Founded in 1845 and located in Newark since 1848, the New Jersey Historical Society (NJHS) is the oldest cultural institution in the state. Since its inception NJHS has collected, preserved, and interpreted the history of the state of New Jersey.Today, NJHS is a statewide, private, nonprofit historical museum, library, and archives dedicated to exhibitions, publications and programming that examine what it means to live and work in New Jersey, what contributes to New Jersey's distinct identity, and what are the unique contributions New Jerseyans make to the region and the country.