Ringwood Manor

Available Activities

Fishing

New Jersey’s Iron Mining Estate — 51-Room Victorian Mansion, Cooper-Hewitt Family Legacy, Colonial Iron Industry Heritage, Art and Antiques Collection, Ringwood State Park, Guided Tours, Passaic County New Jersey

Ringwood Manor is a state historic site within Ringwood State Park, Passaic County, New Jersey, featuring a magnificent 51-room Victorian mansion built and expanded over a century of iron mining wealth. The manor represents the legacy of two powerful industrial families — the Ryersons (from 1807) and the Cooper-Hewitts (from 1853) — who transformed a colonial-era ironworks into one of the most opulent country estates in the Northeast. The site features guided tours of the 51-room mansion, extensive art, furniture, and decorative arts collections, formal gardens with architectural artifacts, iron mining history exhibits, connections to the American Revolution and Industrial Revolution, and grounds within Ringwood State Park.

Iron Mining Heritage

The Ringwood area was a center of iron mining and production since colonial times, supplying iron for the American Revolution. In 1807, Martin J. Ryerson purchased the ironworks and built the first section of the present manor house in a Federal style. The Ryersons operated the mines for 50 years before selling to Peter Cooper and his son-in-law Abram S. Hewitt in 1853.

The Cooper-Hewitt Era

Under the Cooper-Hewitt family, the manor was dramatically expanded from a modest Federal house to a sprawling 51-room Victorian estate through additions in the 1860s, 1870s, 1900, and 1910. The interior reflects an eclectic mix of Victorian styles and the family’s extensive world travels, with rooms filled with art, antiques, and decorative objects collected across Europe and America. The surrounding grounds feature formal gardens incorporating architectural artifacts gathered from the family’s journeys. In 1938, the Hewitt family donated the manor and its contents to the State of New Jersey.

Visitor Information

Ringwood Manor offers guided tours of the mansion, providing insight into the lives of the wealthy industrial families and the history of New Jersey’s iron industry. Tours are available seasonally — contact 973-962-2240 or visit ringwoodmanor.org for current schedules. The manor is located within Ringwood State Park, which offers additional hiking, fishing, and picnicking opportunities.

📍 Location: Ringwood State Park, Passaic County, NJ — 51-room mansion. Tours: 973-962-2240

Frequently Asked Questions

How many rooms does Ringwood Manor have?

The manor has 51 rooms, expanded over several decades by the Cooper-Hewitt family.

Who were the Cooper-Hewitts?

Peter Cooper (founder of Cooper Union) and his son-in-law Abram S. Hewitt (later Mayor of New York City) were prominent industrialists who owned the Ringwood iron mines and estate.

Wildlife & Nature

Ringwood Manor — a 51-room Victorian mansion (1807-1930s) in the Ramapo Mountains — was home to ironmasters who supplied the Continental Army. Robert Erskine, Washington’s Surveyor General, is buried on the grounds. The park’s Highlands forest, gardens, and ponds support black bears, barred owls, and red-tailed hawks.