Throughout the year, the Carroll Gallery is home to changing exhibits that bring Cape May history to life. Visit scenes from the Victorian era or explore Cape May’s African American heritage; reminisce on years past or become a kid again when the Gallery turns into a holiday wonderland.

The Carroll Gallery is located in the Carriage House, on the grounds of the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. The building is the first one on the left hand side as you come in the driveway. The Carriage House is also home to Vintage restaurant, and our Carriage House Museum Shop.

Admission to the gallery is free.

The Carroll Gallery is fully accessible.

Hours of Operation

Current Exhibit

Routes of Black Travel:
The Green Book in Cape May and Wildwood

Open selected dates: January 18-March 23, 2025

The Negro Motorist Green Book, later renamed the Negro Travelers’ Green Book, was an annual guidebook that gave African American travelers essential information about safe places to stay, dine, and obtain services while traveling in the segregated United States during the Jim Crow era. Jim Crow laws forced racial segregation and lasted close to 100 years until 1968, and were enforced harshly, often with violence. The Green Book and similar publications helped keep Black Americans safe and provided them with some measure of freedom to travel. Learn how Esso stations created safe havens for Black motorists to fill their gas tanks and how hotels such as the Banneker House, the Hotel Dale, and Richardson’s Hotel, among others in Cape May, along with guest houses in Wildwood, gave Black visitors safe spaces to relax at the seaside on holiday or for business.

Free admission.

Exhibit Closing Event

Sips & Stories:
Uncle Nearest Whiskey Tasting at the Routes of Black Travel Exhibit Final

Friday, March 21st at 4pm

Join us for a special closing event celebrating the Routes of Black Travel exhibit with a tasting of Uncle Nearest Whiskey—a brand honoring Nathan “Nearest” Green, the first known Black master distiller. Discover the history behind “the best whiskey maker the world never knew” while exploring the final weekend of this powerful exhibition.

Don’t miss your last chance to experience the exhibit before it closes on March 23rd!

Upcoming Exhibit

Tattoos:
Modern Expression & Ancient Art

A black and white photo of a Victorian man with tattoos

Open April 11-November 2, 2025

For millennia, humans have tattooed their bodies to express their individuality, chronicling loves, losses, beliefs, victories, affiliations, hopes and dreams. The oldest human mummy discovered — 5,300 years old — had 60 tattoos, and his contemporaries, from the South Pacific to the indigenous people of New Jersey, were also inked. Queen Victoria’s husband, son, and many of her grandsons and nephews, who were rulers of Europe, were tattooed. There is a long tradition of sailors using tattoos to chronicle adventures at sea. Tattooing has become increasingly popular in the last 20 years, and today, eight out of 10 Americans believe society is more accepting of people with tattoos.

Free admission.

Opening Reception

Join us for our opening reception on Friday, April 11th at 5pm. We will be hosting a wine tasting with Tattoo Girl wine!

tattoo girl wine logo

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