Bruce Springsteen was born to run, but he could never stray far from his blue-collar roots in Freehold, New Jersey.
Now the Jersey boy and the Central Jersey area he put on the map are the subjects of “Springsteen: His Hometown,” an exhibit at the Monmouth County Historical Association in Freehold, opening Sunday.
“I don’t think you could see an exhibit like this anywhere else,” guest curator and Monmouth University professor Melissa Ziobro says. “The sense of place is very present.
“There are people around the world singing about our Turnpike and our Route 9,” she adds.
The first floor is dedicated to his life and career with objects from the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University, which is the official repository for the singer’s artifacts and even objects donated by the icon himself.
There are more than 150 items on display, including newspaper clippings, photos, alternative album covers and intimate objects like a scrapbook from the Boss’ boss, his mother, Adele Springsteen.
“We tried to pick things that were meaningful or rare but demonstrated what we had in the archives at Monmouth,” says Ziobro.
The second floor delves into Springsteen’s family tree, which has been traced back to Revolutionary War patriot and direct ancestor John Springsteen.
The exhibit also pays homage to the Freehold — which is celebrating its centennial — of the 70-year-old rocker’s childhood.
Despite its local ties, the exhibit has already attracted international attention. Ziobro says hundreds of tickets have been sold, some to devotees from as far away as the United Kingdom and Norway.
“People from all over the globe are coming to see this. It’s kind of crazy. People are in love with him. For some, he is a religion.”
Should Springsteen, who announced a 2020 tour with the E Street Band, find time to take in the exhibit himself, would he have to pay the $12 senior citizen admission charge?
“Nah, we take care of our own,” quips Ziobro.
“Springsteen: His Hometown,” through November 2020. $15, $12 for students and seniors. To get there: The museum is a 55-mile drive from Manhattan. Or take the 139 bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Freehold Center. 70 Court St., Freehold, NJ; MonmouthHistory.org/Springsteen
