Grounds of Beauty: Visiting the Van Vleck Museum
When visiting Montclair one would be surprised at how much the town has to offer apart from its many restaurants scattered throughout. One of many place you would miss out on if you didn’t stray from the beaten path would be The Van Vleck House & Garden.
The Van Vleck House & Garden is more than 140 years old. The Vlecks moved to Montclair from Brooklyn and privately owned the 12 acre estate. They wanted to own land with beautiful landscapes and architecture. When you walk the property you can see that they succeeded. Of course the property has changed a lot since they first moved here but it still is as beautiful and thriving as ever.
The property is now owned by The Montclair Foundation, An organization with a mission to support non-profits. Because of this foundation they have made it possible for anyone to enjoy the grounds. It’s a nice little serenity in the middle of a bustling city.
The grounds are open from dusk to dawn everyday of the year for you to enjoy its natural beauty. One of its must sees is the amazing combination of nature and architecture. There are so many examples of this on the grounds. The nature has learned to grow around and with the buildings on the premises. There are a few green houses on the grounds as well as a butterfly garden, which ,fittingly is shaped like a butterfly.
Now besides the plants and the inhabitants, the Montclair Foundation has made it a mission to keep the grounds alive. They hold different events for families throughout the year. From butterfly exhibits to a day in the life. They really like to bring each event alive. It’s a great way for families to get out of the house and enjoy the grounds while being immersed in different activities. On top of that, in the main house, the foundation occasionally will hold an exhibit of artifacts.
So if you are ever in Montclair for the day or just for a short period of time the Van Vleck House & Garden is a must. You can spend ten minutes for your after dinner stroll or a few hours to explore. Either way the grounds are great for a little hidden beauty to brighten your day. So get out there and smell the roses in the garden of Van Vleck.
Basic Information for the Van Vleck Museum:
Address: 21 Van Vleck Street Montclair, NJ 07042
Phone: 973-744-4752
Website: http://vanvleck.org
Facebook: https://m.facebook.
Author: Samantha Gallo
Samantha is a Brooklyn made and Jersey raised traveler; who is a combination of cotton candy, pixie dust, and coffee. She knows the fairy tale life exists and is seeking it out in New Jersey. Because the little things in life are what makes it great, and what better place than one of our smaller states to collect these moments.
