Nassau Hall has been used for&nbsp;numerous purposes over its history including classrooms, residences, a natural history museum, faculty offices, a chapel, and a library. It was twice gutted by fire, in 1802 and 1855, and remodeled after each time. As such, its appearance shifted from Georgian to Federal, and then to its present&nbsp;Italianate appearance. Two towers were added to either end of the building during the second renovation but were removed in 1905.&nbsp;

Built in 1756, Nassau Hall is Princeton's most historic building and a National Historic Landmark.

Article about the Battle of Princeton from the Princeton Alumni Weekly published in 1976.

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Nassau Hall is the oldest and most historic building on Princeton's campus. A National Historic Landmark, it was built in 1756 and designed by Robert Smith, a prominent architect who specialized in the Georgian style. The hall played a prominent role during the Revolutionary War, suffering from occupation of both American and British forces, and at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, when the Americans attacked the British soldiers inside. Furthermore, it became the country's capitol when the Continental Congress met here from June to November 1783. During this time, the Congress learned that the British accepted the terms of the peace treaty to end war and subsequently accepted George Washington's resignation as commander of the Continental Army. Nassau Hall today houses administrative offices, including that of the university's president.

Nassau Hall

This walking tour begins at Westland Mansion and the former Witherspoon School dating back to the era of segregation. The tour includes the grave of Aaron Burr and the Joseph Henry House before winding through a portion of Princeton's campus and then returning to the surrounding city. The tour includes highlights of Princeton University such as the Firestone Library, University Chapel, Nassau Hall, and numerous museums. The tour also includes Albert Einstein's house, Princeton Battlefield State Park, and historic mansions such as Drumthwacket.  

Princeton New Jersey Walking Tour

Cleveland named the mansion in honor of his Princeton University professor friend Andrew West, who helped Cleveland buy the house. Cleveland made several changes including adding an addition to give him space for a billiard room and other purposes. He maintained an active lifestyle, participating in community events, socializing with friends, and&nbsp;joining the Princeton board of trustees, among other activities.

Westland Mansion was home of President Grover Cleveland after his second term as president, from 1897 to 1908 when he died. Given this association with Cleveland, it is is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. It is also impressive architecturally as it is an excellent example of Italianate architecture. Its current appearance is not how it appeared originally when it was built in 1856 by Robert F. Stockton, who served as a U.S. Navy Commodore and a Senator. The mansion is a private home today but can be viewed from the street.

Westland Mansion

The Witherspoon Street School for Colored Children contributed heavily to the African American community of Princeton and the vicinity at a time when Black Americans in New Jersey faced rampant racism. Black Americans in the Princeton area formed a strong, mostly separate community that included churches, a YMCA, businesses, and schools. The school served as the elementary school for African-American children from both Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. The school later became one of the schools designated for integration as part of the well-known Princeton Plan.Africans arrived in New Jersey in 1664 and were enslaved by New Jersey colonists. Although laws passed throughout the nineteenth century slowly ended the legality of slave ownership, Black Americans in New Jersey enjoyed very few rights into the early twentieth century. Indeed, the area enjoyed close ties economically to the South, and numerous New Jersey voters did not support Abraham Lincoln. Moreover, the New Jersey legislature refused to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery. By the turn of the century, Princeton University existed as a hotbed for the African American colonization movement. Princeton gained a reputation as a "southern" university located north of the Mason Dixon line because more than half the students at Princeton arrived from the South during the nineteenth century. While many Ivy League schools admitted Black students in the 19th century, the first African American to graduate from Princeton did so in 1947.The attitudes towards Black Americans changed little during the first few decades of the twentieth century. Yet, the African American population continued to increase, including during the Great Migration, which saw 1.5 million southern Blacks trek northward from 1915 to 1930. The migration resulted in a population increase of 200,000 African Americans in New Jersey. The African American community found access to proper health care, jobs, and education exceptionally difficult, so, as was the case in many cities, they developed their own communities within towns and established informal economies. Even as early as the 1830s, the section of Princeton for which Witherspoon existed as an African American enclave where African American churches, community centers, and schools emerged. An active Black-business focused economy existed within the African American enclave. One could find several Black-owned florists, shops, barbershops, and restaurants, especially by the turn of the century. That enclave hosted its first school in the 1830s when Betsey Stockton, an ex-slave and Christian missionary, established and taught the community's first school.The first Witherspoon schoolhouse opened its doors during the 1830s and did comply with the rules and instructions provided by the Board of Education. By 1872, district taxes funded the construction of a new schoolhouse, but an arsonist set fire to the building and destroyed it. In 1881, the Board again set aside funding, but for an expansion of the original building instead of a new school. The Board of Education made hiring teachers difficult (likely too few for the numbers of students that attended), and the teachers received much less income than their white counterparts until policies changed in the 1920s. The expansion proved unable to keep up with the constant growth that by 1907 a new building proved necessary. By 1909, the brick Witherspoon School for Colored Children opened its doors and remains standing today as a reminder of Princeton's segregated history. Though the school looked more modern and updated, Black children routinely had inferior supplies, equipment, and books, often leading to lower test scores that unjustly bolstered the views of those who felt Blacks were inferior to whites. Segregation remained in place until the "Princeton Plan" appeared after World War II. The integration of Princeton elementary schools took place in 1948 following a mandate of the 1947 New Jersey State Constitution prohibiting segregation in the public schools. This Princeton Plan involved the "pairing" of schools with predominantly white students and teachers with schools composed mainly of African-American students and teachers. The Witherspoon Street School transformed into an intermediate school for grades six through eight as a result of the Princeton Plan. The New York Times noted the Princeton Plan as one of a few highly successful methods for implementing integration. School systems across that nation adopted the plan but did not always enjoy success, notably in large urban centers. Many white parents chose to enroll their children in private schools rather than see them attend alongside children of color. In addition, the closure of Black schools often led to the loss of teaching positions for African Americans and led to the loss of extracurricular opportunities. The strong sense of community created within the Black community proved to be the one positive in a city enjoying a lengthy history of racism. Thus, integration was both experienced as a positive step towards a more equitable world, but also produced a sense of loss for African American students and families that had benefited from the tight-knit sense of community produced by attending this school.

Constructed in 1909, this Princeton apartment building was home to the Witherspoon Street School for Colored Children and served the children of the African American community in Princeton until the city's integration plan in 1948. Prior to the construction of this school, African Americans attended school in other buildings dating back to the 1830s. The school was one of the centers of the Black community along with churches, businesses, shops, restaurants, and a YMCA. The Witherspoon school served the segregated society for roughly one century until the 1948 Princeton Plan of integration went into effect. This integration plan was followed by many other cities with varying degrees of success. 

Witherspoon Street School for Colored Children: 1909-1948 (Waxwood Apartments)

Aaron Burr, Jr. was born to
Reverend Aaron Burr and Ester Edwards Burr in Newark, New Jersey on February 6,
1756. At the age of two, Burr became an orphan along with his older sister,
Sarah. They moved from&nbsp;family to family growing up. When Burr was 13, he
was accepted to Princeton University. He graduated with his Bachelor’s of Arts
degree in 1772 when he was 16 years old but continued studying theology at
Princeton afterwards. In 1775 Burr began studying law. His studies were soon
put on hold as he enlisted in the Continental Army to fight the British in the
Revolutionary War.

During the Revolutionary War many generals were impressed with Aaron Burr’s spirit and leadership. In the
spring of 1776, he was placed on George Washington’s staff but later returned
by choice to the battle fields on June 16. This later led to estrangement
between George Washington and Aaron Burr as Washington did not recognize Burr for his actions. Aaron Burr was promoted in July 1777 to lieutenant
colonel and commanded a small army during his service. After suffering a heat
stroke during the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778, Burr’s health gradually
began to decline. This limited his ability to perform in the Continental Army.
Burr resigned from the Continental Army in March 1779, when he resumed studying
law. He graduated and married Theodosia Barlow Prevost in 1782 and began
practicing in 1783.

Heavily involved in politics,
Aaron Burr ran for president in 1796 but came in fourth. He continued his political career&nbsp;in New York. After a close race in the election of
1800 against Thomas Jefferson, Burr was appointed vice president for Jefferson.
The election drove a wedge between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. While
Burr was Jefferson’s vice president, the two did not fully trust each other.
Because of this, Jefferson was to drop Burr from his ticket in the 1804
election. Burr ran for governor of New York but lost. Feeling that many
people were against him and that Alexander Hamilton was the reason, Burr&nbsp;began
exchanging heated letters with Hamilton and then&nbsp;challenged Hamilton to a duel.
While duels were illegal in New York, the men decided to meet in Weehawken, New
Jersey. Dueling was also illegal in New Jersey, but the punishment was less
severe. On July 11, 1804, the men began their duel. They both fired shots, and
Hamilton was struck above the hip, later dying from his wounds.

Aaron Burr fled to South
Carolina where his daughter lived and where he later returned to complete his term as vice
president. In 1807 Burr was charged with treason and went to Richmond,
Virginia for trial. While he was acquitted for treason, his political career was
over. From 1808 to 1812, he lived in Europe. Burr returned to the United States
in 1812 and changed his last name to Edwards. On July 1, 1833, Burr married
Eliza Jumel. Only four months after their marriage, Jumel contacted Alexander
Hamilton, Jr. to file for divorce against Burr because she felt that her fortune was
dwindling due to Burr's neglect. On September 14, 1836, the divorce was finalized.
On this day Aaron Burr also suffered a stroke, from&nbsp;which he later died in
1836. He was buried in Princeton, New Jersey alongside his father.

Aaron Burr (1756-1836), arguably one of American history's most infamous figures, is buried at this spot in Princeton Cemetery. Burr is most known for killing Alexander Hamilton, one of the country's Founding Fathers, in 1804. Aaron Burr was the third vice president of the United States under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Aaron Burr died of a stroke at the age of 80.

Grave of Aaron Burr

Colonel Jacob Hyer, a well-known and successful Princeton tavern- and inn-keeper, constructed the Beatty House in 1780. But, the house mainly enjoys fame for its namesake owner, Colonel Erkuries Beatty. Colonel Beatty served as an explorer in Kentucky and Tennessee, fought in the Revolutionary War, served as a judge, was elected mayor of the Borough of Princeton, and as a state legislator. However, while his resume appears illustrious, he also actively engaged in slave ownership, and he attended meetings to colonize Black Americans to Africa while acting as town mayor. Hyer purchased the Hudibras Tavern in 1768, seven years after it opened. The Hudibras functioned as one of Princeton's earliest lodging establishments and attended numerous travelers, including future President John Adams. Hyer's inn enjoyed success due to Princeton's favorable geographical location between Philadelphia and New York, which accounted for the bulk of the tavern's guests. The Hudibras consisted of a dozen rooms and could accommodate forty people; it was not uncommon for guests to share beds. As a result of the inn's immense success, Hyer could afford to invest in an impressive home, which now survives as one of the few remaining examples of eighteenth-century wood construction. However, the historic home enjoys most of its notoriety from its third and most famous resident, Colonel Erkuries Beatty (1759-1823). Beatty fought in the Revolutionary War as one of Lafayette's aides at Yorktown, served as Princeton Borough's second mayor and for the state legislature, and "presided over college, church, and borough governance while continuing to benefit financially from slavery during an era of gradual emancipation," according to the Princeton University website.  Colonel Erkuries Beatty owned and purchased slaves until he died in 1823 despite New Jersey's passage of a Gradual Emancipation Act in 1804. Beatty sought to purchase slave women because of their ability to produce slave children, a common practice in the U.S. during the nineteenth century (mainly in the South) after the 1807 U.S. Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves. Beatty had aspirations of using his slaves as part of a plan to forge an agricultural enterprise. However, Beatty's farm did not create a profit, so he moved back to the Princeton city area and became a neighbor of the leading physician Ebenezer Stockton, a fellow churchman and a slave-owner. Upon moving back to 1818, the town elected Beatty as borough mayor. As mayor, he presided over the nation's first colonization meeting and consequently requested the state legislature and U.S. Congress to send Black Americans to Africa.Most of what is written about Beatty involves his work as an explorer, soldier, and politician, routinely regarding Beatty as a prominent Princeton citizen. Indeed, his son went on to become an influential minister and academic in New Jersey, too. That Beatty's efforts to own slaves, expand slavery through procreation, and colonize Black Americans in Africa, have often been left unmentioned until recent years says as much about history as what was usually written about Beatty.

The Beatty House stands as one of the few remaining wooden homes built during the eighteenth century. Jacob Hyer, a well-known and successful Princeton tavern and inn proprietor constructed the historic home in 1780. Colonel Erkuries Beatty moved in years later and his significance in Princeton's history, the building is usually referred to as the Beatty House. Colonel Beatty was an explorer, Revolutionary War officer, mayor, state legislator, and judge. However, he was also an enslaver who owned other humans and called for measures to use public resources to return runaway slaves. Believing that Black and white could not live together, Beatty was also integral in creating the first national meeting to colonize Black Americans in Africa. 

Beatty House

The lauded American scientist and engineer, Joseph Henry (1797-1878), lived in the house while he worked as a professor of Physics at Princeton (known as the College of New Jersey) from 1832 to 1846. He left Princeton to serve as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878, where he helped turn the organization into a highly respected scientific center. His inventions, teaching, collaborations, and work with organizations profoundly influenced the scientific community in ways that impossible to measure other than to say they proved to be exceptionally significant. Henry's first love did not involve physics, but the theater. At the age of sixteen, Henry became heavily involved in local theater groups and even wrote two plays. But, his focus changed when he read a roommate's book" Lectures on Experimental Philosophy, Astronomy and Chemistry Intended Chiefly for the Use of Young People.Henry enrolled in the Albany Academy to study physics and then stayed after graduation in 1826 to work as a mathematics and natural philosophy professor. During his tenure at Albany, he developed a keen interest in electromagnetism. He invented the electromagnet, the first electric motor, and the telegraph. Indeed, he created an electromagnet for Yale College that supported a weight of 2,063 pounds, a world record at the time. He also worked with Samuel F.B. Morse (hence, Morse Code) to help turn the telegraph into a practical invention. In addition to his work with electromagnetism, Henry assisted and discovered many essential principles of electricity, including self-induction, an integral component of electronic circuitry. Moreover, his efforts laid the groundwork for the modern electrical transformers. The College of New Jersey admired his talent and accomplishments so much that they built the house to lure him and subsequently elevate the institution's prestige. He moved there with his wife Harriet, with whom he married in 1830; the two had six children. He continued to experiment and invent while at Princeton, and his fame within the scientific community grew as well. He left Princeton after fourteen years to serve as the first Secretary of the new Smithsonian Institution on December 3, 1846. He held the position for thirty-two years. During his tenure, he urged scientific bodies to catalog their papers. The Royal Society of London cited Henry as the inspiration for producing its first catalog in 1864. The house has been moved three times around campus before arriving in its current location in 1948. Much debate exists on the building's architect, with some arguing that Henry designed it while others contend that Charles Steadman, a local builder, designed the house. Nevertheless, the house mainly serves as a monument to one of the most accomplished American scientists. To list all of his achievements (and failures) reach well beyond the scope of this paper, but suffice it to say that his fingerprints are on a multitude of inventions and scientific laws that we know today. Additionally, he had an enormous influence on countless students and the scientific community at large.

Constructed in 1838, this house was once the residence of one of the country's most preeminent physicists of the 19th century, Joseph Henry, who is known for his study of electromagnetism. His interest led him to create several inventions that would have a profound impact on the world including the electromagnet, electric motor, and the telegraph. He taught at Princeton for a number of years before becoming the First Secretary of the newly created Smithsonian Institution. Under his 32-year tutelage, the Smithsonian became one of the world's most important scientific institutions. The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Today, the house is home to the Andlinger Center for the Humanities and the Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts.

Joseph Henry House

The Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library (named in honor of Firestone Rubber and Tire Company founder Harvey S. Firestone) at Princeton University is one of the largest open-stack libraries in the world with more than 70 miles of bookshelves. The library opened in 1948 as the first extensive American university library constructed after World War II and now stands as one of the last Gothic Revival buildings at Princeton. The school transferred 1.5 million volumes from its old library locations to Firestone when it opened, which speaks to the long history of Princeton University's library program that can be traced back to the days before the Revolutionary War. College Presidents Jonathan Dickinson and Aaron Burr, Sr donated their personal book collections to the University (then known as the College of New Jersey) in the 1740s. In 1750, Governor Belcher donated 474 books to the school, which made the school's library collection the sixth-largest in the colonies. The library's first home was a second-floor room in Nassau Hall, which it shared for a time with the Continental Congress. The library survived the Revolutionary War, but not a fire in 1802. Consequently, the school needed the help of donors to rebuild the collection, continuing the tradition that had started in the 1740s. It wasn't until the 1860s that the university deemed the library necessary for dedicated attention and funding. President James McCosh came to Princeton in 1868 and, in his view, felt the library was inadequately supplied with books, and that it was insufficient for the library to be open for only one hour, once a week.In 1873, Princeton hired its first full-time librarian, Frederick Vinton, who had previously worked at the Library of Congress. Two years later, in 1875, Princeton finished construction on Chancellor Green Library, the school's first dedicated library building. The university's growing collection of materials required the addition of the Pyne Library in 1897. By the 1930s, the collection had grown to more than one million volumes rendering the Chancellor Green and Pyne library buildings insufficient. Thus, in 1948, the Firestone Memorial Library opened as the university's new primary library building; The university transferred nearly 1.5 million to the new Firestone Library from Pyne and Chancellor Green Halls. The Firestone Library possesses more books per enrolled student than that of any other university in the United States. Most of the books are stored in three underground levels, which makes the library appear much smaller from the outside than one might expect; only four, relatively small above-ground floors are visible. The growth of Princeton's collection has continued to push the university to expand its physical library spaces, including at Firestone. In 1971, the need for additional space for both books and readers led to an expansion of the two lower floors, and in 1988 more space was added. Another expansive renovation occurred during the twenty-first century, partly to help modernize it as the world grew increasingly electronic. Despite the expansions, Princeton's collection outgrew Firestone Library's capacity. Today, the Princeton collections total more than 7 million printed works, 83,000 serial titles, 6.7 million microforms, 49,000 linear feet of manuscripts (2011), and access to innumerable electronic resources. Consequently, numerous volumes are stored at approximately one dozen alternative locations throughout the campus, but Firestone remains Princeton University's main library.

Completed in 1948, Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library was one of the last Gothic-Revival Buildings constructed at Princeton and is one of the largest open-stack libraries in the world. The university's library was established in the 1740s with less than 500 books and had grown to more than 1.5 million volumes by the 1940s. The continued growth of the collection has resulted in Princeton owning over 7 million printed works and access to a wealth of electronic materials, Firestone remains the school's primary library of a network that includes eleven supporting libraries and facilities. 

Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library at Princeton University

Construction took place between 1924 and 1928 on The Princeton University Chapel and replaced the Marquand Chapel after it had burned down in 1920. The University intended the Chapel to be the largest university chapel in the nation and cost $2.3 million to build. Time Magazine covered the dedication ceremony for the 2000-seat, nondenominational Chapel when it opened in 1928. Years later, in 1960, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a sermon at the facility. Today it is a center for celebrating diverse faiths, from Buddhism to Christianity, which speaks to University's transition from its first century as a Christian-focused college. Presbyterians first arrived in New Jersey during the 1660s, adding to a population that already included significant numbers of Quakers, Dutch Reformed, and Congregationalists. The founding of Princeton (then known as the College of New Jersey) in 1746 and included a provision required by the New Jersey governor that pledged religious freedom for the students. Nevertheless, the College first met in Presbyterian Churches for its first ten years, including Aaron Burr's Presbyterian parsonage in Newark for a few years when he served as college president. Indeed, the students, faculty, and trustees remained overwhelmingly Presbyterian throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The College (along with Aaron Burr) moved to Princeton in 1756. The first permanent Chapel arose after the Civil War and primarily catered to protestants, namely Presbyterians. And, a requirement existed that students attend Chapel, much to the dismay of many students. As a result, many students engaged in "practical jokes" that included tarring the seats, burying them in hay, and leaving a cow in the pulpit. Regardless, the Presbyterian influence remained strong for many years to come; the path to graduation included four years of mandatory Bible classes. And, as the University grew, the need for larger Chapel emerged. Henry Gurdon, a founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, served as the Marquand Chapel's principal donor, which opened in 1881 and served the student body until it burnt down in 1920. The Marquand Chapel fire coincided with the demise of Evangelical Protestant values at the modern Princeton. The College of New Jersey officially became Princeton University in 1896. From 1900 to 1920, the University eliminated mandatory Bible classes, theology studies, and the required study of ethics and apologetics. As well, the University reduced the compulsory chapel attendance to Sundays only. Thus, by the time plans for the new Chapel arose, Evangelical Protestantism had no longer served as the focus of education at Princeton. Not long after the new Chapel opened, the nation faced the Depression and World War II. In the aftermath of those events, there existed an exponential growth in students attending higher education, including at Princeton. Student demographics during the 1950s at elite schools remained all-male, almost exclusively white, and usually Protestant. But, social change dominated the 1960s, and campuses served as the epicenter for protests against the Vietnam War and pushed to end racial and gender discrimination. Indeed, On March 13, 1960, the famed civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered a sermon at the Chapel where he called for universal brotherhood. (A plaque on the interior south wall of the Chapel's nave commemorates the occasion.)Thus, by the 1980s, universities like Princeton saw increasingly diverse student bodies, including those who practiced many faiths. And, attitudes grew increasingly more liberal and accepting of all faiths, demonstrated by the relationships between the Chapel and the University. The arrival of the twenty-first century included a two-year, $10 million restoration project for The Princeton Chapel (a project that resulted in winning the New Jersey Historic Preservation Award for 2002, and the 2004 Stone World Magazine Tucker Award for Renovation and Restoration because of the stonework involved). Although the design and decor clearly allude to a faith focused on Christian beliefs, the post-renovation, interfaith re-dedication ceremony included prayers provided by those of the Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish faiths.

Princeton University Chapel opened in 1928 after four years of construction. The chapel replaced the Marquand Chapel that burnt down in 1920 after serving the University since 1881. The arrival of the new Chapel in 1920, and its renovation from 2000-2002 mark changes attitudes regarding religion at Princeton. The University (formerly the College of New Jersey) enjoyed strong ties to the Presbyterian faith from its founding in 1746 until the turn of the twentieth century including requiring students to attend chapel and take courses in Bible studies. By the time the Chapel opened in 1920, the University no longer involved religious studies as part of its pedagogy and when its renovations were complete in 1922, a ceremony included prayers from representatives of the Buddhist, Jewish,  Islamic, and Christian faiths. 

Princeton University Chapel.

While at Princeton, Wilson's political views shifted from conservatism to moderate progressivism. At this house in 1910, Wilson met with advisors and planned his gubernatorial race in 1910. He also discussed policies and positions that would guide his administration. Wilson was elected governor two months after resigning from his post as university president. Historians and biographers indicate that Wilson nurtured ambitions for the Presidency soon after reaching the governor's office.&nbsp; Prospect House was built for John Potter, who was a wealthy merchant from South Carolina. In 1878, a couple from New York City bought the building and then deeded&nbsp;the house and the surrounding 35 acres to the College of New Jersey, the predecessor of Princeton. University presidents lived in the house until 1968, when another home designed by Notman was chosen to be the official residence. Prospect House became the dinner club at this time. Interestingly, as the university expanded, students began to walk across&nbsp;the grounds surrounding the house. In 1905, a particularly bad event occurred when football fans walked across it, prompting Wilson to have a fence erected around five acres surrounding the house.

A National Historic Landmark, Prospect House was the home of future governor and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson lived at the home during his tenure as the university's president from 1902 to 1911. The building itself was constructed in 1851 and designed by prominent architect John Notman in the Italianate style. Today, the building is a private dining club for faculty and staff. It is also available for weddings and other private events. 

Prospect House, Princeton University

The museum's founding coincided with the establishment of the archaeology department. As such, archaeological artifacts were among the first objects to be displayed. Interestingly, Nassau Hall was also the location of the archaeology department, the fine arts library, and the school of architecture. The museum's first building was constructed in 1890, what is now McCormick Hall. Beginning in 1923, the museum would undergo several expansions culmination&nbsp;to what it&nbsp;is today.

Founded in 1882, the Princeton University Art Museum is one of the oldest collecting institutions in the country. It houses over 92,000 works of art ranging form ancient times to the present day. The collection is particularly strong in Mediterranean, Western European, Chinese, American, and Latin American art. The collection also features 27,000 photographs representing the evolution of photography from its origins to the digital camera age. The museum was founded in 1882 as the Museum of Historic Art and was located in Nassau Hall, which is now used for administrative offices. 

Princeton University Art Museum

The house is historically significant owing to many famous and influential residents such as John Witherspoon and George Washington. Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister, served as college president from 1768-1779. He was also a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776 and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. A more famous Founding Father also lived in the home. George Washington occupied the McLean House in January 1777 during the Battle of Princeton. He once again lived in the house in June 1783, when the Continental Congress met in the nearby Nassau Hall.&nbsp; The college presidents lived here from 1756-1879, except for the period from 1779-1794 when Witherspoon's son-in-law and college vice president lived here. From 1879-1968 the house was the residence of the college (and later Princeton) deans. The alumni association was established in 1826.

Now home to the offices of the Alumni Association of Princeton, the MacLean House was once the residence of Princeton University's president, vice president, and dean. (Prior to 1896, Princeton was known as the College of New Jersey). The house was built in 1756 and designed by Robert Smith in the Georgian style. Home to many famous intellectuals and twice the temporary quarters of George Washington, the home has been preserved in a manner that has allowed it to retain many aspects of its original appearance. The historic home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Historic Landmark. 

MacLean House, Princeton University

Mother Jones worked as a schoolteacher and dressmaker before she became an activist. Tragically, she&nbsp;lost her family in a yellow fever outbreak in 1867&nbsp;and her dressmaking business in 1871 during the Great Chicago Fire. But she got involved in labor organizing not long after and continued to do so for the rest of her life. She became a national labor&nbsp;leader, earning her nickname because it was clear she cared so much about workers. She&nbsp;founded the Social Democratic Party and cofounded he Industrial Workers of the World, among other activities. She died in 1930 and is buried in Mount Olive, Illinois.&nbsp;

In 1903, several hundred child textile mill workers, led by labor activist Mary Harris "Mother" Jones (1837-1930), marched from Philadelphia to Oyster Bay, New York, in a protest against child labor. The president at the time was Theodore Roosevelt, whose home outside of Washington D.C. was in Oyster Bay. On their way to New York, Jones asked the mayor if she could give a speech about higher education here at Princeton. He agreed but Jones took it upon herself to talk about the dangerous, deplorable working conditions child workers were subjected to. The march did not have an immediate impact but it did bring the issue to the forefront and in 1906, New Jersey passed a law prohibiting children from working in mills before they reached 14 years of age. The marker was placed here in 2003.

Historical Marker: March of the Mill Children - 100th Anniversary

Though the modern-day Peacock Inn opened in 1911, its history dates back to the Colonial Era when tit was operated by Jonathan Deare, a member of the Continental Congress, who purchased the home in 1779. Deare offered rooms and provided meals to members of the Continental Congress at that time. A group purchased the Deare house in 1875 and moved it to its present location within the Princeton Historic District on Bayard Lane in 1875, and converted it into the Princeton Hotel Company. A couple purchased the hotel in 1911 and renamed it the Peacock Inn.Before the property was known as the Peacock Inn, it operated as the Princeton Hotel Company. The hotel president, Mr. Libbey, enjoyed local fame as a Princeton graduate, a professor at the University, as the person who established orange and Black as the University colors, and as one of the first local residents to own a telephone. The hotel transitioned to its present name, Peacock Inn, in 1911 after Joseph and Helen O'Connor purchased the property and named it after an inn in Midland England. The peacock symbolized royalty, good food, and good luck. The hotel history offers several engaging stories. For instance, F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed there as did lauded physicist, Albert Einstein. The basement of the Peacock Inn served as a speakeasy during Prohibition; patrons referred to it as Peacock Alley. Finally, in 1954, the Princeton football team met together on the Inn's porch and, due to their collective weight, caused it to collapse under them. Fortuitously, a photographer stood nearby and captured an award-winning shot of the incident that Sports Illustrated featured. Barry and Elaine Sussman purchased the Inn in 2006. The couple spent three years renovating the Inn, leading to a grand reopening in 2010. In 2018, the Peacock Inn Restaurant closed its doors. However, in May 2018, Genesis Hospitality purchased the Peacock Inn and subsequently reopened its upscale fine dining restaurant. With renovated rooms and a re-imagined restaurant, the award-winning boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant are once again part of the Princeton community.

This historic home was constructed in the colonial era and purchased in 1779 by Jonathan Deare. At that time, the home was at the corner of Nassau Street and University Place and Deare rented rooms and meals to travelers, including members of the Continental Congress. The home was purchased and moved to this location in 1875 and converted it into a hotel. The business was later renamed the Peacock Inn in 1911. People such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Albert Einstein are among the guests of the Peacock Inn.  

The Peacock Inn at Princeton University

Morven remained in the Stockton family until 1932, when Robert Wood Johnson, chairman of the company Johnson &amp; Johnson, purchased it. In 1944, Governor Walter E. Edge bought it, becoming the first governor to live in the house. In 1854 he&nbsp;transferred ownership to the state and&nbsp;subsequent governors lived here until 1981. Restoration of the house and grounds began in 1982. Archaeological excavations also took place in the period before the estate became the&nbsp;museum in 2004.

The Morven Museum and Garden is a historic home and museum showcasing the history of the estate and New Jersey's cultural heritage. The home itself is a National Historic Landmark, designated as such for its well-preserved Georgian architecture and association with Robert Stockton (1730-1781), a prominent lawyer and signer of the Declaration of Independence. His wife, Annis, named the house after the Irish word for "big mountain." Annis is also an important figure, as she was one of the early published female poets. George Washington was so impressed that he called her the “elegant Muse of Morven.” Morven was also the location where Washington and other leaders of the Revolutionary War celebrated the signing of the peace treaty with Britain, signaling the end of the war. Today, the museum offers guided tours of the house, which features period furniture and other items, and exhibitions about New Jersey history and culture.

Morven Museum and Garden

Located across the street from the Princeton Battle Monument, just inside the fence of a driveway, is this historical marker, which indicates that this area was where French and American forces encamped from August 29 to September 1, 1781 on their way to Yorktown, Virginia. The French force, which comprised of 450 officers and 5,300 soldiers arrived in Newport, Rhode Island on July 11, 1780. George Washington led the American force and General Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau commanded the French. The combined force would eventually defeat the English under the command of General Lord Cornwallis at the battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781. 

Historical Marker: “The Washington-Rochambeau Historic Route”

The construction of the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Camden and Amboy Railroad in the 1830s stimulated considerable development in the newly formed Princeton Township, Princeton University, and surrounding areas. As well, coal and building industries began to flourish in this area. Consequently, the University and surrounding regions enjoyed marked growth and a construction boom, including residential buildings. One of the chief residential architects was Charles Steadman, and one of his first projects was Canal Street (now Alexander Street). The Alexander Street housing development existed as one of the first residential construction projects in the Princeton area. Originally named Canal Street, the street linked Princeton with the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which along with the railroad, stimulated growth throughout the town during the 1830s. At the peak of its activity, Canal Street served as an active commercial market that included two basins where barges could load and unload goods, a railroad station, hay press, an iron roofing manufacturer, a sash and blind factory, and a hotel. Charles Steadman (1790-1868) designed numerous structures in Princeton, including churches, university buildings, and especially private homes. Charles Steadman subdivided several plots of land during the 1830s and 1840s, and constructed houses that, although shared many similar qualities, included unique features such as individually decorated doorways and cornices using motifs from published pattern books. The 20 Alexander Street home exemplifies the Steadman approach to the Alexander street designs. Though he built the Alexander Street houses for speculators, much of his work consisted of building homes for laborers and tradespersons. His collection of homes, churches and university buildings left a significant legacy of Federal and Greek Revival buildings at Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and in the surrounding town.

Princeton University and the surrounding township and county grew substantially during the 1820s and 1830s, partly due to the opening of a nearby canal and the arrival of the railroad. Coal mining, barge traffic, and students attending the University all led to population growth as well as a building boom. Charles Steadman designed many of the residential projects including one of the first series of homes on Alexander Street. The 20 Alexander Street home demonstrates Steadman's approach to build homes that demonstrated unity in form, but each home also enjoyed unique details such as ornate doorways that set every home apart from each other.

20 Alexander Street in Historic Princeton

Miller Chapel has functioned as the spiritual center of the Princeton Theological Seminary since it opened in 1834. As the chapel of the oldest Presbyterian Seminary in the United States, the building has been home to many significant Presbyterian theologians such as Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield, and Samuel Miller for whom the chapel gets its name. Plaques exist in the chapel that commemorates many of its notable leaders. Lauded, local architect Charles Steadman designed the church that now occupies lies within the Princeton Historic District. An 1874 remodeling added Victorian stained glass windows and an organ, moving away from the traditional Reformed objection to using instruments during times of worship. A far more visible renovation occurred in 1933. The chapel was moved to face the interior of the campus, serving as the cornerstone of two squares, bounded by Alexander and Hodge Halls to the north and Stuart and Brown Halls in the south. The renovation also enlarged the building and removed the 1874-installed Victorian windows to restore the chapel to its more simplified appearance, consistent with the Seminary's Reformed heritage. More renovations took place in 1964 and again in 2000. Despite all the renovations, it's original plan remains. The chapel contains a 'one-room' worship space and central pulpit uniting celebrants, choir, and congregation as part of a theological philosophy that emphasizes the "centrality of the proclaimed Word of God in the Reformed tradition." The chapel is also home to the Joe R. Engle Organ, given to the Miller Chapel Renovation Committee (and the Seminary) in 2000. The committee interviewed three leading North American organ builders before awarding a contract to Paul Fritts and Company, Organ Builders of Tacoma, Washington. Soon after the company signed the contract, Joe R. Engle of New York City agreed to fund the organ building project. The development of the organ took several years to plan the look and purpose of the organ and sixteen months to build it, which speaks to the value put on the organ and overall worship by its congregation.

Miller Chapel serves as the Princeton Theological Seminary spiritual center, and has been in continuous use since it opened in 1834. It is one of the many buildings built by the renowned local architect and builder Charles Steadman. The chapel exists as part of the Princeton Historic  District as recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. 

Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary

<blockquote></blockquote>Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879&nbsp;to a Jewish family in the town of Ulm, which is located within the state of&nbsp;Wurttemburg, Germany. He moved around somewhat when he was younger but finally made a home in Aarau, Switzerland. While it is not well known, he originally went to school to be a teacher in the fields of mathematics and physics. He was ultimately unable to find a teaching job, so he took a job with the Swiss Patent Office. Interestingly, the patent office is where Einstein developed many of his world-changing theories. He published in four of them in separate articles in 1905. Soon after publication, Einstein became a household name around the world. The main revelation was his theory of relativity, for which he won the 1921 Nobel Peace Prize. Over the course of 20 years, Einstein held many teaching jobs all over Europe. However, as Nazism gradually took over control of&nbsp;Germany in the 1930s, Einstein wrote and published articles expressing his political views and antipathy for&nbsp;the Nazi party. He soon denounced his German citizenship and left for the US in 1933. His title at Princeton was professor of theoretical physics. Einstein did not want this house to be designated as a museum and has remained a private home ever since.

This simple, two-story home once belonged to the greatest physicist (and one of the foremost scientists) of all time, Albert Einstein, whom Time Magazine named the Person of the Century in 1999. Einstein lived here from 1936, when accepted a teaching position at Princeton, until his death in 1955. He immigrated to the United States in 1933 to escape Nazi persecution. Einstein is most famous for his theory of relativity but he also advocate for various social and political issues, including support for a Jewish homeland. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. It is a private home and not open to visitors but can be viewed from the street.

Albert Einstein House

The monument was unveiled in 1922 after being designed by
Frederick MacMonnies with Thomas Hastings assisting with the architecture. In
2007, a new addition was added to the monument, a light that illuminates the
monument at night, although the illumination effect was in the original plan 85
years prior it did not get completed until 2007.&nbsp; The Monument is a focal point of the park and
is visited by many.

&nbsp;

As noted, the Monument shows General George Washington on
horseback, leading the defeat over the British troops while also commemorating
the death of General Hugh Mercer. On the back of the Monument, an inscription
written by Andrew Fleming West reads: “Here memory lingers to recall the
guiding mind whose daring plan outflanked the foe and turned dismay to hope
when Washington with swift resolve marched through the night to fight at dawn
and venture all in one victorious battle for our freedom.” Warren G. Harding
was present when the Monument was unveiled on June 9, 1922.

Located in the Princeton Battlefield State Park in Princeton, New Jersey, the Princeton Battle Monument commemorates the January 3, 1777, Battle of Princeton that took place during the American Revolutionary War. The monument shows General George Washington representing his defeat over the British forces during this battle. The monument also commemorates the death of General Hugh Mercer, a close friend of Washington’s who lost his life as a result of lethal wounds received during the Battle of Princeton.

Princeton Battle Monument

Charles Smith Olden was the grandson of William Olden, who bought the property from William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony. Charles was born in a small house on the property in 1799. He became a businessman, earning a substantial amount of money in Philadelphia and New Orleans (he also inherited money from his uncle). He eventually returned to New Jersey and built the original part of the mansion. Charles was served as a trustee of the College of New Jersey (the predecessor of Princeton), became a state senator (1844-1850), and served a term as&nbsp;governor from 1860-1864. One of the mansion's owners, Moses Taylor Payne, expanded the house (and developed the grounds)&nbsp;to its current appearance after they bought it in 1893. In 1941, the founder of the International Latex Corporation, which is now called Playtex, bought the mansion. He sold it in 1966 to the state to be used as the governor's residence, but this did not occur until 1982 after enough funds were raised to renovate the house and grounds.

Built in 1835 by Charles Smith Olden and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Drumthwacket has been the official governor's residence in New Jersey since 1982. Its name is a Scottish-Gaelic word that means "wooded hill." Smith chose it after seeing the word in a novel by Sir Walter Scott titled, "A Legend (of the Wars) of Montrose," which was published in 1819. The mansion today is a larger expansion of the original house that Smith built. The estate features gardens, walking paths, and outbuildings. The governor and family live in several rooms on the second floor and some of the rooms on the first are used for public functions. The mansion also offers changing exhibits about the history of the house. 

Drumthwacket

The&nbsp;Battle of Princeton was a Revolutionary War battle which took place on January 2, 1777 in Princeton, New Jersey1. &nbsp;It was the second of a short series of battles that took place in central New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. &nbsp;The first, more renown battle was the Battle of Trenton, where George Washington famously crossed the Delaware River on the midnight of Christmas Day&nbsp;and launched a surprise attack&nbsp;upon the Hessian mercenaries hired by&nbsp;the British2. &nbsp;However, the Battle of Princeton was of equal importance to the revolution. &nbsp;Following the Battle of Trenton, Washington and his exhausted force desperately needed to escape the British General Cornwallis and his larger host of soldiers sent in to crush the colonials. However, Washington used superior tactics to outwit Cornwallis. &nbsp;By leaving the campfires burning and muffling the noise of his Wagons, Washington and his men were able to evade Cornwallis's army, and instead launch a surprise attack on the British rear guard, whom they vastly outnumbered. &nbsp;275 British soldiers were killed in comparison to 40 colonials3, so the Battle of Princeton was a massive victory for the Revolutionaries which would help turn the tide of the war.&nbsp; As previously noted, The Battle of Princeton was an immensely important event in American history because it helped to turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. &nbsp;Not all colonists fully supported the Revolution,&nbsp;and the early stages of the war did not bode well for the revolutionary cause4. &nbsp;Suffering defeats to the vastly superior British army did not do patriot moral any favors. &nbsp;It was not until the stunning victories of the Battles of Trenton and Princeton that it seemed&nbsp;like the colonials had any chance of winning at all. &nbsp;The victories here offered great boosts to colonial morale, and helped to galvanize the colonies into greater efforts which led to great, war winning victories such as at Saratoga and Yorktown.5 Today, the battle site of the Battle of Princeton has been turned into a beautiful state park. &nbsp;The centerpiece of the state park is a stunning monument to those who fell during the battle. &nbsp;Behind great columnns is a large stone monument dedicated to the Battle of Princeton. &nbsp;However, there is an expansive tract of land surrounding the monument that is used for a variety of purposes. &nbsp;Being a state park, people from across the Mercer County area come to the Princeton Battlefield State Park to enjoy beautiful New Jersey spring and summer weather with all sorts of activities. &nbsp;It is not uncommon to find families having picnics on the grounds or a variety of youth sports organizations using the expansive green fields for soccer, football, or frisbee. &nbsp;One can also be sure to find Revolutionary War buffs coming from across the country to this important site to take in the stunning monument to one of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War.

The Princeton Battlefield State Park is a tract of land in Princeton, NJ where the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton took place.  The Battlefield memorial is the centerpiece of the site.  It consists of the facade of an impressive mansion that used to dominate the landscape.  The Greek-style columnns are quite mesmerizing.  Behind the facade in a wooded clearing, the actual memorial to the battle lies.  It is a massive stone circle inscribed with a dedication to the soldiers who lost their lives in the battle.  Surrounding the memorial is a beautiful set of fields that are always used by the locals.

Princeton New Jersey Walking Tour

Nassau Hall

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information