When you call the number on the website there are no returned calls. Same result when you email…read morethem. Nobody monitors the place. Let me save you the trouble and tell you what isn't on the website or voicemail- they're closed. It looks like it's being refurbished but who knows? There were no signs at the place either to tell you what was going on. The website still lists them open on the weekend. You can still see the outside of the house but that's it. This is bad communication for a supposed official site.

It's a very cool place and one of the guys (Bob) who helps manage it was wonderful and helpful…read more The issue is that it was not open and did not say so on the website. And no one manned the phones. So I took a gamble and went even though I assumed it would be closed. I was fine with going to the outside but most people won't be. They are opening again in September but I wish this was publicized literally anywhere.

Mahwah, NJ - this is a sweet little local history museum that's home to the Donald Cooper Model…read moreRailroad as well as the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit which includes a display of his guitars. You can also visit the Old Train Station and Erie Caboose, all part of the permanent exhibits. Guitar lovers and Les Paul fans can even book a session to play on one of the guitars owned and played by the legendary Les himself! We came especially to see the model railroad with our kiddo which is only open on Saturdays from 1-4pm, but checked out the other galleries too. The museum holds some changing exhibits as well as talks and events from time to time. Admission is a modest $5 and free for children under 18 and students under 20. Worth a visit if you're a local or just passing through.

Visited the Mahwah Museum today for the Les Paul presentation by Professor Sean McClowry who gave…read morea very informative session on the technical achievements of Les Paul - inventor of many innovations in the field of recorded music. From multi track recording, use of echo, solid body guitar development. On and on. Looking forward to the next presentation on Saturday, May 21st, where Sean will explain and show the process of cutting a disc using some of Les Paul's original equipment. Also, exhibits on Palisades Amusement Park, Mahwah History and downstairs. A huge train exhibit. Well work visiting this gem. All the volunteers were warm and friendly.

My first time going to the Cloisters. I went with family last week- they went at their pace then…read moresat in the courtyards which had some seating, while I went around at my pace. Good thing I didn't take my boys when they were younger, wouldn't have been for them. A smaller museum compared to the Met but there were still many items to look at. What caught my attention were the details - in the paintings, written books, carved pieces/sculptures (esp the really small ones), tapestries, etc. There were groups having an activity in some areas which blocked us from seeing some of the works of art up close though, like the Unicorn tapestry. I think visits in the spring and summer are better so can enjoy the outdoors. The open courtyards/gardens were lush with greenery and it's nice to spend time out there. The museum has 2 floors. Be ready for going up/down via stairs. It is wheelchair-accessible though I read it is limited. There are a few wheelchairs - free to use, first come-first served. Best to contact them re: the accessible entrance, a shuttle, etc. I learned from another visitor that a staff member has to accompany when taking the elevator. Restrooms are in the lower level, with a wheelchair-accessible one. Took the A train - Dyckman St. station. Entered Fort Tryon Park, then walked uphill a bit then took the stairs (towards the left from the path, steep in some areas). If you have difficulty with stairs, continue on the path or ask about the shuttle.

4/24/26: The Met Cloisters is a must see when in NYC!…read more It's been ages since my last visit. The Cloisters overlooks the Hudson River. It officially opened in 1938. The museum is dedicated to medieval art and architecture. The Cloisters itself is a stunning building. Our first Tour Guide took us around the wonderful medieval statues and gardens. She explained thoroughly about all the herbs and plants that are culinary and for their medicinal purposes. Our second tour guide Valerie was excellent for the "Highlights of the Met Cloisters. A major museum highlight is the Unicorn Tapestry Room (Permanent Display). These 7 tapestries were created approximately 500 years ago. (The Narrative: The Unicorn series tells a story ranging from the hunt's start and the unicorn at a fountain to its defense, capture, and, finally, the famous "Unicorn in Captivity" image). The museum does have a café (The Trie Cafe) on the premises. It's very good for a quick bite along with garden view seating. Museum times as follows: Sunday through Tuesday 10 AM - 5 PM Wednesday- Closed Thursday-Saturday 10 AM- 5 AM. It's best to arrive at the Cloisters upon opening. During the first tour, it wasn't too crowded, but the second tour was extremely crowded. The Met Cloisters is located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive Fort Tryon Park, New York City, NY 10040. Highly recommend visiting the stunning Met Cloisters.

Came here a few times as they host a cheese festival where vendors and cheese makers from around NJ…read morecome to serve up cheesy bites and meals for sampling. Along with that breweries from around the area come by too, including Hoboken, Montclair and Ironbound. The back area where the festival takes place is a decent size holding a sizeable amount of people. This year they opened up some of the rooms to the historical society where I learned a bit more about it. The Montclair Historical Society is a museum of sorts that holds a lot of history of the early days of Montclair and many of the surrounding towns and cities in the county. Much of this includes old county maps and roads from circa 1800's, early contributors, the start of the YMCA and more. There are tours held here and even opportunities to have wedding receptions here. Aside from events like the festival, this is a cool little history held domain.

I recently had an appointment in this building and thought it was a very interesting place. When I…read morefirst saw it, I thought it was just someone's house. I drove into the driveway and into the back, which is a parking lot with many spaces. It is nice that there are so many places to park because I know they give tours and have many events here. I entered through the back of the house and that is when I really felt like I was inside someone's house! I went up the large staircase to the second floor where my appointment was and the upstairs consists of a few rooms where people rent space. The woman I had my appointment with said there are historical maps in the closet of the room where she rents from the 1700's! I thought that was very interesting. I'm going to have to come to one of the tours or events here so I can learn more.

Great Restoration Hard Working Volunteers Keep Improving The Grounds County Got This One Right…read more Built in the early seventeen hundreds this piece of history had gone uncared for many years until the Garretson Forge & Farm Restoration folks tirelessly restored the property. They hold events throughout the year that range from recreating a Dutch farm garden to Dutch Christmas complete with a visit from Sinterklaas. Fish weirs, mostly built by Native Americans of the Lenape Nation can still be seen in the Passaic River near the farm. They provided the early settlers with a reliable and valuable source of protein consisting of shad, alewives, striped bass and eels. A weir can be clearly seen approximately 200 feet North of the Fair Lawn Avenue Bridge, the only reason they still exists is due to the fact that this part of the river was not navigable for commercial purposes and restoration efforts. Allen Lutins & Anthony P. DeCondo reaserched and wrote a great article for the Archaeological Society of New Jersey you can read it here http://www.lutins.org/weir/ HISTORY "One of the oldest sites in Bergen County, this pre-revolutionary sandstone house is officially listed on the New Jersey State and the United States National Register of Historic Places. This living Dutch farm museum, located at 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, sponsors activities involving restoration, preservation, historic digs, compilation of local history and folklore, educational programming, colonial agriculture, horticulture and crafts. Garretson Farm is owned by Bergen County and is administered by volunteers of the Garretson Forge and Farm Restoration, Inc. The history of the Garretson family in America began with the emigration of Gerrit Gerritse, his wife Annetje Hermansse and their son Gerrit from Wageningen, Gelderland, in 1660. The junior Gerrit, purchased the Slooterdam Patent from David Daniellse in 1719. This tract of land extended from the Passaic to the Saddle Rivers. The house was built shortly afterwards by Gerrit's son, Peter. Six generations of the Garretson family resided on the farm. The Garretson homestead is on what was once an extensive farm, but through the years the land was sold off. The present site consists of 1.84 acres along River Road. Archeologists believe that the property was once the site of an Indian encampment due to the numerous artifacts found along the Passaic River. The kitchen wing, the older section of the house, is built of rubble and undressed stone. On a late 19th century photograph of the house, remnants of a brick beehive oven can be seen on the outer wall and thus has been restored. The main section of the house, added in 1760, was built using dressed stone. The sandstone blocks are held together with a mortar made of river mud, mixed with straw and hog's hair. It was under this section that the fragments of clay pipes (c. 1720) and other artifacts were uncovered. Extensive changes were made in the house in 1902. The present gambrel roof replaced a steep gable roof; a second front door was replaced with a window. An inner stairway to the basement replaced cellar hatches and a stairway to the second floor was built. The large pillared porch was also added. A mid-nineteenth century carriage house still stands on the property along with several other out - buildings." Preserve History!

Really enjoyed visiting the Garretson Forge and Farm for their butterfly festival. Volunteers do a…read morevery nice job with the garden and the event was a lot of fun for kids. Interesting place to visit.

Did you know that George Washington spent more time in New Jersey during the American Revolutionary…read moreWar than anywhere else? Morris County is often called the Crossroads of the Revolution, with more Revolutionary War battles and encampments. Morristown was the market center at the time for area farmers and iron miners. It was surrounded by dense forests that supported one of the era's key resources--lumber. Washington's Headquarters Museum, located in Morristown National Historical Park, is an excellent museum for those interested in American history, where my partner, his family, and I came for a visit today to end this historic weekend celebrating 250 years of America. This multi-floored museum is free to enter, self-guided, and has detailed exhibits on Washington and his troops' experiences while staying in the area. General Washington and his wife, Martha, set up headquarters at the nearby three-story Ford Mansion, a Georgian-style mansion built in 1774 in Morristown. It was owned by Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., and his wife, Theodosia, where free tickets were distributed for the tour at the museum. Our guide Jason was wonderful, knowledgeable, and welcoming to questions. We are officially in the thick of the nation's 250th birthday (the Semiquincentennial) and a great place to visit.

4/3/26: The Ford Mansion tour begins at Washington's Headquarters Museum…read more My recommendation is to view the museum first, before going on the tour of the mansion. The museum has an excellent video of Washington's stay during the winter of 1779 to 1780 with 96 inches of snow. In addition, you'll see soldier's uniforms, muskets, other weapons, furniture and a lot of very interesting facts of that time. Interesting fact: During the first encampment in 1777, Washington knew he couldn't beat the British without conquering smallpox first. He ordered his soldiers be inoculated against smallpox. This actually saved thousands of lives. The museum does have interesting interactive displays of how one would solve dilemmas during war time. So much to see at Washington's Headquarters Museum. Restrooms are located on the lower level. The museum does have an elevator. A wonderful gift shop is located on the first level of the museum.

The Belskie Museum of Art and Science is a fantastic local (albeit small) museum located next to…read morethe Closter Public Library and across from the Tenakill Middle School. I was disappointed to have mixed the exhibit featured during the month of January on Korean minhwa (folk painting). So this time around, I made a note to attend the reception for April's exhibit on Mixed Media Masterpieces and had a great time browsing the museum to look at the pieces curated by Meagan J. Meehan. The pieces for this particular exhibit were available for purchase, so along with the work title and artist information, the pieces also had prices listed with the exhibit labels. I would have loved to purchase a few pieces, but they were expensive for someone on a grad student budget! Admission is free, although donations are welcomed, and receptions for the monthly exhibits typically occur on the first Sunday of the month. The museum is only open on weekends between 2 and 4 pm and closed during weekdays. There is an exhibit schedule available online, and no exhibits are on show during the summer months of July and August. The staff are welcoming; the woman who sat at the reception table greeted me when I entered and asked me to sign the guestbook. If you're in the area, the Belskie Museum is a good place to spend an hour on a weekend to enjoy local art.

Visited during open Cockpit day and had a great time!…read more there was ample parking space and place was fully staffed for the day. There wasnt any tours but there was staff all over the place and who could tell you more about the exhibits if you asked or if you simply want to engage in conversation. It was a perfect little trip as the place wasnt overwhelmingly large. Great for place toddlers too. The planes were nicely preserved and taken care off, the hall of fame was informative and loved that there were preserved items all the way from worldwar 2. there were also interactive spaces inside the museum. a good way to spend an hour or two for the day.

The Aviation Hall of Fame is a definite must see for all ages!…read more The place is located next to Teterboro Airport. First you'll see a 20 minute video of an overview of aviation. Next, you'll walk through several rooms filled with aircraft, helicopters, many airplane models and other displays. Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee room has plaques honoring the many men and women who have dedicated their lives to the field of aviation. "Buzz" Aldrin, Admiral Halsey, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart are only a few of the familiar inductees. While visiting, I learned that Arthur Godfrey (widely known in the early days of Radio/TV) was a great aviation participant and inductee. Outside, you can climb aboard an old tourist plane. - Lots of leg room was available! Aviation Hall of Fame celebrates over 50 years! 1972 - 2023. It's is open Wednesday - Saturday.