By the People
We’re getting off New Jersey’s iconic highway and onto lesser-known byways to explore the Garden State’s rich cultural traditions.
As part of a national effort by state humanities councils to explore our country's 250-year history, NJCH is supporting four projects that will help visitors see beyond the turnpike and into the distinctive local culture of the Garden State.
The intentionally diverse projects cover the state from Jersey City to the Jersey Shore, highlighting the history, honoring the culture bearers, and preserving the legacies of these special communities for current and future audiences.
NJ Beyond the Turnpike
Join Us
Dates for events associated with these projects will be posted here when finalized.
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation's cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
"New Jersey Beyond the Turnpike" Projects
