Skylands Manor open for tours

Ringwood — Guided tours of the ground floor of historic Skylands Manor at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden will be available on Sunday, Sept. 13. Sponsored by the New Jersey Botanical Garden/Skylands Association, the non-profit member support organization working with the State to preserve the garden and its historic buildings, the 45-minute guided tours will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are conducted by volunteer tour guides, or docents. The last tour begins at 2 p.m. 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 private buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial and National Gallery of Art, both in Washington, D.C. Among Skylands Manor’s many attractions are 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: adults $5; seniors, $3; children/students aged 6-18, $1; and children under age 6 are free. 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. every day of the year. Admission to the garden is always free. There is a $5 per car parking fee on summer Saturdays, weekends and holidays through Labor Day weekend. Parking is free on regular summer weekdays. 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.