Featured Stories:
Canal House Challenge September 13th
SUNDAY from 10 AM to 4 PM, tour up to FIVE houses on the D&R Canal. See our event page for more details
https://www.khsnj.org/event/canal-house-challenge-2026
Click for a Map of Canal House LocationS:
Photos from RevCon250 in South Brunswick:
KHS Teaches about Kingston in the American Revolution at REVCON250 in South Brunswick FULL STORY
East and West Jersey created on July 1, 1676 — 350 years ago.
Kingston was initially in West Jersey colony, but was traded to East Jersey.
January 4th, 2026 CONFERENCE ON HORSEBACK
Celebration of Kingston Events in the American Revolution continued on Sunday, January 4, 2026 with Generals and Horses and a good crowd (Article and Photos.)
Franklin Township (Somerset County) is coordinating the 250th anniversary of the conference on January 4, 2027
The Kingston Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal welcomes guests for self-guided exploration on weekends and major holidays.
Display rooms are open Saturdays and Sundays 10AM to 5PM
Interested in helping? Learn how to JOIN us, or VOLUNTEER.
Click to Enlarge
Kingston Locktender’s House opens weekends from April 1st to November 30th.
Latest Historical Society News (Blog Posts)
Our Blog is called the Telegraph, in honor of the Kingston Telegraph Office, on the first telegraph line through New Jersey.
- KHS DISPLAY AT REVCON250South Brunswick Library described REVCON 250 as follows: “Dive into South Brunswick’s Revolutionary past at … Continue reading “KHS DISPLAY AT REVCON250”
- August 1st open houseThe historical society held a short open house following Franklin Township’s hike from Kingston to … Continue reading “August 1st open house”
- Following George Washington’s Footsteps (Rockingham)The August 1st hike was organized by the Franklin Trails Advisory Committee (Franklin, Somerset County, … Continue reading “Following George Washington’s Footsteps (Rockingham)”
- July 1, 2026 is the 350th anniversary date of division into East and West JerseyJuly 1st, 1676 (Old Style) was the date when the English land between the Hudson … Continue reading “July 1, 2026 is the 350th anniversary date of division into East and West Jersey”
- Markus McParland wins Young Historian Award, ScholarshipThe Kingston Historical Society congratulates Markus McParland, author of Community Collection for Kingston NJ, a … Continue reading “Markus McParland wins Young Historian Award, Scholarship”
- May 2nd Open House Welcomes Visitors.The weather was cool and windy, but the Kingston Historical Society archivist crew was able … Continue reading “May 2nd Open House Welcomes Visitors.”
- Brightening Up The PlaceThis winter the archivist team of the Kingston Historical Society prepared the Kingston Locktender’s House … Continue reading “Brightening Up The Place”
- Kingston’s 1999 Parade Video–now online!https://archive.org/details/kingston-1999-parade Lots of Kingston fire departments, bands and dignitaries!!George is preparing a tea time talk … Continue reading “Kingston’s 1999 Parade Video–now online!”
- Conference on Horseback 2026 photosThe third event of Sunday, January 4th was a reenactment of Washington’s Conference on Horseback, … Continue reading “Conference on Horseback 2026 photos”
(Older blog posts are available HERE)
The Kingston Historical Society (New Jersey) website KHSNJ.ORG features:
– A list of Upcoming Events LINK,
Listed are KHS, Kingston, New Jersey, local and Canal events of interest.
– the “Telegraph” Blog with records and photos from Past Events LINK,
– Videos from previous presentations LINK
– Information about the Historical Society LINK
_ Archives of previous publications LINK
Want to volunteer to join in the work of the Society?
(CLICK THIS LINK to learn more)
About the Society
The Kingston Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1997 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance and promote the history of the village of Kingston, New Jersey.
Consider Volunteering! Learn More HERE or become a member (see below.)
KHS Ongoing Activities:
Locktender’s House Open Weekends, 10 AM to 4 PM.
The Locktender’s House has two first-floor display rooms, open on Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays from 10 am to about 5 pm (4 pm in November.) It closes for the winter on December 1st.
Note that the building had no air conditioning and minimal air circulation. Please maintain social distancing. Also, there is no bathroom available in the Locktender’s House. In summer, the nearest bathroom is a portajohn in the parking lot across the entrance road, maintained by the State Park.
To find the Locktender’s House on your mapping software, try this address: 39 Old Lincoln Highway, Princeton, NJ 08540, or GPS: 40°22’25.9″N 74°37’06.7″W Or look for it at the D&R Canal at the foot of the Kingston hill.
”History is who we are and why we are the way we are..” –David McCullough
We wouldn’t survive without the generous donations and contributions from our donors and patrons. The Kingston Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1997 as a 501(c)3 non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance and promote the history of the village of Kingston. The KHS has its headquarters in the Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Jersey where it maintains the original circa 1830 home of families who operated the Kingston locks on the canal.
Our exhibits, the maintenance of the Locktender’s house, and our programs are produced and managed by volunteers in collaboration with numerous local historians and craftsmen.
Donate or Become a Member!
Members help us survive.