EP36: The Church of the Presidents Gets a $2 Million Second Chance

Heart of the Shore · Love of Humanity · October 5, 2026

The Long Branch landmark associated with seven U.S. presidents has secured close to two million dollars in state and federal grants for a major renovation, with reopening expected in 2027.

Long Branch · Elberon · Legacy Monmouth

[HOST]: Welcome back to Heart of the Shore. I'm your host, and this week we're walking up the hill in Elberon to one of the most remarkable buildings on the entire Monmouth shore — the Church of the Presidents. It's the only site in the United States connected to seven U.S. presidents, and after years of closed doors and slow fundraising, it just secured close to two million dollars in state and federal grants for a major renovation. Joining me is a composite voice of a local preservation advocate and volunteer docent — think of her as the person who has been answering phone calls about the church for the last fifteen years. Let's call her 'Margaret' — though she'd correct me on the pronunciation of Elberon.

The Only Site Tied to Seven Presidents

Why This Carpenter Gothic Church Matters

• Built in 1879 in the Elberon section of Long Branch, the Church of the Presidents is associated with Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Woodrow Wilson – longbranch.org
• The Long Branch Historical Museum Association acquired the property in 1953 and has stewarded it since – Wikipedia
• Its distinctive Carpenter Gothic design and rare stained-glass features have been removed and stored during earlier phases of repair – nj.gov

Close to $2 Million in Grant Funding

What the Money Will Do

• April 13, 2026 — The church announced a major renovation made possible by nearly two million dollars in state and federal grant funding – longbranch.org
• The work will include structural stabilization, interior and exterior restoration, and preservation of the historic architectural elements – Patch
• Reopening is expected in 2027 as a museum and educational center – TAPinto

From Summer Resort to Living Museum

Elberon's Gilded Age Story

• Long Branch became one of America's premier seaside resorts in the Gilded Age, drawing presidents, railroad executives, and wealthy summer visitors – Monmouth Journal
• The shore's grand hotels and mansions created a summer economy that still shapes the community's identity – monmouthhistory.org
• Heritage tourism at restored landmarks like the Church of the Presidents is expected to support nearby businesses – longbranch.org

What Monmouth Families Can Do Now

Stay Informed and Support the Mission

• Watch for the reopening announcement and visit the museum when it opens in 2027 – longbranch.org
• Support the Long Branch Historical Museum Association's ongoing educational programs and fundraising – Preservation NJ
• Visit other Long Branch Gilded Age sites, such as the Monmouth County Historical Association's digital resources on the era, 1870-1938 – monmouthhistory.org

Why It Matters Locally

[HOST]: For Monmouth families, this is more than a building restoration. It's a reminder that the shore's Gilded Age was not just a series of summer visits — it was a working community, with churches, farms, rail lines, and families who stayed year-round. When the Church of the Presidents reopens in 2027, it will connect that history to the next generation of kids, parents, and donors who walk into Elberon. The quiet, patient work of preservation is what keeps a place's story legible for decades.

How Love of Humanity supports this work

[HOST]: Love of Humanity (LOH) operates as a peer 501(c)(3) partner. We help historic sites and preservation institutions expand family-focused education and civic engagement — co-branding curricula that integrate local history into school programs, training volunteers in community storytelling, and amplifying restoration milestones through digital outreach. We do not provide direct grant funding to the church itself, but we work alongside the broader Monmouth preservation ecosystem so that stories like this one reach the families who live here.

Support Love of Humanity: https://lovehumanity.charity/#donate · Stripe https://buy.stripe.com/bJe00javHcLX43OgnncAo00

Board leader, foundation director, head of school, or family-office trustee reading this? We build co-branded family education with Monmouth institutions. partnerships@donatetoloveofhumanity.com

*This roundup is editorial. No fees were paid. Love of Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.*

← Back to all episodes