History
One of the most significant events in American History occurred here. During what is now known as the "Ten Crucial Days" and "The Turning Point of the Revolution", Washington defeated the British.

After the famous Crossing of the Delaware on Christmas night 1776 (see Washington Crossing State Park) and then the Battle of Trenton (see Trenton Barracks), Washington made his way to Princeton. Here, on January 3, 1777, Washington got his first victory against British Regulars. This is the place where General Hugh Mercer died, whom Mercer county is named after, where the first US Marine died and where George Washington rallied his troops to carry on the fight for freedom.

Without the Ten Crucial Days, Washington's army would have collapsed. It is because of these victories that the fight for independence survived and July 4th 1776 is not just a footnote in world history.

Park

The park is a long expanse of lawn through which Mercer Road runs. The park is only a fraction of the size of the actual battlefield which extended all the way to Nassau Hall in Princeton University. The centerpiece of the park was the Mercer

Oak, but sadly had collapsed from old age in March of 2000. It has now been replaced by a sapling from one of it's acorns. Here you can view an 18th century farm house known as the Thomas Clarke House. Built in 1772 by Thomas Clarke, this is where General Hugh Mercer received medical care and died nine days after being wounded in the Battle of Princeton.

Princeton Battlefield State Park offers nature trails, one of which leads to a Quaker Meeting House, built in 1726, which is still in use. Take a picnic basket and have a picnic on the lawn while playing frisbee or softball.

At the other end of the park is the Ionic Colonnade which was designed by Thomas U Walter, architect of the US Capitol building. It is a stone patio which marks the graves of 21 British and 15 American soldiers killed during the Battle of Princeton. Here you can read a poem written for the site by Alfred Noyes, Poet Laureate of England.

During January you can witness a reenactment of the Battle of Princeton and is one of the many Revolutionary Reenactments that go on throughout New Jersey.

Don't forget to check out the Princeton Battle Monument, designed by sculpture Fredrick MacMonnies and dedicated by President Harding, on the edge of downtown Princeton located on Rt 206 at the corner of Stockton Street and Baynard Street.

Currently the edge of the park is endangered by development and the Princeton Battlefield Society is fighting to stop this development. If this development goes through there will be faculty housing along the edge of the park, which will ruin the historic and isolated feel of this very important American Historic treasure. Once this land is built on - there is NO turning back - there is no way to regain these 35-acres of land.


Clarke House

At the Thomas Clarke House, built in 1772, you can see Revolutionary War exhibits, furnishings and learn about life back in the times of the Revolution.