Celebrating the unique heritage of the Shore

Francis Life-Car circa 1860, courtesy Twin Lights Historical Society, Navesink

The unique history and culture of the Jersey Shore is the subject of a new exhibit that opens Sunday at the Cornelius Low House Museum in Piscataway.

"Down the Shore: The Coastal Heritage of New Jersey" will run through June 15 at the museum, located at 1225 River Road.

The exhibit focuses on the evolution of the Jersey Shore from barren sand dunes and marshlands, to a summer destination for families, entertainers, nature lovers, historians and cultural enthusiasts.

Sponsored by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Cornelius Low House Museum, the exhibit is free and open to the public Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, 1 - 4 p.m. For more information, call the museum at (732) 745-4177.

New Jersey's 127 miles of beaches have attracted thousands of people annually for decades. Resort towns, unique ecology, lighthouses, beautiful beaches, one-of-a-kind architecture, boardwalk rides, games and food all made going "down the Shore" a memorable experience.

Fralinger's candy tin circa 1920s, courtesy James' Candy Co., Atlantic City

This extraordinary exhibition includes such artifacts as funhouse mirrors, period clothing, a Skee Ball machine, an 1860s Francis Life-Car, a New Jersey Sneakbox, a lifeguard chair and boat, shipwreck artifacts from New Jersey coastal waters, a 1963 Miss America dress, original seats from the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, a 1930s canvas kayak, three-dimensional cutouts and figures, shore-themed murals and a mini-beach and boardwalk.

A lecture series, educational student workshops and school tours round out the exhibit programs.

Red swimsuit circa 1932, courtesy Acorn Hall/Morris County Historical Society, Morristown