Our chapter members devote countless hours maintaining, restoring, and preserving the museum and outbuildings including the privy, the carriage house, and the milk house. The library has over 700 volumes and is used for local historical and genealogical research.
The main house was originally constructed in 1787 for the Reverend Elias Van Bunschooten, who served the Dutch Reformed Church for 40 years. The Van Bunschooten Museum has remained true to its origins, despite four or five changes of ownership, and numerous tenants. Electricity, plumbing, and heat have been the only modern additions. Our museum located at 1097 Route 23 North, Wantage, New Jersey will be open for tours on the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 1-4 p.m. from May to October.
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In 1971, the Van Bunschooten house, outbuildings, and six and a half acres were donated to the Chinkchewunska Chapter, NSDAR, by Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Ramsey. Soon after the acquisition, our chapter began to restore, refurbish, and redecorate the DAR Van Bunschooten Museum. We made it our chapter headquarters. The ten rooms are furnished with period antiques, many of which were donated by the original family, and used in the home. Items in the collection span a range from 1787 to 1860, and include: clothing, quilts and woven coverlets, furniture, oil paintings, cookware and china, wagons, and farm implements.
The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and Places. All the rooms are filled with period antiques many belonging to the original family, and all rooms are open for view. The home is situated on six and a half acres of land and includes several outbuildings including a wagon house containing antique farm equipment and carriages, a Greek Revival privy, and an ice house with a milk room. For more information, email our webmaster.
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Guests and prospective members are warmly welcomed at our meetings. If you are interested in attending, please contact us.