Afternoon with an Artist: Reverse Glass Painting

Reverse glass painting, or Hinterglasmalerei, is an art form where the image is painted on the back of a glass sheet and viewed from the front. Popular across Europe, Asia, and Senegal since the 16th century, this technique flourished in the Renaissance with significant......More

Reverse glass painting, or Hinterglasmalerei, is an art form where the image is painted on the back of a glass sheet and viewed from the front. Popular across Europe, Asia, and Senegal since the 16th century, this technique flourished in the Renaissance with significant production in 18th Century China and India.In this workshop, participants will learn the unique logic of working in reverse—applying fine highlights and foreground details first, then layering mid-tones and backgrounds to create a luminous, protected finished work. We’ll using acrylic paint, which dries quickly, and acrylic pens which work on glass. There will also be experimentation with the backgrounds using specialty papers and foils creating shimmering multi-dimensional effects. Throughout the session on September 26, we will examine examples of the history of the craft alongside several contemporary artists such as the atmospheric works of Daniel Karrer and meticulous compositions of Richard Rowan. Mickey Waring is an art educator, artist, and poet. She teaches children and adults, works in several media, and has published her poems and an online blog. This event is part of Handwork 2026, Craft in America’s nationwide semiquincentennial collaboration showcasing the importance of the handmade and celebrating the diversity of craft that defines America. $20/person, $10/METC members, This adult event is best for age 16 and up. 

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

Bottle Hill Day at METC

At this year’s special edition of Bottle Hill Day on October 3, we invite you to join us as our museum and the surrounding area are transformed into 18th century New Jersey to commemorate our Nation’s 250th! During this day-long event, visitors can watch as skilled arti......More

At this year’s special edition of Bottle Hill Day on October 3, we invite you to join us as our museum and the surrounding area are transformed into 18th century New Jersey to commemorate our Nation’s 250th! During this day-long event, visitors can watch as skilled artisans demonstrate traditional colonial crafts, listen to both military and civilian music, and see special guests George and Martha Washington. Inside of the museum, explore the hardships and complexities of the Revolutionary War on the everyday lives of New Jerseyans in our Main Gallery Exhibit  “So You Say You Want a Revolution.” The Revolutionary War divided friends and neighbors, but daily community life soldiered on.  Basket weaving, cooking, spinning, and more occupied the days, while the 3rd New Jersey Blues were active in the area. Through demonstrations, reenactment, and interpretation, the 18th century will come to life to highlight the ingenuity, resourcefulness, and craftsmanship of the people who lived through the Revolutionary era.  Immerse yourself in the Revolutionary experience on October 3! Bottle Hill Day and these special activities celebrating and commemorating the nation’s 250th Anniversary are sponsored by the Borough of Madison and the Downtown Development Commission. Schedule for the day:(Times subject to change) 10AM: Camp opens with crafters and historical interpreters available all day 10:30AM: Miliary Music 11AM: George & Martha Washington 12:30PM: Civilian Music 1:30PM: Military Music and Men at Arms with General Steuben.  2:30PM: George & Martha Washington 3:30PM: Non-Military/Civilian Music 4:00pm: General Steuben

Annual Gala

Save the date to our annual gala

Park Avenue Club, 100 Campus Drive, Florham Park, NJ, 07932, United States

Haunted History of New Jersey

History and myth intertwine in this spooky program. Join historian Greg Caggiano for a look at the “other side” of history. As a seasoned paranormal investigator, Greg has always been interested in things that go bump in the night at historic sites in New Jersey. Profil......More

History and myth intertwine in this spooky program. Join historian Greg Caggiano for a look at the “other side” of history. As a seasoned paranormal investigator, Greg has always been interested in things that go bump in the night at historic sites in New Jersey. Profiled in this presentation is a historic military base, several houses with Revolutionary War notoriety, a legendary road, a creepy cemetery, and a Victorian mansion. And what would a Halloween-themed talk be without a visit from the Jersey Devil?  This event takes place in the METC Education Annex at 23 Main Street. $15/person, free for METC members Greg Caggiano is an award-winning historian and author with two books on paranormal experiences at historic sites, most recently Legends and Hauntings of the Jersey Bayshore. He also hosts an online video series about creepy New Jersey history called Ghosts on the Coast, which gets millions of views per month on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Greg holds degrees in history and education, and has lectured for Brookdale Community College’s Continuing and Professional Studies Department since 2014.

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

Holiday Craft: Spooky Halloween

Join us for afterschool, creepy fun and drop into the Education Annex anytime between 3pm and 6pm on Thursday, October 29. Come craft hanging bats, paint q-tip candy corn, build glitter spider webs, and create pipe cleaner pumpkins. $5/ child, $10/family, free for membe......More

Join us for afterschool, creepy fun and drop into the Education Annex anytime between 3pm and 6pm on Thursday, October 29. Come craft hanging bats, paint q-tip candy corn, build glitter spider webs, and create pipe cleaner pumpkins. $5/ child, $10/family, free for members. Children must be accompanied by guardians at all times

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

Makerspace November 7

Join us at Makerspace on November 7, between 11am and 3pm, in the METC Education Annex at 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ. Whether you are looking for a kid-friendly project or for something creative to do after spending time at our Museum, Makerspace is the place to be! En......More

Join us at Makerspace on November 7, between 11am and 3pm, in the METC Education Annex at 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ. Whether you are looking for a kid-friendly project or for something creative to do after spending time at our Museum, Makerspace is the place to be! Enjoy hands-on activities in our collaborative work space geared towards kids ages 5 to 12.  Kids will use our 3D printer, build with Legos, make jewelry, experiment with our marble run and coding robots, and more! Children must be accompanied by guardians at all times. $10/family, free for members. Special combo ticket of $15 includes entrance to the museum! 

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

The Lenape & Revolutionary New Jersey

Two hundred and fifty years ago, North America was torn apart by the violence and chaos of the American Revolution. There’s more to the story we all learned in school. The Revolution didn’t just set Patriot against Loyalist it was a brutal civil war that also divided Am......More

Two hundred and fifty years ago, North America was torn apart by the violence and chaos of the American Revolution. There’s more to the story we all learned in school. The Revolution didn’t just set Patriot against Loyalist it was a brutal civil war that also divided America’s Indigenous nations. Join historian Henry Crouse, as he discusses the Lenape, New Jersey’s Indigenous inhabitants, and their role in the complicated cataclysmic conflict that birthed the United States. This event takes place on November 12 at 7PM in the METC Education Annex at 23 Main Street. $15/person, free for METC members Dr. Henry Crouse recently completed his dissertation “Captains and King” at Rutgers University. He teaches at West Morris High School and completed his graduate work at both Rutgers and Brown University. He is currently adapting his dissertation, which follows a prominent Lenape family throughout history, into a book for publication.

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

Afternoon with an Artist: Kids Edition

Turn ordinary materials into extraordinary characters! Explore creativity through hands on art and storytelling. This puppet-making workshop for children ages 8 – 12 is an opportunity for young creators to engineer puppets using cardboard, paper, boxes, wooden spoons ad......More

Turn ordinary materials into extraordinary characters! Explore creativity through hands on art and storytelling. This puppet-making workshop for children ages 8 – 12 is an opportunity for young creators to engineer puppets using cardboard, paper, boxes, wooden spoons adding a variety of mixed media. While engaging in their puppet-making, I will be encouraging the participants to bring their puppets to life into cast members of their own imagination to tell their stories. Mickey Waring is an art educator, artist, and poet. She teaches children and adults, works in several media, and has published her poems and an online blog. This event is part of Handwork 2026, Craft in America’s nationwide semiquincentennial collaboration showcasing the importance of the handmade and celebrating the diversity of craft that defines America. This drop off program is for children ages 8- 12,  and is limited to 10 participants. Registration closes November 9.

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

Holiday Craft: Bountiful Thanksgiving

Gobble… and craft… til you wobble! Kick-off the Thanksgiving holiday with METC on Tuesday, November 24. Drop in after school between 3pm and 6pm to create Thanksgiving crafts like fall leaf suncatchers, tricorn hats, paper plate turkey wreaths, and more! Guardians must ......More

Gobble… and craft… til you wobble! Kick-off the Thanksgiving holiday with METC on Tuesday, November 24. Drop in after school between 3pm and 6pm to create Thanksgiving crafts like fall leaf suncatchers, tricorn hats, paper plate turkey wreaths, and more! Guardians must accompany children at all times. $5/child, $10/family, free for members

Education Annex, 23 Main Street, Madison, NJ, 07940, United States

Closed for Thanksgiving

Please note: METC is closed on Thursday, November 26.