Skylands Manor guided tours planned

SPARTA — Guided tours of the ground floor of historic Skylands Manor at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden will be available on Sunday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tours will also be available on July 10.
Sponsored by the NJBG/Skylands Association, the non-profit member support organization working with the State to preserve the gardens, the 45-minute guided tours of Skylands history and architecture are conducted by NJBG volunteer tour guides, or docents.
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.
The suggested donations for Manor House tours 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 6 p.m. in the winter, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the year. Admission to the Garden is always free. Parking is also free in the fall, winter and spring.
NJBG/Skylands is located off Morris Road in Ringwood, New Jersey. For an event schedule, membership brochure, directions or more information, call 973-962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org.