What Is the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum?

The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to design and design history. Located in Manhattan, it was originally established in 1897 by Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, granddaughters of philanthropist Peter Cooper, founder of Cooper Union—a prestigious school where talented art and science students could study almost for free.

Cooper Union: A Prestigious New York University

Cooper Union has long been recognized as one of New York’s most competitive schools, offering programs in art, architecture, and science. Its mission of accessibility and excellence shaped the foundation of the Cooper Hewitt Museum.

My First Visit to Cooper Hewitt

While not as famous as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Whitney Museum, Cooper Hewitt became the very first museum I visited after moving to New York 20 years ago. Why? Simply because it was free admission at the time (laughs).

If you’re curious about another New York museum, check out my story about the Guggenheim Museum, which I couldn’t afford to visit back then:

👉 My Guggenheim Experience

A Haunting Experience at Ringwood Manor

During the pandemic, I visited Ringwood Manohttps://www.ringwoodmanor.org/r, a vast historic estate in New Jersey once connected to the Cooper Hewitt family. Without much research, I went on a gloomy day, escaping Manhattan’s chaos.

Strangely, as soon as I arrived, I was overcome with severe chills and a headache. After resting briefly in the car, I forced myself inside but soon had to leave. Oddly, my headache vanished the moment I drove away.

Later, I learned that Ringwood Manor is rumored to be haunted, even featured in The New York Times.

The Hewitt Family Legacy

1. Robert Erskine – The Beginning

The estate was first built by Robert Erskine, a Scottish inventor and engineer whose ironwork impressed Benjamin Franklin.

2. The Ryerson Family – Success and Debt

Later, the Dutch Ryerson family purchased the land. Although initially successful in the iron industry, they eventually fell into heavy debt.

3. Peter Cooper – Industrialist and Philanthropist

Next came Peter Cooper, the wealthy industrialist and philanthropist who founded Cooper Union. His legacy shaped New York City’s cultural and educational landscape.

Founding of the Cooper Hewitt Museum

Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, Peter Cooper’s granddaughters, carried forward his philanthropic vision. They established the Cooper Hewitt Museum as a free and accessible design collection.

Interestingly, the museum is now housed in the former mansion of Andrew Carnegie, another legendary philanthropist who supported education and the arts.

Ghost Stories of Ringwood Manor

Photo Courtesy to Cooper Hewitt Museum

Some say the Cooper Hewitt legacy lingers at Ringwood Manor through mysterious ghost sightings:

• Robert Erskine: Seen holding a blue lantern by the lake.
• An Enslaved Worker: Doors reportedly slam shut on their own, linked to spirits of the mistreated.
• Sarah Hewitt: The smell of rose perfume is said to signal her ghost’s presence nearby.

A 1918 photograph taken at Ringwood Manor even shows Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt alongside family members during the Spanish Flu era—adding to the site’s haunting atmosphere.

Conclusion

The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum is more than just a place to admire art and design—it carries the history of New York’s influential Cooper family and a few spine-chilling legends from Ringwood Manor. Whether you go for the cutting-edge design exhibitions or the mysterious family history, it’s a must-visit for curious travelers.