Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences

LyceumFacadeFrontalView-AJ--5-1-25

Photo by Anthony Jacobsen

A lyceum is a place where ideas come to life through talks and discussions, entertainment, and teaching and learning. Since its founding in Mount Holly in 1860, the Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences has been a hub for ideas and a haven for culture, technology, and natural history. It provides opportunities for people of all ages to learn, grow, and enrich their lives, ultimately making a positive impact on their communities.

Currently, the Lyceum is being transformed into a living museum, with permanent exhibits set to open in early 2026. As it develops, the Lyceum will become a state-of-the-art destination where we can explore the history of Burlington County and Mount Holly, the county seat.

In the coming months, the historic Langstaff Mansion—a Greek Revival home built in 1830 by a young couple named Harriet and James Langstaff—will be transformed into immersive exhibition spaces. These galleries will bring to life the stories of the people who have called Burlington County home, the environment that has shaped their lives, and the individuals, businesses, and local governments that have worked to preserve and develop the land throughout history.

Our first completed exhibition space is a front parlor filled with early-to-mid 19th-century furniture, paintings, pottery, silverware, and lighting that reflect the influence of ancient Greece and Rome. The space features historically accurate carpeting, draperies, and a hand-painted frieze that draws inspiration from and complements the Langstaff Mansion’s Greek Revival architecture. In the parlor, visitors can learn more about the Langstaff family and gain insight into how families like theirs lived.

If you have an object, photograph, or story that you would like to donate or loan to the Burlington County Lyceum please email us at parks@co.burlington.nj.us 

Operating hours are Thursday-Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM and Sunday, Noon - 4 PM.

Rental Opportunities

The Lyceum's community room and patio are available for private use. View the fee schedule for more information.

Download a copy of  What You See Here - An Illustrated Guide to the Furniture, Art, Decorative Objects, and Finishings of a Greek Revival Parlor (PDF)

On View: A Greek Revival Parlor

  1. 1 Silk Upholstery Fabric Detail
  2. 2 Parlor Install Right Wall FullView
  3. 3 Parlor Install Right Wall Detail
  4. 4 Parlor Install Left Wall Full View
  5. 5 Parlor Install Front Left Corner
  6. 6 Parlor Install Fireplace Wall
  7. 7 Parlor Install Center Wall Full View
  8. 8 Parlor Install Center Table Setting
  9. 9 Parlor Install Center Of Room
  10. 10 Parlor Install Center Of Room
  11. 11 Drapery Full View

On View: A Greek Revival Entry Hall

  1. 1 5--LangstaffHarrietPortraitObjectPhoto--AJacobsen8-28-25--B6ECb7GQ
  2. 2 6--HallObliqueViewChairDeskMirror--Matt-Edit--AJacobsen8-28-25--w1jsKXbw
  3. 3 7--TallCaseClockFrontView--MattEdit---AJacobsen8-28-25-i28d41Bg
  4. 4 8--GameTableSamplerVitrineInstalled-MattEdit--AJacobsen8-28-25
  5. 5 9--StairMirrorSamplerAndStairReflected--MattEdit--AJacobsen8-28-25--G_DL2P5g
  6. 6 HallViewFromFront--MattEdit--AJacobsen8-28-25-AzwSY9eQ
  7. 7 1--HallViewFromFront--MattEdit--AJacobsen8-28-25-AzwSY9eQ
  8. 8 2--HallViewFromBackFrontDoorOpen--MattEdit--AJacobsen8-28-25--jADuYQ0A
  9. 9 3--HallObliqueViewSofaPortraitClock--MattEdit--AJacbsen8-28-25--YGowL90g
  10. 10 4--HarrietPortraitWithSofa--MattEdit--AJacobsen8-28-25--msQU3rxA

Current and Coming Collection Highlights

  1. 1 J. Boss Watch with Case by Keystone Watchcase Company (open), Riverside, NJ, c. 1907. Gift of Frederick F. Galdo, 2023.OBJ.0009.
  2. 2 Victory Watch with Case by Keystone Watchcase Company, Riverside, NJ, 1939. Gift of Frederick F. Galdo, 2023.OBJ.0008.
  3. 3 J. Boss Watch with Case by Keystone Watchcase Company (closed), Riverside, NJ, c. 1907. Gift of Frederick F. Galdo, 2023.OBJ.0009.
  4. 4 Left: Wax Portrait of General Samuel Read (1771–1836). 2023.OBJ.0088. Right: Wax Portrait of Judge Joseph Read (1739–1814). 2023.OBJ.0089.
  5. 5 Wall Hanging with Cranes, Chinese, c. 1820. From the collection of Nathan Dunn (1782-1844). 2023.OBJ.0096.
  6. 6 Cranberry Scoop, c. 1800s, 2023.OBJ.0043; New Jersey Cranberries Box Top, c. 1940, 2023.OBJ.0044. Both on permanent loan from the Whitesbog Preservation Trust.
  7. 7 Cranberry Scoop, c. 1800s. On permanent loan from the Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 2023.OBJ.0043
  8. 8 New Jersey Cranberries Box Top, c. 1940. On permanent loan from the Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 2023.OBJ.0044.
  9. 9 Boost! Bottles, c. 2013. Gift of Boost! Company, Riverside, NJ, 2023.OBJ.0068–0069.
  10. 10 Flexible Flyer Sled, c. 1930–1950. S. L. Allen & Company/Planet Jr., Moorestown, NJ/Philadelphia, PA. 2023.OBJ.0103.
  11. 11 Lenni-Lenape Pottery Shard, Atlatl, Mortar, and Pestle, c. 1800s. 2023.OBJ.0125 (Shard); 2023.OBJ.0124 (Atlatl); 2023.OBJ.0135 (Mortar); 2023.OBJ.0136 (Pestle)
  12. 12 Lenni-Lenape Projectile Points, c. 1800s. 2023.OBJ.0137.
  13. 13 Basket, c. 1890, by Indian Ann Ashatama (1804–1894). 2023.OBJ.0022.
  14. 14 Revolutionary War Cannon Balls, c. 1776–1778. Found in Mount Holly, NJ. 2023.OBJ.0001–0003
  15. 15 Medical Supply Kit and Canteen Belonging to Robert Yancey, Sr. (1925–2011). Gift of Robert Yancey, Jr., 2023.OBJ.0014–0015.
  16. 16 Shoe, Creamer, Coffee Pot, and Wheel Part, c. 1800s. Found in Timbuctoo, NJ, a settlement founded in 1826 by African Americans who had escaped enslavement. On permanent loan from Westampton Township,
  17. 17 Mastodon Femur, c. 8000 BCE. Found in Burlington County, NJ. On permanent loan from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 2020.OBJ.0001.