AREA ATTRACTIONS
Whether you’re making a day of it, or the whole week, we’ve got you covered! In addition to Patriots Week events, there are so many other things to do and places to see in and around downtown Trenton.
In the city, you’ll find the New Jersey State Museum and planetarium, the historic New Jersey State House, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Passage Theatre, Artworks/Trenton, the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion and dozens of fabulous restaurants.
Extend your stay and visit nearby historic sites including the Brearley House and the Lawrenceville School campus in Lawrenceville; the Princeton Battlefield, Thomas Clarke House, Nassau Hall and Prospect House at Princeton University, and Morven in Princeton; and Washington Crossing Parks on both the NJ and PA sides of Washington’s historic Christmas Day crossing in 1776.
Old Barracks Museum
101 Old Barrack St., Trenton
(609) 396-1776
The Old Barracks Museum brings the world of Colonial America to life through interpretive programs, exhibits and preservation so that visitors can appreciate NJ’s history, the diverse people who made it and why it matters.
1719 Trent House
15 Market St., Trenton
(609) 989-3027
This Georgian-style Colonial was built in 1719 by Trenton’s namesake, William Trent. Designated as a National Historic Landmark and is listed in both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Trenton Battle Monument
349 N. Warren and Broad Sts., Trenton
(609) 737-0623
The Trenton Battle Monument commemorates the American victory at the first Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776. At this intersection the American artillery dominated the streets of Trenton and prevented Hessian troops from organizing an effective counterattack.
The 1739 Friends Meeting House
142 E. Hanover St., Trenton
(609) 278-4551
The Friends Meeting House was occupied by British Dragoons in December 1776. It is where George Clymer, a Pennsylvania signer of the Declaration of Independence, is interred in the burial ground.
Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church
140 N. Warren St., Trenton
By 1774, the congregation of St Michael’s was split between Loyalists and Patriots, and the congregation decided to suspend religious services during the Revolutionary War. David Brearley, a New Jersey signer of the Constitution, is buried in the churchyard.
First Presbyterian Church
120 E. State St., Trenton
The graves of Hessians who died in the First Battle of Trenton, including Colonel Johann Rall (unmarked) are in the cemetery, alongside many others who died during the American Revolution, including Rev. John Rosbrugh, the first American clergyman to die in battle during the nascent nation’s fight for independence.
Alexander Douglass House
165 E. Front St., Trenton
(609) 394-1965
On January 2, 1777, in this small structure, the Continental Army’s council-of-war made the decision to make an overnight march to Princeton and attack the British garrison.
OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS
New Jersey State House
125 W. State St.
(609)847-3150
Tour one of the State’s most historic public building. Originally built in 1792, it is the third-oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States.
New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium
205 W. State St.
The New Jersey State Museum encompasses three buildings including a state-of-the-art planetarium and holds more than two million artifacts in its collections in archaeology/ethnography, cultural history, fine art and natural history.
New Jersey State Library
185 W. State St.
The NJ State Library and its collections date back to 1796 when the library was established. Rare books, maps, and its Genealogy and Jerseyana collections, are just some of the unique history resources the Library has to offer.
New Jersey World War II Memorial at Veterans Park
125 West State St.
Across from the State House at Veterans Park is a memorial that honors and pays tribute to the many sacrifices of our “Greatest Generation.”
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
One Memorial Drive
(609) 984-8484
Opened in 1932, the War Memorial is a national and historic site that was built as “a great community center” dedicated to the memory of Mercer County residents who died fighting World War I.
Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion
299 Parkside Ave.
(609) 989-1191
Located in Trenton’s historic Cadwalader Park, the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion houses a fine collection of art and artifacts related to Trenton’s historical, industrial and cultural past and present.
Trenton Free Public Library
120 Academy St.
(609) 392-7188
The Trenton Free Public Library is the oldest library in New Jersey, founded in 1750 as the Trenton Library Company by Dr. Thomas Cadwalader. Originally a subscription library, it was later incorporated as a free public library. The Library’s Trentoniana Collection is an invaluable resource for historians.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
1112 River Rd, Washington Crossing, PA
Washington Crossing Historic Park preserves the site where George Washington crossed the Delaware River to march to Trenton, turning the tide of the Revolutionary War. Every December, thousands of people and reenactors in Continental military dress gather here to stage and watch a reenactment of this historic event.
Washington Crossing State Park
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville
(609) 737-0623
For hours, boats and ferries crisscrossed the Delaware River on Christmas 1776, carrying men, horses and cannons here to the NJ side. From here, in the midst of a violent winter storm, Washington’s troops marched almost ten miles to Trenton. Their victories there turned the course of the American Revolution.
Princeton Battlefield State Park and Thomas Clarke House
500 Mercer Rd, Princeton
(609) 921-0074
On the morning of January 3, 1777, the American troops, under General George Washington, surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars at this site. Tours of the park and reenactments of the Battle of Princeton commemorate one of the fiercest battles of the Revolutionary War.
For still more local historic and cultural places to visit, visit:
The Princeton Mercer Convention and Visitor Bureau website
DISCOVER PATRIOTS WEEK!