Discover Sussex: History, Museum and Theatre

Sussex invites visitors to enjoy a stay shaped by local history, museum collections, performing arts, and park and recreation areas. Its themes range from memories of former Deckertown to collections about Sussex Borough and Wantage Township.

Historical Perspectives

The marker installed in 2008 at Deckertown Commons Park on Main Street, next to the former Sussex Theatre, commemorates the history of former Deckertown. For travellers who want to explore local history through specific places, this is a clearly defined point of interest. In the Borough of Sussex, the Sussex Presbyterian Church offers a different historical connection: it is considered the oldest church in Sussex Borough and was founded in 1839 with 28 members. The year marks a precise starting point; the number of founding members gives a sense of the size of the first congregation. Together, these two facts illustrate different historical perspectives: the memory of former Deckertown and the founding of a church congregation.

Museum and Collections

The Sussex-Wantage Historical Society Museum is located in the historic Hornbeck Block, within the Norwescap Sussex Borough Community & Cultural Center. On display are photographs, artifacts, and documents relating to the past of Sussex Borough and Wantage Township. The collection thus covers two named communities and several types of records: images, objects, and written materials.

Visitors who enjoy exploring history through different forms of evidence will find more than just one type of collection here. Photographs, artifacts, and documents each offer a distinct perspective; together, they provide insights into the past of both communities. The museum is open on Sundays from 12 to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Take this weather condition into account when planning, and check the visitor information in advance if you intend to make the museum visit a firm part of your trip.

Theatre and Performing Arts

The Crescent Theatre in Sussex Borough serves as the home venue for Tri-State Actors Theatre, Inc., presenting professional theatre and similar performing arts programs. The stage adds a focus on performing arts to the historical themes and museum collections. If you want to plan your stay around a particular performance, check the current schedule in advance. That way, you can match your travel dates with specific events.

Clove Lake and Trip Planning

Clove Lake is one of the public park and recreation areas in the Borough of Sussex. This adds another kind of leisure activity to the historical and cultural offerings. For families or groups with different interests, it may be helpful to decide together whether local history, museum collections, performing arts, or time in a park and recreation area should be the main focus of the stay.

When looking for a holiday rental in Sussex, the kind of stay you want can be a good starting point. Would you prefer to explore local history, discover a collection, include performing arts in your plans, or spend time in a park and recreation area? Once you have set this priority, you can match opening hours and specific theatre dates with your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Vernon, Hopatcong, Sparta, Stanhope

For the broader travel overview: Sussex County.