Museum Tours

Rutherfurd Hall is open to the public on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Beginning in September 2026 we will also offer public tours the third Saturday of each month. Full house tours begin at 11:00 am and last one and one half hours. The first floor is wheelchair accessible with images of all rooms on the second and third floors available for viewing.  Admission is $10/person.  Children 8 – 12 are free. Please contact jsalvas@aes.k12.nj.us for reservations.

Rutherfurd Hall is available for private tours and field trips for groups of 6 or more by appointment. Group tour rate is $15/person. Please contact jsalvas@aes.k12.nj.us for more information.

The Parlor: Tales of Political and Romantic Intrigue

This room holds stories of private conversations and important social gatherings that connected the Rutherfurds to European royalty and American political figures. Original fixtures and decorative elements abound, including sconces, hardware and family crests above the fireplace mantel.

The Dining Room: An Aristocratic Feast

In the Dining Room, your guide will explain how the Rutherfurd family entertained U.S. presidents, European aristocrats, and business tycoons of the Gilded Age. The adjoining prep kitchen is linked to the basement kitchen via the still-present dumb waiter.

The Library: A Haven of Knowledge and Influence

Here, along with other family artifacts, you’ll learn about Lewis Morris Rutherfurd, a pioneer in astrophotography. His groundbreaking work connects his rural mansion to some of the most important scientific advancements of the 19th century.

The Games Room/Our Lady of the Angels Chapel

This room served the Rutherfurd family as a games room where they enjoyed billiards, cards and other contemporary entertainments. After the acquisition of the mansion by the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity in 1950, this room was converted into their chapel. Rutherfurd House became Villa Madonna and this room was named Our Lady of the Angels Chapel complete with nine stained glass windows.