Image of the Front of Barrow Mansion, Displaying the Iconic Barrow Mansion Pillars prominently

A Living Legacy JERSEY CITY

A Living Legacy
JERSEY CITY

The Barrow Mansion is a vibrant community center housed in one of Jersey City’s most historic buildings. Built in the 1830s, this beautifully preserved space now serves as a welcoming hub for arts, culture, weddings and other events, and civic life.

The Barrow Mansion

Built in 1836, the Barrow Mansion is a Greek Revival home whose history and use has reflected the changes in its surrounding neighborhood of downtown Jersey City.

Originally a single family house home to Dr. William Barrow and his wife Eliza Brower Barrow, the mansion was once the center of fashionable elegance in a city that was vying for relevance with its neighbor across the Hudson. In later years, the mansion served as the headquarters to the YMCA and as a parish house for the neighboring St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

Today, it is a community center, performance venue, and rentable for weddings, parties and other events . With spacious rooms full of interesting architectural details such as Italianate fireplaces, a coal stove, a theater, and the oldest private bowling alley in the United States, the Barrow Mansion is a place where the past and the present combine in a way that is unique to Jersey City. The Barrow Mansion is listed on the National and New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

Barrow Mansion In the News

Barrow Mansion/VVNA Holiday Party December 13

November 22, 2025

Join us for a joyful and festive holiday party at the Barrow Mansion, hosted in partnership with the Van Vorst Neighborhood Association! Celebrate the season with friends, neighbors, and our…

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Wreath Decorating Workshop December 7

November 22, 2025

Join us at the historic Barrow Mansion in Jersey City for a hands-on evergreen wreath decorating workshop that brings the beauty of nature to your holiday season. In this interactive…

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Surati Diwali Gala 2025 November 7

November 2, 2025

Join us on Friday, November 7, 2025, for the Surati Diwali Gala 2025 — a spectacular celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at the historic Barrow Mansion in Jersey…

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Open House November 2, 2025

September 27, 2025

Looking for fun and historic things to do in Jersey City with the whole family? Join us for the Barrow Mansion Open House on Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 2pm-4pm.…

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Music on the Porch

September 8, 2025

Join us every Thursday (more or less) at 7pm for an evening of free music, featuring an eclectic mix of musicians from Jersey City and beyond. Shows are on our…

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Short Film Festival on August 15

August 9, 2025

The Pillow Fort Film Festival is bringing cozy, creative vibes to the historic Barrow Mansion from 6:00PM to 10:00PM on Friday, August 15th. Open to filmmakers and film lovers alike, Pillow Fort Fest is…

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