Ringwood Manor
A house with a hundred years of stories.
The manor at the heart of Ringwood Estate is being restored as a museum — open to the public, and alive again with the history of the family who built it.
One Estate. Many Stories.
Perched above the shores of Otsego Lake, in the Glimmerglass Historical District of Cooperstown, NY, Ringwood Manor is entering a new chapter. This remarkable landscape tells many histories on one piece of land. From early American settlement and 19th-century innovation to Gilded Age leisure, Titanic-era tragedy, and decades of community life, Ringwood Manor stands as a living record of the people and events that shaped it.
History
A house that holds its history.
1800s
The First Chapter
The Whipple family.
Before there was a manor overlooking Otsego Lake, this was farmland. The Whipple family worked the land for generations, and it was here that Squire Whipple spent his early years before becoming one of America’s pioneering civil engineers, best known for his innovations in iron bridge design. Their story remains quietly present in the landscape today. Tucked within the estate is the Whipple family burial plot—a lasting connection to the family who knew this land long before Ringwood Manor took shape.
Squire Whipple's parents and sister are buried in their family plot at the northern part of the property
1900 – 1960s
The Second Chapter
The Ryerson family and the Titanic.
At the turn of the 20th century, Arthur L. Ryerson, an attorney and member of the prominent Ryerson steel family, and his wife, Emily Borie Ryerson, built Ringwood Manor as their summer home on Otsego Lake. Their years here became part of a much larger family story. In 1912, while returning to America following the unexpected death of their eldest son, the Ryersons boarded the RMS Titanic. Arthur was lost in the sinking, while Emily and their surviving children returned home and continued lives deeply connected to art, service, and the communities surrounding Otsego Lake. Daughter Emily “Milly” Ryerson married George Hyde Clarke of nearby Hyde Hall; Ellen married sculptor Victor Salvatore, whose work became part of Cooperstown’s artistic landscape; and John “Jack” Ryerson spent his summers golfing at the Otsego Golf Club. Emily herself went on to devote years to humanitarian work, war relief, and public service—adding another remarkable chapter to the family’s legacy.
Emily Ryerson's account of the disaster — given to the American inquiry — is one of the most detailed first-person records of the night.
Mid-20th century
The Third Chapter
Beaver Cross and the camp years.
In time, Ringwood entered a very different chapter. The property was willed to the Episcopal Church, and a private summer estate became a place to be shared. As Beaver Cross Camp, the Manor and surrounding grounds welcomed generations of young people for summers filled with friendships, traditions, recreation, and life on the lake. Cabins appeared among the trees, the Manor adapted to the rhythms of camp life, and new memories became layered over those that came before. For decades, Beaver Cross shaped how countless people knew this place—and its stories remain an important part of the Ringwood Estate visitors encounter today.
Though the camp occupied the property for 40 years, historical elements in the manor still remain.
Now
Looking Forward
A public museum in the making.
The restoration of Ringwood Manor is being carried out with the intention of opening it as a public museum — a place where the layered history of the estate can be explored by visitors, researchers and the wider community. Programming is still being developed, but the ambition is to tell the full story of the house: the Whipple years, the Ryerson connection, the Titanic, the camp era and the restoration itself. The future museum will also embrace a broad and diverse approach to interpretation, bringing forward stories that compliment the culture of Glimmerglass. Exhibitions and programming will explore women’s history, Black baseball, and the contributions of Black artists to opera. Through permanent and rotating experiences, Ringwood will connect these stories to the history of the region while creating opportunities to discover new perspectives, voices, and legacies. And Ringwood won't only be a place to encounter stories from the past. Future programming will invite visitors to record, preserve and pass forward stories of their own.
Visit the Manor
Guided tours of a remarkable estate.
When the manor opens to the public in 2027, visitors will be able to explore the principal rooms, learn about the family that lived here and discover the stories embedded in the architecture and landscape.
THE GRAND TOUR
Our signature guided experience takes you through the manor with commentary
PRESERVATION IN PROGRESS TOUR
An outdoor tour of the 27-acre estate — gardens, the historic pool complex, woodland paths and the landscape's relationship to Otsego Lake.
PRIVATE GROUP TOUR
A full visit combining the guided house tour and grounds walk. Recommended for first-time visitors who want the complete picture.
Tour schedules, pricing and booking will be announced ahead of the 2027 opening. Join the guest list to be notified.
Opening 2027
Be among the first through the door.
Tours and public access begin in 2027. Join the guest list to receive updates on the restoration, tour schedules and opening events as they are announced.