Ringwood State Park

About

Ringwood Manor is the summer mansion of 19th century ironmasters, the Cooper-Hewitt family. The house, a designated National Historic Landmark, contains all original furnishings and is open for guided tours Wednesdays through Sundays.

Story

Ringwood Manor is a National Historic Landmark district, having historical importance spanning from Native Americans occupation through the early 20th century. The surrounding Ramapo Mountains' rich magnetite iron deposits allowed the area to become a major iron supplier and home to a succession of ironmasters from the colonial period through the early 20th century. During the Gilded Age, Ringwood Manor became a large summer estate for partners Peter Cooper and Abram S. Hewitt and their families. In 1938, the house, its contents, and the surrounding property were donated by the family to the State of New Jersey as a museum and a state park. With original historical structures, gardens, and landscapes on 582 acres and extensive historical collections illustrative of family life, community, industry and culture, Ringwood Manor is a unique repository of American history. Today, Ringwood Manor is a central part of Ringwood State Park and administered by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry. The North Jersey Highlands Historical Society is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit and an Officially Recognized Friends Organization for Ringwood Manor.