header image

Home

Early 20th century photograph of the "Old House".

Early 20th century photograph of the "Old House".

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is the cornerstone of Morristown’s National Historic District. George Macculloch, a Scotsman born in Bombay, immigrated to America from London with his wife and two children in 1806. Settling in Morristown in 1810, Macculloch began building his Federal-style brick mansion on his new 26-acre gentleman’s farm. A businessman, scholar, and visionary, Macculloch is best known as the Father of the Morris Canal, an international engineering marvel.

The "Old House," as it was known to five generations of Macculloch’s descendants, was acquired by Morristown philanthropist W. Parsons Todd in 1949.

Mr. Todd began the restoration of Macculloch Hall to house his notable collection of 18th and early 19th century American and English fine and decorative arts, sharing it with the Morris area community. In so doing, he created both a testament to the distinguished public service of the Macculloch-Miller family and a monument to the heritage of Morristown.

The Museum is also renowned for its major collection of works by America’s leading 19th century political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who lived across the avenue from Macculloch Hall. Nast is known for creating the Republican Elephant, Democratic Donkey, and America’s image of Santa Claus.

With the support of the Garden Club of Morristown, W. Parsons Todd also restored the gardens of Macculloch Hall to their 19th century splendor. incorporating original plantings and landscape features, the garden displays seasonal blooms, including forty varieties of heirloom roses that have become a favorite of local artists. Today, Macculloch Hall boasts the oldest garden in Morris County.

Today we invite visitors to travel back through the years to picture the house as it was used by each generation of the Macculloch family. Their lives touched others like the ripples in a pond, in ever-widening circles. The Macculloch’s influenced education, economics, politics and cultural events of their day. Four exhibit galleries complement Macculloch Hall’s ten period rooms. Each year the Museum offers a diverse schedule of changing exhibits and educational programs attended by thousands of visitors from throughout the United States.