Downside: tours only on weekdays and currently by appointment, which has limited me being able to…read morevisit before. Also the parking info on the website was confusing, but we parked new the Barracks Museum but not in any nearby reserved spot. It was also a little confusing where the entrance was, but if you pick the wrong door, someone will point you in the right direction to the entrance of the annex. We were the only people on the tour, which is free, so we got to have a lot of great insight. We also got to shoot a ton of questions at the tour guide and he knowingly answered all of them and one he didn't know he radioed in to his team to find out. We started off looking at a stained glass ceiling with NJ sites depicted, looked in the Senate Room, the Representatives Room, the individual parties room, judiciary rooms, and meeting rooms while looking at different art in the hallway and inside rooms symbolizing NJ iconography/historic figures. It was delightful for both the artist and the historian in me. If this place gave tours on weekends, I think it would be more popular. Maybe there's a staffing shortage, and that would be a shame. Weekdays are hard for people to visit, but it is definitely worth it to visit if this sounds like something that would interest you. Note: between the 2 I've seen, PA still has better architecture (and Saturday tours) but that was still nice and more people should see it.

"Trent Town" New Jersey! Yeah!! "Trent town" was recognized as the state capital in 1790…read more Quakers first founded the settlement in the region that later became Trenton in 1679. The Quaker settlement adopted the title "Trent-towne" by 1719 in honor of William Trent who was among its leading landholders. "The Battle of Trenton" took place in the city of "Trent town" where George Washington achieved his first military victory in the course of the American Revolutionary War. In December of 1784, the Confederation congress briefly convened in Trenton. Most famously, Trenton's Capitol briefly acted as the capital of the US. Yep. It was the capital of the United States of America from November 1 to December 24, 1784 Just for that one reason alone it's worth a visit. A lot of great American history took place in this old capitol building. And it is old, it's the 6th oldest in the US. I used to live in New Jersey. I loved living in Jersey. I traveled all over Jersey, Jersey is amazing! Amazing Italian food and awesome diners. Kinda industrial but urban also. A lively lovely little mini metropolis. The US Census Bureau groups Trenton's large, central Jersey, metropolitan area with that of New York while it also borders the large Philly Metropolitan area. Today, Trenton is a super manufacturing hub/industrial area, with a bunch of bridges that cross the Delaware river. It has its own unique beauty. I loved it there. A lot of American History/Historical significance in this Capitol as "Trent town" is among the seven state capitals situated in the Piedmont Plateau. Making the Capitol building in Trenton New Jersey, def one of the 7 you want to see. Recommend.

The Princeton Battlefield Memorial was commissioned to honor the first victory of George Washington…read moreand the Continental Army against the regular British Army in 1777. From first conception in 1887 to dedication in 1922, the project took 35 years to complete due to lack of funds and artistic differences between the local civic groups in charge of selecting a site, retaining a sculptor and overseeing proprieties required by the Princeton town fathers. Ultimately, they settled on Frederick MacMonnies from the Paris Ecole Des Beaux Artes, who was grateful for the work. He in turn retained the services of the Piccarelli Brothers of Bronx, New York, the best stone carvers of their day, who had also completed the marble figure of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC. On June 9, 1922, the dedication took place with keynote speakers MacMonnies, President Warren G. Harding, and many lesser luminaries. Given to flights of gilded oratory, Harding said in part: "...Here the genius of General Washington reached the height of its brilliancy in action. Here his followers wrote their highest testimony of valor. Here liberty-seeking devotion struggled through privation and unbelievable exertion, to gain the heights. The crimsoned prints of numbed and bleeding feet marked the route a pathway to eternal glory. Thither they trudged through storm and torrent; but from here, in the hour of victory, went our winged messengers to let all men know that liberty was safe in the keeping of her son's...." It is genuinely an impressive stone monument. Within its folded granite can be seen the dying General Hugh Mercer being supported by a nameless soldier. On top, the visage of General Washington looks ahead, seemingly seeing the results of the bloody fight and also perceiving where all this would end a few years on.

On January 3, 1777, a surprise attack by the Continental Army routed the British and led to their…read moreretreat from Southern New Jersey. Many historians consider the Battle of Princeton to be a pivotal battle in the war for independence. Of course, the American troops were led into this battle by General George Washington. This imposing monument was dedicated in 1922, and features many delicate and intricate carvings on all faces. Check out the gorgeous image of Washington on his horse surrounded by dozens of his followers. The main inscription 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".

William Penn with license from the King of England purchased the land that became known as Bucks…read moreCounty and Newtown in 1682 from the indigenous Lenape people. A self styled urban planner for his day, Penn laid out his "New Town," around the primary water source that was ultimately named Newtown Creek. His concept of a circular village surrounding the water, with every landholder possessing a piece of the creek bank, expanding from their to create pasture for farm animals and beyond that, room for the modest homes that Quakers demanded, was a good one, but failed to consider the coming industrialization of mills and small cottage industries that required unlimited energy to produce their wares. So, it became rational to sell off the water access along the creek to build the races and waterwheels that powered early manufacturing and milling. By the end of the 18th Century, all but one parcel had been sold off and the grazing of sheep, horses and cattle moved farther afield. That remaining land was neglected until nearly the present day, and became a dumping ground for unwanted waste. Concerned citizens finally organized a non-profit, the Newtown Creek Coalition, to try to save, maintain, enhance and preserve Billy Penn's dream. They succeeded in securing grants to fund reparations to the Newtown Creek banks, repair the granite marker installed in the 1930s, and sponsor seasonal creek cleanups under the sponsorship of local businesses who saw value in restoring community history, which was rich in American lore. (Yes. George Washington headquartered here after the first Battle of Trenton, but before the Battle of Princeton and the second Battle of Trenton.) All that remains is .16 acre at the bottom of Greene Street at the creek. There is a stone marker embedded in the patch of grass on the small flat plain in the meandering Creek bed that separates Newtown Township from Borough. It is picturesque and deserving of your time on your walking tour of this near-ancient community. William Penn may have misunderstood what the future held, but he sure selected a beautiful bucolic spot to be wrong.

Backstory: This is the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway Headquarters/Visitor Center. Also,…read moreknown as the Bridgetenders House, the visitor center was built in 1834 when the Delaware & Raitan Canal was constructed. This byway has been designated as a New Jersey and United States National scenic byway. The byway is home to historic towns, open fields, farms, unspoiled woodlands, natural wetlands, and wildlife. I like the views and hiking options here. It's a great place to visit to explore Princeton's rich culture. There are documentaries for viewing and a guest sign-in book too. They have a Facebook page where you can see upcoming events. Just a really interesting place to visit. Very friendly staff.

This is a beautiful little village in New Jersey and it is one of its oldest. Dating back to the…read morelate 16-hundreds, it was originally situated on an Indian trail that over time became the King's and still later the Lincoln Highway. I lived here for 2 years and loved the small community and the beautiful woods surrounding it. There was no mail distribution, so everyone met on Saturday mornings to chat and pick up the mail. Probably they still do. It is also full of history: the bridge over the Millstone River that was destroyed by Washington's troops, his headquarters on Laurel Avenue, the old cemetery and Presbyterian church, the Raritan-Delaware Canal, the old Sawmill, the Carnegie Lake - and we are only miles from Monmouth and Princeton where famous battles were fought.

The only way this place could be better is if it was open more. It's a direct link to…read morepre-america, and was the place the battle of trenton was likely planned. You can stop in for a tour on the first Saturday of every month, and most months, the third Saturday as well. The House is original, dating to roughly 1765, and housed George Washington for the week, from December 8th to the 14th, 1776, as Washington wavered between heading to Philadelphia or turning north on the offensive. When leaving he turned north, crossed the river at Washington Crossing and turned the tide of the American Revolution. The best idea of Pre-America likely happened here for Washington. Could you have a great idea too?

On the other side of the river bank from New Hope, it's difficult to tell which one is more…read morecharming, though this one is not to be missed.

Lambertville is of course not in Princeton, but a town of its own on the Delaware River on the…read moreborder with Pennsylvania and even more beautiful New Hope is across the river. Lambertville is only a few miles from the famous place where Washington and his army crossed the Delaware in the middle of the winter. It is a charming touristy town with lots of antique shops and galleries. Even the drive here is more than worth it: start from Kingston up Laurel Avenue, and turn left in Rocky Hill. From here it is a straight but winding road past Blawenburg, Hopewell in smiling rolling country. Take any small countrylane on your left or right and drive around: the land is full of surprises and souvenirs of America's past.

Attractive stone house built in 1708, the oldest in Mercer County. group tours of the house…read moreavailable upon request. interior of House is open to the general public from 1 to 4 pm on second Sunday of Apr, May, June, Sept, Oct, and Nov. Sits with Roebling Park just off Westcott Avenue.