A website update of historic significance

Merchant Philip Van Rensselaer had Cherry Hill built as his country home in 1787. In 1963, when last descendant died there, the house and all of its contents were willed to New York State.

Today, the house looks as the family left it.

For more than 60 years, this treasure has served both as a living museum and a center for research. Infamous as the site of a brutal crime of passion, the 1827 murder of John Whipple by hired hand Jesse Strang who hoped to continue his affair with John’s wife, Elsie, the 65,000 artifacts housed at the museum have been put to work by scholars and archivists to tell a complex story of a proud family who were often in debt, anxious about social standing, and fearful of a changing world.

The revised website highlights the museum’s holdings and mission while inviting the community to engage with its ongoing project of discovery and interpretation. School groups, educators, researchers, community groups, neighbors, and visitors will find it easy to arrange visits and utilize the many resources Historic Cherry Hill offers.

Visit Historic Cherry Hill.