Atlantic City Museums

(Atlantic City, New Jersey - NJ, USA)

The Atlantic City area contains an interesting spread of cultural attractions, which range from the Historical Museum of Atlantic City - telling the story of this burgeoning tourist resort, to the appealing museums of nearby Cape May. The city's brilliant Marine Mammal Stranding Center is also quite appealing and helps hundreds of marine animals each year, who are rescued and successfully rehabilitated by the center.

A Ripley's Believe it or Not museum is also present in Atlantic City, with all its peculiarities and squeamish oddities. Less than an hour away and located within Cape May, the Historic Cold Spring Village is well worth a look if you are headed in this direction.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not

Address: 1441 Boardwalk, at New York Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey NJ, USA
Tel: +1 609 347 2001
The Ripley's Believe it or Not continues with the theme of other museums in this collection around the world. Inside the curious, dilapidated-looking building are hundreds of oddities and things to scream and be disgusted by.
Open hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day, daily - 10:00 to 22:00, Labor Day to Memorial Day, Monday to Friday - 11:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available

Atlantic City Historical Museum

Address: South New Jersey Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey NJ, USA
Tel: +1 609 347 5839
The Historical Museum showcases the history of 'America's Favorite Playground' through photographs and collectibles. The highlight is the 'Boardwalk Ballyhoo: 'The Magic of Atlantic City' video, which shows the city's transformation from beach resort to casino haven in all its glory. The museum is located along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, on the Garden Pier, and comes with its very own gift shop, where you will find a selection of themed photographs, period postcards and glossy calendars.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Cape May County's Historical Museum and Genealogical Society

Address: 504 Route 9N, Cape May Court House, New Jersey NJ, USA
Tel: +1 609 465 3535
Cape May is just a short drive or bus ride south of Atlantic City and the Historical Museum dates back to the middle of the 18th century. Highlights at the museum include period furnishings, textiles and tools, among other historical knick-knacks from that time. Also of importance are the old Cape May family bibles.
Open hours: April to October, Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 15:00, November to March, Saturday - 09:00 to 15:00
Admission: charge

Historic Cold Spring Village

Address: 720 US 9, Cape May, New Jersey NJ, USA
Tel: +1 609 898 2300
Also located near Cape May, Historic Cold Spring Village is a living history site with 20-odd buildings, some of which date back more than 300 years. The village represents a farming community in these early days with craftsmen and women dressed-up in traditional garb demonstrating their mock livelihoods.
Open hours: June to September, Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge

Marine Mammal Stranding Center and Museum

Address: 3625 Atlantic-Brigantine Boulevard, Atlantic City, New Jersey NJ, USA
Tel: +1 609 266 0538
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center is accessible via the Brigantine Bridge to Atlantic-Brigantine Boulevard from Atlantic City and acts as a safety net for stranded marine life that may run aground on New Jersey's beaches or wander into New York Harbor. Animals that have been rescued include whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles and they are brought here for rehabilitation before being let back into their natural environment. The museum has several interesting exhibits on marine life and photos from rescue operations.
Open hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day, daily - 11:00 to 17:00, rest of the year, weekends - 12:00 to 16:00
Admission: free, donations suggested