Ringwood Manor is a unique repository of American history.It's story spans through centuries, having importance from Native American inhabitance through the early 20th century.
The surrounding Ramapo Mountains' rich magnetite iron deposits made the area a major iron supplier beginning in the mid-18th century. For over two hundred years, the property was the home to a succession of ironmasters.
During the Gilded Age of the 19th century, Ringwood Manor became a large summer estate for business partners Peter Cooper and Abram S. Hewitt and their families.
In 1938, the Manor, its furnishings and contents, and the surrounding property were donated by the family to the State of New Jersey to be preserved as a museum and a state park. The site has original historical structures, gardens, and landscapes covering nearly 582 acres. The extensive historical collections of the Manor are illustrative of family life, community, industry, and culture.
In 1966, Ringwood Manor was designated a National Historic Landmark District.
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.