Morven’s five-acre site encompasses several buildings, including the mansion, which was constructed in 1758 for Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration for Independence. While the mansion burned in 1758, portions of its original foundation remained when it was rebuilt circa 1760. The center block was added in the 1760s and the east wing was constructed in 1788. Between 1794 and 1795, Morven was substantially rebuilt by John Doan, builder of the first New Jersey State House in Trenton, who adopted the federal style features in the mansion. In 1813, the Greek Revival portico was added and in the 1850s, plumbing and gas lighting were installed. The estate functioned as a private residence for the Stockton family until it was rented to Johnson & Johnson CEO, Robert Wood Johnson in 1928. In the 1950s, Morven was purchased by the State of New Jersey to be used as the official Governor’s Mansion. It functioned as such until 1982. In 2001, Historic Morven, Inc. entered into its first lease agreement with the State of New Jersey to assume operations of the site. It was opened to the public in 2004.

The 2023 Heritage Tourism grant will help fund the design and fabrication of marketing materials and website improvements. The Capital Level I grant will help fund elevator mechanical upgrades. The Capital Level II grant will help fund the installation of outdoor site lighting to improve the visibility of the site during evening events and resurfacing the U-shaped driveway and the visitor parking lot to alleviate the poor surface conditions. 

The 2021 Trust grant funded replacement in-kind of the wood fence running along the property frontage. The 2000 grant helped fund a preservation plan for the 1930s Art Moderne-style pool and pool house and surrounding landscape features. The pool house was restored in 2011. The 1997 grant helped fund the first phase of the property's restoration, which included exterior preservation work on the house, replacement of the slate roof and creation of barrier-free access.The 2019 Trust grant helped fund the restoration and repair of windows (sash and trim) and shutters on the main house. The 2017 grant, made to Princeton Theological Seminary, helped fund the redesign and fabrication of interpretive signage throughout the Morven site, to be incorporated into a visual re-branding of the site and visitor communication. This project was evaluated as a heritage tourism initiative.  

For more information, visit: http://morven.org/