George and Louisa Macculloch once owned 26 acres of land surrounding their house, much of it used as farmland and orchards. Commodore Matthew Perry brought the wisteria planted along the rear porch arbor as a gift to Senator and Mrs. Miller circa 1857. Perry opened China and Japan to American trading in the mid-1850s.
Among the sixty-five varieties of roses, many considered “heirloom” or pre-1920s, are two bushes that have defied identification and are named “Old Macculloch Hall Roses.” It is possible that these roses survived from the earliest period of the garden’s history. Although not dated, the sundial on the upper lawn has been a part of the Macculloch Hall landscape since 1876. The very old sassafras tree at the far end of the lawn is the second largest example in New Jersey (NJDEP).
Today, the remaining three acres are a colorful and elegant garden. Returned to their former splendor by the Garden Club of Morristown in the 1950s, the plantings still enjoy the careful attention of Garden Club members on annual cleanup days. Planted for seasonal bloom, daffodils and bulbs welcome spring, followed by the magnificent wisteria, and in June, the roses perfume the air.
The gardens are open to the public at no charge from dawn to dusk.
Please contact the museum office at 973-538-2404 x15 regarding use of the garden for groups, tours, or special event photography.
