Historic manor open for botanical garden tours

| 29 Mar 2018 | 03:12

The Skylands Manor at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden will be open for guided tours through the first floor beginning Sunday, April 8 and May 13.
Tours will begin at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 45-minute guided tours of Skylands Manor’s history and architecture are conducted by NJBG volunteer docents.
Suggested donations are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students aged 13-18, $3 for children aged 6-12, and free for children under age 6.
The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands, which appears on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the Garden is free.
NJBG/Skylands is located off Morris Road in Ringwood, N.J. For information, call 973-962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org.
Skylands Manor, a Tudor Revival mansion, was constructed in the early 20th century for Clarence McKenzie Lewis by renowned architect John Russell Pope.
Pope also designed many outstanding public buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial and National Gallery of Art, both in Washington, D.C. The firm of Elliott C. Brown was responsible for constructing his design.
Among Skylands Manor's many attractions is a remarkable collection of antique stained glass medallions set in leaded windows, including pieces from 16th century German, Bavarian and Swiss sites.
The lanterns, electrical fixtures, lamps, spiral staircase rail and gate were fashioned by Samuel Yellin, who led the American revival of the use of iron as decorative art.
Since 1976, NJBG, an incorporated, member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has worked with the State to preserve and protect NJBG/Skylands and its historic structures.