’s the “Ellarslie” museum, located in a converted 19th century mansion in the middle of Cadwalader Park (a slightly faded masterpiece designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, better know for his other design: Central Park).
Downstairs, it’s an art museum, with rotating shows focused on area artists. For those of us who love art museums in small doses, it’s perfect: only three lovely galleries. Even the most obsessive compulsive, art-loving spouse can’t drag it out for more than 45 minutes.
Upstairs, the “permanent” collection focuses on Trenton History. Some of it’s pretty dry, but the collection of Trenton-made pottery is fascinating and well worth checking out.
Somehow the museum has survived layoffs and severe budget cuts by the City: a strong “Friends of Ellarslie” continues to provide volunteers and keeps the museum alive and vibrant.
The museum shop is well worth checking out for unusual artifacts.
Roberta… It is true that when the City of Trenton had a zoo, the building was used as a monkey house. But you’d never know it now. I think it’s been a museum for 30-odd years. With respect to feeling safe, I’ve been to the museum many times over the years, both during the day and at night, and have never felt any safety issue (and I have a highly developed urban radar). My suggestion would be to visit the museum on a nice spring day on a weekend, and go with a friend. There will be people around: mostly family groups picnicking, and kids playing organized sports. You can generally park on the road right next to the museum.
The last time that I was there it still housed monkeys. I am afraid to go there now. Maybe it is something that we can do the next time that you visit.
Ellarslie , I haven’t been there in years
Law Olmstead didn’t just do Cadwalader Park and Central Park, but parks all over the US, including Highland Park in Rochester, Prospect Park in Brooklyn and the layout of UC Berkeley.