Nassau Hall, Princeton, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Nassau Hall is the historic heart of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. Completed in the mid-1750s, it was the college's first major building, the scene of a key Revolutionary War battle in 1777, and the meeting place of the Continental Congress in 1783.

The story behind it

The hall was built between 1754 and 1756 for what was then the College of New Jersey and named for William III of the House of Orange-Nassau. It was among the largest buildings in the colonies, and for years it held classrooms, a library, a chapel and student rooms under one roof.

On January 3, 1777, George Washington's Continental Army fought British forces at Princeton after the crossing of the Delaware. British soldiers took shelter in Nassau Hall, and American artillery fired on the building. Tradition credits Alexander Hamilton with directing the guns. The British surrendered, and the victory lifted American spirits after a hard campaign. In the summer and autumn of 1783, Congress, driven out of Philadelphia, met here for several months, which briefly made Nassau Hall the seat of the national government.

What to look for

• The long, plain stone front, with a central section that projects slightly and a cupola above it, shows the style of a mid-18th-century colonial college.
• Two bronze tigers flank the front steps, a nod to the university mascot, and they are a favourite spot for photos.
• Look closely at the walls and the surroundings and picture the cannon fire of 1777, even though the building was later damaged by fire and rebuilt.
• Across Nassau Street, the FitzRandolph Gate frames the view of the hall and shows how the campus meets the town.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes to see the outside and the nearby lawns, longer if you add a stroll through the rest of the campus.
• Morning or late afternoon light is kind to the stone facade and keeps the front steps less crowded.
• The building is still in use by the university, so interior access can be limited. Check current visiting information before you plan to go in.
• Nassau Street's cafes and shops are right across the road, which makes this an easy stop on a longer walk through Princeton.

See it on a quest

You reach Nassau Hall on foot as one stop on Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Princeton, a self-guided mystery route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the building and its surroundings far more closely than a quick photo allows. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.