About Us

Our mission is to acquire, preserve, display, and promote archives and artifacts relevant to the development of the unique cultural heritage and to delight, and educate present and future generations about the story of Long Beach Island.

The continuing mission is to take people back to a unique place at the ocean's edge and the people who came to know and love it.  Modern day shore lovers will find their long ago counterparts here at the museum.

Long Beach Island today is strikingly different from the island of a century ago.  After decades of growth, there is astonishingly little physical evidence of the island's early history.  One can drive up and down the island and point out where everything once was.

What remains are artifacts, photographs and the memories of those people who were here and who lived through these changing times.  The LBIHA mission is to gather this information from old letters, diaries, memorabilia, interviews, artifacts and especially photographs so that we can tell the complete story of this island and the eighteen miles of remarkable social history.   Simply stated, the goal is to bring the past of LBI to life for all who visit. 

Established in 1976, the Museum was created by a group of enthusiastic volunteers with the support of local governments.  A local resident, John Coyle, spearheaded the project and was elected its first president.

The LBI Museum is a visit into Long Beach Island's past.  A collection of archival material and displays bring the past into the present.  Trained volunteer docents welcome and guide visitors through the museum.  The vision is to be an inviting, informative, educational and innovative community resource that is recognized and respected as the place for exploring and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Long Beach Island.