Historical Commission and House Museums - Historic House Museums

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The Wayne Township Parks and Recreation Department owns and operates three historic house museums. The Wayne Historical Commission provides vital support to the museums by raising funds, acquiring artifacts, and writing the history of Wayne.

Van Riper-Hopper Historic House Museum - 533 Berdan Avenue

Built in 1786 by Uriah Van Riper for his bride Maria (Polly) Berdan, this New Jersey Dutch colonial house offers a rare walk back in time.  The farmstead includes an historical herb garden, Archeology Laboratory, and Albert Payson Terhune Collection. Five lower rooms contain furniture representing different periods. Several artifacts make it easy to imagine succeeding generations living in the house until it was acquired by Wayne Township. Located on its original site, the museum represents the agricultural society that dominated Wayne for over 200 years. This historic house is on the state and national register.

On the same property as the Van Riper-Hopper House Museum, visitors can step farther back in Wayne’s history to pre-Revolutionary War times, circa 1740. Two massive fireplaces flank this  cut stone Dutch colonial house, which is now on the national register.

Schuyler-Colfax Historic House Museum – 2343 Hamburg Turnpike

Built in 1695-96 by settler Arent Schuyler, this is Wayne’s oldest house. It is one of a few colonial homesteads built circa 1700 on the east coast of the U.S.A., which was never sold out of original ownership for eight generations. Each generation produced military, medical, legal and governmental representatives, leaving behind records and artifacts.

TOURS – Experience interpretive, interactive tours developed for adults, families, or children ages 8 and older. Visitors may tour a house museum BY APPOINTMENT. 

Please e-mail or call 973-694-7192.

George Washington Colfax Barn Museum– Visitors may remember this structure as the Old Barn Milk Bar where its fast food and ice cream delighted families and generations of teenagers. The structure was moved from Dawes Highway and awaits reassembly at 533 Berdan Avenue.

PROGRAMS –

For Boy and Girl Scouts – 973-694-7192

For Grade 3 class program: Please call for further information 973-694-7192.

PRE-REGISTER by e-mail or phone: 973-694-7192.

The Dey Mansion/Washington’s Headquarters Museum – 199 Totowa Road

Photo Courtesy of Peter A. Blacksberg

Begun in 1740 by Dirk Dey and completed by his son Colonel Theunis Dey, this mansion served as General George Washington’s headquarters in 1780. The museum is owned and operated by Passaic County Department of Parks and Recreation.

For information on Dey Mansion, call 973-696-1776.