Princeton NJ Historical Sites Announcements

Princeton 250th Celebration Events

February 16, 2026

Nestled in the heart of American history and innovation, Princeton is proudly celebrating its 250th anniversary—a remarkable milestone for a town that has long stood at the crossroads of tradition, intellect, and community spirit. This year’s celebration is a vibrant tribute to Princeton’s rich past and dynamic present, featuring a series of exciting events that bring together residents, visitors, and alumni alike. From historical reenactments and art exhibitions to lively parades and community festivals, Princeton 250 is more than a commemoration—it’s a joyful reflection of the town’s enduring legacy and its bright future ahead. 

We will be updating this list all year long so please check back. Also, all events can be found on our Events Calendar.  Feel free to scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of resources regarding local historical references.

 

March 4, 2026 - Author: Andrew David Edwards, Princeton Public Library, 6-7pm

Historian Andrew David Edwards presents his new book, "Money and the Making of the American Revolution." Registration requested, but not required.

American money and American democracy have always been in tension, pitting political equality against economic inequality. In "Money and the Making of the American Revolution," Andrew David Edwards shows how this struggle emerged in America’s founding era. Everyone knows that the founders waged a revolt against taxation without representation. Edwards shows that the dispute over taxes was really a dispute over money: what it was, who could make it, and how to keep it from being used at the expense of the colonists in North America. The colonial rebels refocused their resistance on democratic, local control—defending the power they had used to make money for themselves. Click here for more information

 

March 7, 2026 - Marquis de Lafayette - Robbinsville Branch - 2pm

42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road Robbinsville, NJ 08691 609-259-2150

In honor of America 250, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, join historical reenactor Richard Moody in his engaging portrayal of French aristocrat Marquis de Lafayette! This performance will detail Lafayette's "Welcome Home" tour of New Jersey at age 68 at the invitation of President Monroe. You will discover more about this hero and his role in the American Revolution and his significance to American history. Registration is required.

 

March 8, 2026 - Lecture: Pre-Revolutionary Land Fraud and Corruption in Hopewell Valley - 2pm.

This lecture, “Pre-Revolutionary Land Fraud and Corruption in Hopewell Valley” covers Colonel Daniel Coxe’s land speculation which disenfranchised legal land deeds in today’s Ewing, Lawrence, and Hopewell communities from 1703 to 1760. His royal authority forced settlers to abandon or repurchase their properties. This talk is being given by public historian Richard M. Durham, who serves as an Advisor with the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.

This venue is fully accessible located in classroom #113 in the Education Building of The College of New Jersey.

Click here for more information

 

March 10, 2026 - Sons of Erin: The Irish in the American Civil War, Hamilton Public Library

1 Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way, Hamilton. www.hamiltonnjpl.org.

The American Civil War is often called Ireland's forgotten conflict. During the war about 150,000 Irish men fought for the Union, with another 20,000 joining the Confederacy. Although exact death figures are unknown, thousands of Irish soldiers likely died. Despite their significant involvement, their experiences remain largely overlooked. Register.

 

March 11, 2026 - REV 250: The Ladies of New Jersey and the Revolution Revisited with Dr. Martha J King, 5-7pm

Learn about Trenton's prominence in the American Revolution and its importance for people like George Washington and Annis Boudinot Stockton. Women and children are also central to the Revolution, and the role of history and memory – what we choose to remember and forget — highlighted. Join historian Dr. Martha J King for an exploration of the remarkable women whose actions, leadership, and community roles significantly influenced George Washington's experience in Trenton during the American Revolution.

Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www.trentonlib.org.

 

March 11, 2026 -

Heritage Lecture: Lydia Darragh, A Heroine of the American Revolution, 7:30pm.

Join Delaware River Greenway Partnership on March 11 at 7:30 PM via Zoom as Robert N. Fanelli presents “Lydia Darragh, A Heroine of the American Revolution.” Who is Lydia Darragh? She is famed for eavesdropping on British General William Howe’s staff as they planned a surprise attack, then sneaking through the lines to give warning to American soldiers. Her actions are said to have saved George Washington’s army from a devastating ambush as it lay starving and freezing on the barren hills of Whitemarsh at the end of 1777. But did the secret she brought to the Patriots really prevent their defeat? Why would a professed pacifist choose to risk her life by intervening in military affairs? Who was the mysterious intelligence officer she met between the lines? Was her story even true?

Free Registration: https://shorturl.at/0dKuk

 

March 15, 2026 - "An Afternoon with Martha Washington", Washington Crossing State Park, 2-3pm.

Alisa Dupuy has been portraying Martha Dandridge Custis Washington as she was during the American Revolution since 2009 and has performed for hundreds of audiences nationwide. Her engaging solo performance explores Martha’s early life, her first marriage and children, her meeting and marriage to George Washington, and the trials and triumphs they endured during the Revolutionary War. Audiences gain insight into what it was like to be part of the nation’s first “First Couple,” as well as reflections on their lives together.

This event is pay-what-you-wish. Similar living-history and museum programs typically carry a $10 per person admission, and guests are invited to contribute at a level that feels meaningful to them in support of the park’s 250th anniversary programming.

Click here for more information

 

March 18, 2026 - Catharine "Caty" Greene: Eyewitness to the American Revolution, Virtual, MCLS, 7pm

Carol Simon Levin portrays Catharine "Caty" Greene, the indomitable wife of Nathanael Greene, one of Gen. George Washington's most valued officers. Known as a witty raconteur, she enlivened the spirits of officers and troops alike as the war ranged from New Jersey to South Carolina, famously dancing for 3 hours straight with George Washington. Her pluck and spirit carried her through victories and tragedies not only during the war but throughout a remarkable life of resilience and reinvention. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lawrence Library. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

 

March 29, 2026 - Lectures on Tap: Loyalists, Flounder Brewing, 2-3:30pm.

Flounder Brewing,  2 Clerico Lane, Hillsborough Township, NJ,

The Loyalists: Those in the American Revolution Who Wanted a King. Many people think slavery only existed in the American South and that all those in the British colonies during the Revolution were Patriots. Not so. New Jersey residents were bitterly divided during what became a nasty civil war. The third or more of probable Loyalists can be divided into those who were active picking up arms, irreconcilably opposed to Independence who became exiles, those who remained during the war, and then those who left and later returned. Their reasons had to do with location, political ideas, religion, family ties, experiences. Local examples will be given. Hopefully this will provide perspective for discussion about then and on our own divided times. Maxine N. Lurie is a retired professor of history from Seton Hall University, who has concentrated on early American History and the history of New Jersey.

Click here for more information

 

April 9, 2026 - The Declaration in Script and Print, Morven Museum & Garden, 6:30-8pm.

Join us for the next program in the Generation Declaration series, “The Declaration in Script and Print,” with John Bidwell, Curator Emeritus at the Morgan Library.

The Declaration of Independence became a work of art during the nineteenth century. New printing technologies helped to produce copiously ornamented facsimile editions illustrated with portraits, autographs, and patriotic emblems, some touted as precious relics, others aimed at the bottom of the market. In this talk drawing from his new book, The Declaration in Script and Print: A Visual History of America’s Founding Document, graphic arts historian John Bidwell will illustrate the widespread influence of Declaration prints and broadsides on American popular culture..

Click here for more information

 

April 11, 2026 - Monthly Living History Programs: Soldier Saturdays, Washington Crossing Park. 11-3pm 

Join us each month as historical interpreters and reenactors bring a piece of history to life at Washington Crossing Historic Park. Each month’s program will run from 11-3, and will cover various aspects on military life during the American Revolution. The programs will take place on the 2nd Saturday of each month April – September. There is no admission or registration, all you have to do is show up and be ready to learn something new! You can find the schedule and topics below:

April 11: uniform production May 9: Maritime services in the American Revolution June 13: Continental Army foodways July 11: Hessian occupation August 8: Artillery September 12: Contributions of Camp Follower/Black Soldiers to the American Revolution October 10: Civilian contractors for the war effort

Click here for more information

 

April 15 - July 12, 2026 - 

“Nursery of Rebellion”: Princeton and the American Revolution - Princeton University Library 

Drawing on an array of PUL’s manuscript and rare book collections, this exhibition will commemorate the 250th anniversaries of U.S. independence and the Battle of Princeton, and showcase Princeton’s archival treasures from the revolutionary era alongside documents and artifacts that reveal local experiences of the American Revolution on campus and in the surrounding communities. Exploring the Revolution across lines of gender, class, race, allegiance, and status, the exhibition will offer visitors a range of perspectives on the Revolution’s ideals and contradictions, its anxiety and violence, and its achievements and tragedies. More Info/Hours

 

April 29, 2026 - Lecture – “The Writing of the Declaration and What It Meant in 1776?, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, 6pm.

Friends of Washington Crossing Park (FWCP) has been awarded a $15,000 grant through America250PA’s Lecture250 Series to support their upcoming presentation, “The Writing of the Declaration and What It Meant in 1776”. The funding will help Washington Crossing Historic Park offer this signature lecture and support the other free public lectures presented at the park throughout the year, exploring the people, ideas, and events that shaped our Commonwealth and the nation.

Dr. Emily Sneff’s new book, When the Declaration of Independence Was News, examines how the Declaration was disseminated, interpreted, and remembered in Pennsylvania and across the Atlantic world in 1776. Sneff, a consulting curator for national exhibitions commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, holds a Ph.D. in History from William & Mary and will be on a national book tour in advance of the 2026 anniversary.

Click here for more information

 

April 29, 2026 - The Ingenious Mr. Hopkinson: A Life in Words & Musick, Morven Museum & Garden, 6:30pm.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street Francis Hopkinson, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also an inventor, designer, accomplished poet, and multi-talented musician, credited as the first native composer of the United States. This lecture/performance, led by The Practitioners of Musick’s John Burkhalter, will include a rich and diverse selection of music, the same repertory owned and enjoyed by Hopkinson in printed and manuscript copies that survive to this day.

Click here for more information

 

May 4, 2026 - Annual Meeting and Lewis B. Cuyler Lecture: Revolutionary Princeton, 7pm.

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road

Princeton In conjunction with the Semiquincentennial, historian and author Larry Kidder chronicles the experiences and contributions of Princeton residents during the Revolution. Their individual and group stories help us understand the challenges faced by ordinary people and reveal the human consequences, costs, and benefits of the war.

Click here for more information

 

May 9, 2026 - Building Princeton: America250 Edition, 3pm.

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road

Visualize the town and campus as you’ve never seen them before! Working from photographs, teams recreate iconic Princeton structures out of LEGO building blocks. Choose among more than 50 historic structures, famous residences, community buildings, and houses of worship to construct a scale model. Additional 18th century buildings have been added for the Semiquincentennial. When complete, models are placed on a 30-foot map of Princeton, providing an amazing aerial view.

Click here for more information

 

May 14, 2026 - New Jersey Women’s Revolutionary Experiences, Morven Museum & Garden, 6:30-8pm.

As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence, this presentation will explore the varied experiences of New Jersey women during the era of the American Revolution. For many New Jersey women, the home front and battlefields remained inextricably connected throughout the war. Attention to women’s experiences brings to light the complex, contested, and prolonged nature of the American Revolution in New Jersey. This program is offered in a hybrid format offering both in-person and virtual access. A Zoom link for virtual attendees will be shared via email following registration. The program will be recorded and a recording shared with all registrants after the event.

Click here for more information

 

May 30, 2026 - Living History: George Washington's Encampment, 10-4pm

Millstone Township and Friends of Millstone Township Historic Properties is gearing up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, and we’ve asked George Washington and the 1st NJ Regiment to come celebrate with us! Come meet George and Martha Washington, Washington’s enslaved cook Hannah Till, and the members of the 1st NJ Regiment. Participate in a musket drill. Learn about people from Millstone’s past who participated in the War for American Independence. Visit a field hospital. Discover 18th-century field cooking, laundry and food rations. Listen to 18th-century music. Visit with farm animals. The event is family friendly with activities for people of all ages.

Click here for more information

 

June 19 - 21, 2026 - Battle of Monmouth Reenactment

Each year the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield co-sponsors, with the State of New Jersey, an annual reenactment of the battle. The event commemorates the anniversary of the longest, hottest battle of the Revolution, fought on June 28, 1778. Hundreds of troops encamp at the park and recreate scenarios of the battle over the weekend. There are also numerous presentations and lectures, tours of the camps, and sutler area open to the public. A suggested donation of $10.00 per car is requested to help cover the cost of the event. A food vendor will be on site and handicapped parking is available. DETAILS

 

September 10, 2026 - Princeton and the American Revolution: A Four-Part Series, HSP

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road

When: Thursdays, September 10, 17, 24, and October 1 Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm (one hour talk with Q & A)

Dive into the 250th anniversary with this comprehensive program highlighting several Revolutionary War events, culminating in the Battle of Princeton. Discussions will include the largest battle of the war, the Battle of Brooklyn, and its local implications; the “Ten Crucial Days;” and the summer of 1783, when Princeton served as the nation’s capital.  Click here for more information

 

October 3, 2026  - Princeton 1776 Fest - Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street

Rain Date - October 4

This free community celebration — 250 years in the making — will include live music, living history interpreters and craftspeople, special exhibitions, and food and drink. Co-sponsored by HSP, Morven, Princeton Battlefield Society, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Click here for more information

 

 

HISTORY LINKS WE LIKE

 

David Center for the American Revolution - https://www.amphilsoc.org/david-center-american-revolution

Historic Germantown - https://historicgermantownpa.org/2026-events-and-experiences/

Historical Society of Princeton - https://princetonhistory.org/

Mercer 250 - https://250.mercercountynj.gov/

Old Barracks Museum - https://revolutionarynj.org/sites/old-barracks/

Princeton Battlefield Society - https://pbs1777.org/

Princeton Battlefield State Park - https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/princetonbattlefieldstatepark.html

Revolution NJ - https://www.revnj.org/

Rockingham Historic Site - https://www.rockingham.net/

Trent House Museum - https://www.williamtrenthouse.org/

Washington Crossing Historic Park - https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/