Historic House Museums in New Jersey

We try to keep this list of historic house museums for New Jersey current, but it is best to check directly with the museums for their hours and other information. If you know of a historic house museum in New Jersey that should be listed here, please use our submission form to let us know about it.

Barnegat Light

Somers Mansion

The three story brick building dates from around 1725. The oldest house in Atlantic County, it is furnished with 18th century antiques.

Open Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 • 1000 Shore Rd. • (609) 927-2212

Cape May

Historic Cold Spring Village

Located in one of the great Victorian destination cities in the U.S., this museum features 20 restored buildings that represent a mid 1800s southern New Jersey village.

Open daily 10-4:30 mid Jun-Labor Day; Sat-Sun 10-4:30, Memorial Day-mid Jun, Labor Day-Columbus Day • 720 US 9 • (609) 898-2300

Emlen Physick Estate

A visit to the Physick Estate today offers a look back at our Victorian past as evidenced by its architecture, decorative arts, customs, and the lives of one particular Cape May family, the Physicks.

Call for hours • 1048 Washington St. • (609) 884-5404 or (800) 275-4278

Eastampton

Historic Smithville Mansion

ocents tell of the rise and fall of H.B. Smith, inventor and entrepreneur, his extraordinary accomplishments clouded by personal controversy. In H.B. Smith's old schoolhouse Smithville History Exhibit, 20 photo/narrative panels depict major aspects of the mill village and its colorful founder. Tourists visit Smith's "casino" annex, including card room, billiard room and bowling alley, then passes the site of Smith's zoo, through the grape arbors and rose garden courtyards. See the restoration work done to the exterior of the Mansion complex and gardener's cottage.

Open Wed and Sun, 1-3, Early May - Late Oct Wed. and Sun. 1, 2, & 3 PM • Smithville Road • (609) 261-0472

Elizabeth

Boxwood Hall State Historic Site

Boudinot Mansion was built in the 1750s. George Washington was entertained in the house, but we don't know if he slept there.

Open Wed-Sat, 10-12 & 1-6 • 1073 E. Jersey St. • (908) 282-7617

Farmingdale

Allaire State Park

Within the 3000 acre park is an 1800 village that features several houses.

Park open daily 8-dusk. Buildings open Sat-Sun 10-4 May-Oct • 1.5 miles west of Garden State Pkwy exit 98 • (908) 938-2371

Haledon

Botto House National Landmark

The 1908 Botto House was the home of an Italian immigrant weaver and features period rooms and changing exhibits that illustrate the labor movement in the United States.

Open Wed-Sat 1-4 • 83 Norwood St. • (973) 595-7953

Hamilton

Kuser Farm Mansion and Park

The 17 room mansion built in 1892 for Fred Kuser sits on the restored 22 acre estate. The Kuser family was instrumental in forming the Fox Film Co. (later 20th Century Fox) and the house features a private projection and viewing room. Other rooms are furnished with original and period pieces.

Open Thu-Sun 11-3 May-Nov; Sat-sun 11-3 Feb-Apr • 2090 Greenwood Ave. • (609) 890-3630

Kingston

Rockingham State Historic Site

The restored house was Washington's headquarters Aug-Nov 1783 while the Continental Congress was in session. He probably slept here. The house is furnished in period.

Open Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 • Route 603, Laurel Ave. • (609) 921-8835

Margate City

Lucy The Margate Elephant

Undoubtedly one of the most unique Victorian homes in the country, this six story elephant was built in 1881 by real estate developer James Lafferty.

Open daily 10-8, June 15-Labor Day; Sat-Sun 10-4:30 Apr 1-Jun 14, Labor Day-Oct 31 • 9200 Atlantic Ave • (609) 823-6473

Morristown

Fosterfield Living Historical Farm

The farm, which represents the years 1880-1910, was purchased in 1852 by the grandson of Paul Revere.The Willows, a 19th century Gothic Revival house features a two story veranda, and decoratively arched pillars.

House open Thu-Sun 1-4, Apr-Oct • SR 24 to Kahdena Rd • (201) 326-7645

Frelinghuysen Arboretum

The 127 acre preserve features with formal gardens and naturalized plantings. The Colonial Revival mansion serves as the headquarters for the Morris County Park Commission and is open to the public.

Open Mon-Sat 9-4:30, Sun 12-4:30 • 53 E. Hanover Ave • (973) 326-7603

Historic Speedwell

The grounds preserve a portion of the Speedwell Iron Works, including the early 1800 home of Stephen Vail. The site was where Samuel Morse conducted his first public demonstration of the telegraph. There are also several other homes and farm buildings on the grounds.

Open Thu-Fri 12-4, Sat-Sun 1-5 May-Sep; Sat-Sun 1-5 Oct • 333 Speedwell Ave • (973)540-0211

Morristown National Historical Park

The national park consists of four non-contiguous units: Washington's Headquarters with the Ford Mansion and Headquarters Museum, the Fort Nonsense Unit, the Jockey Hollow Unit, and the New Jersey Brigade Area. The Jockey Hollow Unit includes the Wick house (headquarters of General Arthur St. Clair), five reconstructed soldier huts, and approximately 27 miles of walking trails.

• Wick House - A restored 18th century farmhouse restored to reflect the life of a relatively prosperous farmer during the Revolutionary period
• Washington's Headquarters (Ford Mansion) - Built in 1772-74 for Col. Jacob Ford Jr., the Colonial house is furnished in period. During the winter of 1779-80 it was the home of Gen. And Mrs. George Washington.

Visitor center and homes open daily 9-5 Apr-Nov; Wed-Sun 9-5 rest of the year • 5 miles s.w. of Morristown • (908) 766-8215

Newark

Newark Museum

The four building complex includes the restored 1885 Victorian mansion of John Ballantine. The mansion includes paintings and object from the museum's collections as well as original furnishings.

Open Wed-Fri 12-5, Sat-Sun 10-5 • 49 Washington St. • (973) 596-6550

Princeton

Bainbridge House

The birthplace of William Bainbridge, the commander of the USS Constitution during the War of 1812. The restored 1766 residence houses a museum with changing exhibitions.

Open Tue-Sun 12-4 • 158 Nassau St • (609) 921-6748

The Thomas Clarke House

The Georgian style home was built about 1770 by Thomas Clarke, a Quaker farmer.

Open Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 • Princeton Battlefield State Park • (609) 921-0074

Ringwood

The Forges and Manor of Ringwood

Martin J. Ryerson purchased the historic ironworks and began building the present Manor House in 1807 while still operating the iron mines and forges on the property. New York's Peter Cooper, a remarkable inventor and industrialist and his young son-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, purchased Ringwood in 1854. The properties were purchased for the rich local iron deposits but Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt set about making the old Ringwood estate their summer home. Hewitt enlarged the Manor in the 1860s and 70s. The completed house contains 51 rooms built in a wide range of styles, that characterize the Victorian Period. This impressive house is 226.5 feet long and features 24 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, 28 bedrooms and more than 250 windows. The forges, mills, village and farms that serviced the iron industry gradually turned into the Victorian summer estate of the Hewitts, one of the wealthiest and most influential families of 19th-century America.

Open Wed-Sun 10-3 • Sloatsburg Road • (973) 962-2240

River Edge

Historic New Bridge Landing

New Bridge was a prosperous mill hamlet, centered upon a bridge strategically placed at the narrows of the Hackensack River. The Steuben House, Campbell-Christie House and Demarest House are landmarks of Bergen Dutch sandstone architecture, popularly called "Dutch Colonial" and frequently seen and admired throughout northern NJ. The Bergen County Historical Society's collections are featured in the house museums.

Open Wed-Sun, 10-12 & 1-5; Sun 2-5 • 1209 Main St • (201) 487-1739

Somerville

Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Site

Built in 1751 and occupied by Rev. Jacob Hardenbergh, founder of Queens College. The house contains exhibits on local history.

Open Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 • 71 Somerset Street • (908) 725-1015

Wallace House State Historic Site

The house was used as headquarters by Gen. George Washington during the winter of 1778-79 while his Continental Army stayed at Camp Middlebrook. Presumably, he slept here as well. The house contains period furnishings.

Open Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 • 38 Washington Pl • (908) 725-1015

Trenton

Trent House

Built in 1719 by William Trent, it is said to be Trenton's oldest house. Makes sense. It is furnished in period.

Open daily 12:30-4 • 15 Market St • (609) 989-3027

Nelson House

The small museum has historical exhibits and Colonial crafts.

Call for hours • Washington Crossing State Park • (609) 737-1783

Johnson Ferry House

The restored Dutch farmhouse contains period furnishings.

Open Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 • south end of Continental Lane • (609) 737-2515

Wayne

Dey Mansion

The brick and brownstone Georgian house was built in the 1740s by Dirck Dey. Washington used it for his headquarters in July, Oct, and Nov of 1780. The house displays antiques from the 18th century.

Open Wed-Sun 8:30-4:30 • 199 Totowa Rd • (973) 696-1776

West Orange

Edison National Historic Site

The site preserves the laboratory of the inventor and his home Glenmont. The 23 room Queen Anne mansion sits on a 15.5 acre estate and contains its original furnishings.

Glenmont tours depart on the hour Wed-Sun 11-4 • Main St & Lakeside Ave • (201) 736-5050