Welcome

Celebration of Kingston Events in the American Revolution continue on Sunday, January 4, 2026 LINK or Calendar

NEXT EVENT: Kingston welcomes George Washington and his generals at the Presbyterian Cemetery on Sunday, January 4th.
See THIS POST for details!

Map from December 1776 showing Kingstown and army movements from American Revolutionary War

Locktender’s House is now Dressed for Winter. (HERE)

KHS annual meeting (Nov. 11, 2025) videos can be found (HERE)

Laptop Donation Program

The Kingston Historical Society wants older laptop computers for use in display kiosks, data entry, and presentations. If you have a PC Laptop that can’t be upgraded fill out a form at: https://www.khsnj.org/2025/10/03/laptops/

Upcoming Events
Blog Posts

Thank you to William Krakower for being the speaker at our November 11th annual meeting. Videos will be posted soon!

Kingston’s Commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution begins. Follow it at KHSNJ.ORG/250th

The Kingston Historical Society (New Jersey) website KHSNJ.ORG features:

– a list of Upcoming Events LINK,
Listed are KHS, Kingston, and local Canal events.
– a blog with records and photos from Past Events LINK,
– videos from previous presentations LINK
– and information about the Historical Society LINK
_ Archives of previous publications LINK

Interested in helping? Learn how to JOIN us, or VOLUNTEER.

Kingston Locktender’s House and Toll House/Telegraph Office, Holiday Tree Lighting (G. McParland photo)
Map of Kingston and Canal Area with Lock-Tender’s House (arrow)
Calendar of COMING EVENTS

Latest Historical Society News (Blog Posts)

Our Blog is called the Telegraph, in honor of the Kingston Telegraph Office, from the first telegraph line through New Jersey.

(Older posts are available HERE)

Our website includes a list of upcoming EVENTS (both for the Historical Society and the community), background information about our HISTORICAL SOCIETY and about KINGSTON NEW JERSEY, including newsletter archives, and recent news in our “TELEGRAPH BLOG“, covering the Historical Society and the Community of Kingston, New Jersey.

Kingston Locktender’s House open weekends from April 1st to November 30th.

Want to volunteer to join in the work of the Society?
(CLICK THIS LINK to learn more)

Main Street Kingston descends to the D&R Canal, early 20th century
Swing Bridge on Kingston Main Street (1901)

Table of Contents

From the Telegraph – Recent Blog Topics:

... Looking for an older “Telegraph” Blog Post? Click HERE for a full list.

About the Society

The Kingston Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1997 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance and promote the history of the village of Kingston, New Jersey.

Consider Volunteering! Learn More HERE or become a member (see below.)

KHS Ongoing Activities:

Locktender’s House Open Weekends, 10 AM to 4 PM.

The Locktender’s House has two first-floor display rooms, open on Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays from 10 am to about 5 pm (4 pm in November.) It closes for the winter on December 1st.

Note that the building had no air conditioning and minimal air circulation. Please maintain social distancing. Also, there is no bathroom available in the Locktender’s House. In summer, the nearest bathroom is a portajohn in the parking lot across the entrance road, maintained by the State Park.

To find the Locktender’s House on your mapping software, try this address: 39 Old Lincoln Highway, Princeton, NJ 08540, or GPS: 40°22’25.9″N 74°37’06.7″W Or look for it at the D&R Canal at the foot of the Kingston hill.

View Videos of Earlier Programs

Follow THIS LINK to see a list of recordings from past events.

Click here for more of our past events

Members help us survive.

Join or Donate to the Kingston Historical Society
canal barge print

”History is who we are and why we are the way we are..” –David McCullough

We wouldn’t survive without the generous donations and contributions from our donors and patrons. The Kingston Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1997 as a 501(c)3 non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance and promote the history of the village of Kingston. The KHS has its headquarters in the Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Jersey where it maintains the original circa 1830 home of families who operated the Kingston locks on the canal.

Our exhibits, the maintenance of the Locktender’s house, and our programs are produced and managed by volunteers in collaboration with numerous local historians and craftsmen.

Volunteer!