The saying is "in a New York Minute," but changes across the river here in Hoboken seem to come just as quickly. Staggering re-development has shaped the city over past few decades, particularly in the area of the Uptown Waterfront. The skeletons of Hoboken's once substantial industrial presence have been converted to luxury apartments and upscale businesses. But quietly tucked away in the midst of all that transformation is the Hoboken Historical Museum, serving as a reminder to any inhabitants who might stop and take notice of the city that existed here long before the smoked glass and mirror facades that characterize it today.

Filling the void, maintaining the history

Founded in 1986, the Hoboken Historical Museum set out to maintain the legacy of what has always made Hoboken so special. The city's rich history goes back long before baseball and continues to add numerous pages beyond Sinatra. Meanwhile, some truly impressive architecture and unique landmarks are well-packed within our tiny city's limits--from the iconic Erie-Lackawanna Train Terminal to the once idyllic locale of Sybil's Cave and on up to the modernized yet historic 19th Century firehouse on 13th and Washington. Yet Hoboken's most notable characteristic, its staggering diversity, is perhaps the aspect most celebrated within the museum. Be they the indigenous Lenni Lenape or the ubiquitous Hoboken yuppie, there's a place for everyone and everyone is in their place at the Hoboken Historical Museum.

In 2001, the facility took up residence at 1301 Hudson Street, in the old Bethlehem Steel shipyard. A visit will no doubt touch on the overwhelming influence of shipping in Hoboken's history. However, the museum is far from a static display of the same old-same old. Much of the effort this past year was put towards the celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's sailing up the river that came to bear his name. In addition, the location serves a venue for various local artists, authors, and topical public speakers whose work may be of interest to the Hoboken community.

Everybody has something to say

The tradition of oral history is a key to many of the museum's ever-evolving exhibits. In fact, their website offers a treasure trove of material that tells the inside story on various fascinating aspects of the city's history. The late Judge Charles DeFazio, Jr. gives his point of view--off the boat, off to war, on the waterfront, and on fire--witnessing Hoboken's transformation from an immigrant enclave to a war port and from a shipping capital through to the controversial deadly fires that ended up clearing much of the post-industrial riverfront. Community activist Tom Oliveri discusses the impact of the Hispanic community on the shaping of the city while the late Jack Quinby tells the tale of working the tugs on the Hudson. Paul Sampieri discusses the role that taverns played in the town's development, while Mike Yaccarino shucks the shell off Biggie's and tells tales of the venerable clam bar's history in Hoboken since 1946.

These and many more invaluable firsthand tales of life in Hoboken are illustrative of the museum's unique hands-on approach to storytelling. Meanwhile, the brick and mortar museum itself is overflowing with items of interest to the curious Hobokenite.

Look, touch, take it home with you

There is much more going on here than some frumpy little community showcase. Displays at the Hoboken Historical Museum are remarkable in their aesthetic qualities and captivating in their detailed storytelling. Whether it's the old sign that once hung in a corner ice cream shop, or a massive three-blade propeller that once churned the water right outside that very spot, the exhibits draw the visitor in and make them want to learn more about their significance.
Perhaps even more popular are the unique gifts. The hipster-friendly "Hoboken Exterminator" t-shirts, an antiqued print from yesteryear for the wall or the book of 100 Hoboken Firsts (by Jim Hans--published by the Hoboken Historical Museum) for the coffee table are all available for purchase in the museum's gift shop. Meanwhile various craft fairs and other distinctive retail opportunities make the spot a must-stop on any Hoboken shopping excursion.

Getting involved

A resource like this doesn't exist without the efforts of the community it serves, and the Hoboken Historical Museum is always looking for support and interaction. Various educational programs beckon the involvement of area students who might want to learn more about the place they call home. As for the grown-ups, in addition to visiting the museum there are numerous opportunities to volunteer on the museum's behalf--in the process learning more about your community and meeting those who share an interest in it. Meanwhile, there are various membership options for those who wish to donate in that capacity, and membership has its privileges.

If nothing else, the museum's website, www.hobokenmuseum.org, is well worth the visit. In addition to the previously mentioned oral histories, there are numerous other resources available to anyone who might be curious. And if you take their prescribed Hoboken Walking Tour, you'll likely end up dropping on by anyhow.

Hoboken is a city that works hard, packing a lot into a little space. The Hoboken Historical Museum emulates that intrepid individualism with its ongoing evolution, and recognizing the effort put forth by this facility is certainly worth the visit. But it's not about the museum, it's about the community; getting a feel for the sense of pride and significance, if only to remind yourself what it is that you liked about Hoboken in the first place. It's a city that has seen its highs and seen its lows, and once you see it all laid out, you can start to get an appreciation for whatever it is that makes this place so unique.