Princeton Battlefield facts for kids

The Princeton Battlefield is a very important historical place in Princeton, New Jersey. Here, American and British soldiers fought a big battle on January 3, 1777. This was during the American Revolutionary War. The battle ended when British soldiers gave up at Nassau Hall. This victory was a huge boost for the American side. It came after other successes at the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of the Assunpink Creek. These wins made American spirits much higher.

Today, part of the battlefield is a state park. For a while, there was a plan to build houses on another part of the land. But many groups worked hard to protect this historic area. The American Battlefield Trust helped buy nearly 15 acres of the land. This helped make sure the battlefield would be saved. They raised money from people and also got grants from the National Park Service. This purchase finally ended the long discussion about building on the land.

Princeton Battlefield State Park

Princeton Battlefield State Park is a large park in Princeton, New Jersey. It covers about 681-acre (3 km²). This park protects a key part of the Battle of Princeton site. This battle was a big win for General George Washington's American forces. The park is looked after by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. You can find it on Mercer Road, about 1.5 miles south of Princeton University.

What to See at the Park

The park has many interesting things to explore:

• The main battlefield area where the fighting happened.
• The Clarke House Museum, which is a historic house.
• The spot where the Mercer Oak once stood. This famous tree was in the middle of the battle.
• A special stone structure called the Ionic Colonnade. It was designed by Thomas U. Walter.
• A stone patio that marks the graves of 21 British and 15 American soldiers. They died in the battle.

A famous poet from England, Alfred Noyes, even wrote a poem about this place.

You can also find hiking trails in the park. These trails lead to the Delaware and Raritan Canal. They also connect to the land of the Institute for Advanced Study. The Princeton Battle Monument is another important site. It is located in town, close to Princeton University.

Clarke House Museum

The Thomas Clarke House Museum was built in 1772. It was built by a family of Quakers. The house is decorated to look like it did during the Revolutionary War. Inside, you can see military items and exhibits about the battle. It also has a library for research. During the battle, General Hugh Mercer was brought to this house. He was treated by Benjamin Rush, but sadly, he did not survive.

Princeton Battlefield and Stony Brook Village Historic District

In 1989, the area around the battlefield was made even larger. It became the Princeton Battlefield / Stony Brook Village Historic District. The first people to settle in Princeton were Quaker farmers. They lived along the Stony Brook, which is near the battlefield. The Stony Brook Meeting House and Cemetery was already there when the war happened. It was even in sight of the battle. This meetinghouse and the nearby farms are now part of the protected area.

Gallery

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  The Princeton battlefield with its map

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  Mercer Memorial and Clarke House

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  The Stony Brook meetinghouse in 1936