February 10, 2025- February 27, 2026

On February 9th, 1925, the Paterson Free Public Library Board of Trustees made a motion that created the Paterson Museum. In the 100 years since that meeting, the Museum has developed and changed with its City. Beginning with temporary displays in the assembly room at the Danforth Memorial Library, today, the Museum is a permanent fixture in the former Erecting Shop of the Rogers Locomotive Works. The collection, originally focused more on ancient world cultures and natural history, transitioned to one focused on the products and people of Paterson.

In honor of our centennial, the Museum staff have selected 100 artifacts to represent this milestone. The artifacts were selected for a number of different reasons, but all were selected for the important role they play in the story of the Paterson Museum. The highlighted artifacts are scattered throughout the museum. Look for the 100 years logo, to learn more about their unique stories and their part in the Museum’s rich history.

Click here for the Exhibition Catalog

The Origins of the Paterson Museum

This year marks the centennial celebration of the Paterson Museum. The Museum has its origins in an even older institution, the Paterson Free Public Library. Following the opening of the Danforth Memorial Library in 1905, exhibits became an integral part of the library’s programming. In 1916, the library board created a Special Committee on Art, Exhibitions and Lectures. At this time, the exhibits were on display in the assembly rooms.

At a meeting of the Library Board on February 9, 1925, two motions were made which launched the Paterson Museum as its own institution. The first was the formation of a standing Museum committee, which held among its responsibilities: to supervise the erection or reconstruction of buildings, or the fitting and furnishing of rooms for museum use. The second was to hire the first curator, James F. Morton.

The committee took their responsibilities regarding a building very seriously. By May 1925, they were accepting plans and contracts to remodel a building, which had previously been the carriage house of Former Mayor Nathan Barnert. The new museum opened in January 1927. With its own dedicated building, the museum was able to expand its collections, which included an ever-expanding mineral collection. While located on Summer Street, the focus of the museum remained very broad, as was common in museums in this period. The exhibits ranged from local history to natural history, including artifacts of the ancient world as well as modern technical marvels.

After over five decades, the museum’s collection was outgrowing the building. Mayor Frank Graves decided to move the museum and its collections to the newly renovated Erecting Shop of Rogers Locomotive Works, located in the Great Falls Historic District. The move took place in August 1982. Since relocating to Market Street, the Museum has revised its mission. Less focused on natural history, the collections and exhibitions continue to expand to include more local history, with a focus on the machines and products that represented Paterson’s many great industries.