Princeton New Jersey Walking Tour

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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.

2. Drumthwacket

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.

3. Princeton Battle Monument

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.

4. Albert Einstein House

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.

5. Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary

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.

6. 20 Alexander Street in Historic Princeton

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.

7. Historical Marker: “The Washington-Rochambeau Historic Route”

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.

8. Morven Museum and Garden

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.

9. The Peacock Inn at Princeton University

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.

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

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.

11. MacLean House, Princeton University

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.

12. Nassau Hall

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.

13. Princeton University Art Museum

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.

14. Prospect House, Princeton University

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.

15. Princeton University Chapel.

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.

16. Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library at Princeton University

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.

17. Joseph Henry House

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.

18. Beatty House

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.

19. Grave of Aaron Burr

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.

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

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.

21. Westland Mansion

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.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Princeton New Jersey Walking Tour

Created by Clio Admin on March 26th 2020, 8:34:14 pm.

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Description

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.

Entries on This Tour

Princeton New Jersey Walking Tour

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