Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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Proprietary House Historic Site Overview

Completed in 1764 as a residence for the colony’s Royal Governor, its 250 year history is filled with political intrigue, divided loyalties and family tragedy.

Over the years, the Proprietary House has served as a residence to New Jersey's last Royal Governor, a stylish hotel, a private mansion, a retirement home, a boarding house and now as office space and a museum. Yet one of its most telling periods is when it served as the residence of New Jersey’s Royal Governor William Franklin, illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin. As Governor, he ran lotteries to fund roads and bridges, introduced an assistance program for farmers and helped found Queens College, now Rutgers University. His loyalist leanings caused a rift between him and his father that was never reconciled.

Proprietary House is owned by the State of New Jersey and the museum is operated by the non-profit Proprietary House Association. For more details and program information visit TheProprietaryHouse.org

Please call site for hours of operation

Tours of the Museum every Wednesday and Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Afternoon Tea every Wednesday and Sunday 1pm - 4pm
$10 per Adult / $5 per Child
*Sunday Reservations Appreciated

Facilities for People with Disabilities
We encourage people with disabilities who require special considerations to contact the historic site / park at the phone number listed in the general information on the home page of the historic site / park. The staff will assist with arrangements. Text telephone (TT) users, please call the NJ Relay Services at (800) 852-7899.

For the Comfort and Enjoyment of All
This historic site / park is part of the NJ State Park system and your cooperation with the following will help ensure the survival of the museum collections, historic structures & features and surrounding property for the enjoyment and education of future generations!

  • Keep your historic site / park and surrounding property clean and green! Protect this site by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the site, plan on carrying it out too. Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Thank you!
  • No Smoking on NJ State Park Service Property. Pursuant to N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at state historic sites [ N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6]
  • The collection or removal of any object from State Park property is prohibited without written permission from the Superintendent.
  • Use of metal detecting devices on or unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on or over the property is not permitted without a special use permit (SUP) from the State historic site / park.
  • Commercial photography is not permitted on the property without a special use permit (SUP) from the historic site / park.
  • Interior photography, videotaping or audio taping are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum, except by prior written permission and for educational purposes only.
  • Non-commercial photography is permitted on the property (outside), but please help preserve the historic site / park and any surrounding property by not attaching anything to, climbing or sitting on historic structures and features or disturbing any plants, wild or cultivated. Photography may not interfere with other visitors to the historic site / park or impede site operations.
  • Food and beverages; pets/animals, except for service animals, are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum.
  • Please refrain from touching objects/furnishings in and building components of historic structures and museums, except where invited to do so by staff.

Please contact this historic site / park with specific inquiries about any of these restrictions, as there may be some variations at this specific historic site / park.

Related Links

Cheesequake State Park

General

Phone Number
732-826-5527

Address
149 Kearny Avenue Perth Amboy, NJ 08861

Historic Site Hours

Grounds Hours Please call site for hours of operation.
Tour Hours Wednesday and Sunday 1 - 4 p.m. 
Afternoon Tea every Wednesday and Sunday 1 - 4 p.m.

Historic Site Fees

Entrance Fee None

Other Related Fees
Map / Directions

GPS Coordinates
40.503393, -74.269085