What to do and see in , Sussex Skylands: The Best Museums

February 17, 2022 Tonie Szymanski

Discover the best top things to do in , Sussex Skylands including Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Franklin Mineral Museum, Luna Parc, Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum, Waterloo Village Historic Site, Sparta Historical Society, Space Farms Zoo & Museum, Van Kirk Homestead.
Restaurants in Sussex Skylands

1. Sterling Hill Mining Museum

30 Plant St, Ogdensburg, NJ 07439-1126 +1 973-209-7212 [email protected] http://sterlinghillminingmuseum.org
Excellent
73%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 237 reviews

Sterling Hill Mining Museum

Step Into Earth Science.... Come take a ¼ mile underground walking adventure into the 4th oldest mine in the country and the last working underground mine in NJ. Most everything man made has something to do with mining. At the Sterling Hill Mining Museum well show you just how it's done. From drilling and blasting to the processing of the ore, we’ve got it all! While on tour you will see a mining equipment history display, a drilling and blasting demonstration and the world famous fluorescent "Rainbow Tunnel" where everybody gets to take home a fluorescent mineral specimen. Right here in NJ is one of the world's richest zinc ore deposits, the area boasts over 350 minerals, about 70 of which fluoresce. That's about 10% of the known minerals in the world right here in NJ. As well as the richest fluorescent mineral deposit in the world. You can collect minerals from all over the world, including fluorescence, yourself 7 days a week when the museum is open.

Reviewed By Departure56525716388

We enjoyed our visit and mine tour. Very good guides that relate the history of the mine and minerals. We spent about 2 hours here including the tour.

2. Franklin Mineral Museum

32 Evans St, Franklin, NJ 07416-1419 +1 973-827-3481 http://www.franklinmineralmuseum.com/
Excellent
50%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 66 reviews

Franklin Mineral Museum

Reviewed By R4960NKjustinw - Hasbrouck Heights, United States

The Franklin Mineral Museum is an interesting small museum dealing with the New Jersey Mining industry. The museum I have to admit is stuck in a time warp where I swear it is 1975 there. The signs are still typed with a typewriter. What is lacks in aesthetics, it makes up in interest in the rock field, history of fossils and Native American art. There are three main galleries, one dedicated to minerals, rocks and gems, the next on fossils of both New Jersey and elsewhere and the next on American Indian art with arrowheads and equipment and then off to the is the Fluorescent room that when they turn off the lights off and turn the infrared lights on it is quite the lightshow. Near the entrance you can explore the simulated mine shaft where you can crawl and then walk through. It gives you an idea of how the old mine was mined and how the job worked. It is really interesting. In the back, you can pay to explore for rocks to take home, I walked in the quarry and looked for samples and in the end found three red fluorescent rocks and I thought that was pretty cool. The whole museum including exploring the quarry for stones is about two hours. You will not be bored here. It really does capture attention.

3. Luna Parc

22 Degroat Rd, Montague, NJ 07827-5107 +1 973-948-2160 http://lunaparc.com
Excellent
73%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 15 reviews

Luna Parc

4. Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum

240 Demarest Rd, Sparta, NJ 07871-3481 +1 973-579-9833 http://fmmrm.com/
Excellent
58%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 19 reviews

Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum

5. Waterloo Village Historic Site

Waterloo Village Road, Stanhope, NJ 07874 +1 973-347-1835
Excellent
56%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
0%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 43 reviews

Waterloo Village Historic Site

Reviewed By Unresolved_Issue - Edison, United States

I stop here several times a year. Great historic village along the Morris Canal. Many of the buildings are original. Great for photography any time of the year. Several easy walking ares.

6. Sparta Historical Society

336 Main St, Sparta, NJ 07871-3614 +1 973-726-0883 [email protected]
Excellent
67%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Sparta Historical Society

Reviewed By BigRig51

Excellent exhibit currently being shown on Thomas Edison. Our guide was Jack, a trustee and a wealth of knowledge. Many, many displays of Edison inventions such as Ediso photographs( record players) , ticker - tape, Edison talking doll, etc, etc. Also, extensive display downstairs focused on the Sparta area mining operations ( which Edison had some involvement in). Highly recommended and I look forward to a return trip.

7. Space Farms Zoo & Museum

218 County Rd 519, Sussex, NJ 07461-2800 +1 973-875-5800 [email protected] http://www.spacefarms.com/
Excellent
35%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
5%
Terrible
22%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 217 reviews

Space Farms Zoo & Museum

Reviewed By Worldexplorer8888888

We had a wonderful time at Space farms at the drive through zoo. You can get food to feed the animals and my kids loved it. Don’t listen to all the lame people bashing it. It’s a zoo and animals are in cages.

8. Van Kirk Homestead

336 Main St, Sparta, NJ 07871-3614
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1 reviews

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.