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Delaware Water Gap➤

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area contains 70,000 acres along the middle section of the Delaware River in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It begins at the water gap and stretches northward to the tristate border of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

A water gap forms when water carves a path through a mountain range. In Earth’s ancient history, the North American and African continents collided, creating the Kittatinny Ridge. Streams flowing on one side of the ridge scoured a channel over the course of millions of years and became the Delaware River.

The Appalachian Trail and the Middle Delaware National Scenic River both run the length of the park. Waterfalls abound and many historic Dutch Colonial buildings sit within park boundaries, including the Zimmerman Estate.

Zimmerman Estate➤

Each June, the National Park Service and the Friends of Marie Zimmermann host Marie Zimmermann Day, an annual open house celebrating the artist’s life and work. Last year, I met up with a friend from the National Park Travelers Club to tour the estate. Docents shared stories about Marie Zimmermann and her artwork while local artists painted the barns, stone buildings, and surrounding landscape.

Marie Zimmermann (1879-1972) was one of America’s leading metalsmiths during the early twentieth century. After studying at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, she built a national reputation for creating jewelry, decorative metalwork, and wrought iron pieces. Although she maintained a studio in New York, the Pennsylvania farm became her retreat and later her permanent home.

The property itself has a much longer history. Dutch settlers began farming this section of the Delaware Valley during the late seventeenth century. In 1745, Jacobus Van Etten purchased the land, and his son Johannes built the original farmhouse around 1750. During the French and Indian War, the region experienced years of conflict, and in 1780, the northern end of the property was the site of the Battle of Conashaugh, considered the last major Revolutionary War battle fought in the area.

John Zimmermann purchased the farm in 1882, and it remained in the family for generations. Between 1910 and 1912, Marie and her father designed the stone residence that still stands today. Built in the Dutch Colonial Revival style with Breton influences, the home features native fieldstone walls, a slate roof, handcrafted woodwork, and decorative iron details created by Marie herself.

Inside, docents pointed out many of the home’s original features and explained how Marie incorporated her artistic talent into everyday objects. Her custom metalwork appears throughout the house, from light fixtures and fireplace accessories to decorative hardware. The home reflects both her craftsmanship and her practical approach to design.

After Marie left the farm in 1969, the house sat vacant for more than two decades. By the late 1990s, it had deteriorated significantly. A local nonprofit, Friends of Marie Zimmermann, partnered with the National Park Service to restore the property. Funding secured through Congress made it possible to repair the slate roof, restore the windows and doors, remove asbestos, install a geothermal heating and cooling system, and later complete extensive interior restoration. Thanks to those efforts, visitors can once again experience the home much as Marie left it.

Walking through the estate offered a glimpse into both the history of the Delaware Valley and the life of an accomplished American artist. The combination of restored buildings, knowledgeable volunteers, working artists, and peaceful farmland made Marie Zimmermann Day one of the most enjoyable special events I’ve attended at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

If you have the opportunity to visit during the annual open house, I highly recommend it. It’s one of the few chances each year to tour the house, learn about Marie Zimmermann’s life, and see this unique historic property up close.

Delaware Water Gap Posts➤

Location: 406 Hollow Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA
Designation: National Recreation Area
Date designated/established: September 1, 1965
Date of my visit: June 14, 2025