Suggested Weekend Activities June 21-22

 

Bainbridge House is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Princeton still on its original foundation (original construction pre-dates the Revolutionary War). The house is located at 158 Nassau Street. The Bainbridge House is run by the Princeton Historical Society and is open Noon - 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $4.  There is also a 1.9-mile guided Walking tour of historical Princeton (http://www.princetonhistory.org/visit/sunday-walking-tours.cfm) that leaves from the house at 2:00 p.m. every Sunday. Weather permitting, allow 2 hours; reservations are not required, however the tour size is limited. Price: $7 adults. Call (609) 921-6748 extension 102 or email: eve@princetonhistory.org

 

Princeton University campus, between Nassau Street and Washington Street, has many interesting buildings, such as the historical Nassau Hall (where the U.S. Congress met at one point during the Revolutionary War).  You may find general information on visiting Princeton University on their web site at: http://www.princeton.edu/main/visiting.  Free one-hour walking tours of the central part of campus are conducted by the Orange Key Guide Service.  A schedule of tours offered during the summer can be found at http://www.princeton.edu/admission/visitprinceton/tours_information_schedule/summer.xml or call (609) 258-3060 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on any weekday for more information. While on Campus, watch for black squirrels (a Princeton specialty) and sculptures of famous artists including Henry Moore. Guyot Hall on the Princeton campus contains many natural history items of interest, including dinosaur nests/eggs and many fossils.

 

Princeton University Art Museum (http://www.princetonartmuseum.org) contains East Asian treasures and paintings of the French Impressionism period, as well as other collections and exhibits. It is located in McCormick Hall on the University Campus. Admission is free. Please see the website, call (609) 258-3788, or send an email to puamweb@princeton.edu to obtain further information about hours of operation and current exhibits.

 

Albert Einstein House is located at 112 Mercer Street.  It is a white frame 2-story house with a large front porch in Greek revival style. (Please note, this is private residence; it is not open to the public.)  Einstein lived in this house from 1933 until his death in 1955.

 

Woodrow Wilson House is at 82 Library Place, between Stockton Street and Hodge Road, in the elegant western section of Princeton.  While Wilson lived on campus at Prospect House (now the faculty club) while President of Princeton University, he also resided for a time at 82 Library Place.

 

Princeton Battlefield, site of the first U.S. victory during the Revolution, is located at 500 Mercer Street, 0.5 miles south of Olden Lane. The Clark House Museum, the house where General Hugh Mercer died after the Battle of Princeton, was also used as a hospital following the battle of 1777.  It is located in Princeton Battlefield State Park.  The Battlefield can also be accessed from the Institute Woods (see below). (609) 921-0074 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/princeton.html

 

The Institute Woods can be accessed off Mercer Street, or from the end of Springdale or Olden Lane.  There are many walking paths, some leading to the canal, some to the battlefield, and some to a bird sanctuary. Excellent bird watching is possible. http://www.ias.edu/files/pdfs/ias-woods.pdf  (Note: this map does not show well in Firefox; we suggest you open it in an alternate web browser)

 

Walk along the canal and the lake off Washington Street, and you may look for song birds, great blue herons and eagles.
 

Canoe and Kayak Rentals are available at 483 Alexander Street, which is within walking distance from both Princeton University and the Institute. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For further information see their website at http://www.canoenj.com /prince1.htm, call (609) 452-2403 or send at email to steve@canoenj.com

 

The Morven Museum & Garden, at 55 Stockton Street, was built in the 1750's for Richard Stockton, the signer of the Declaration of Independence; Former Residence of New Jersey Governors. Free on-site parking. Hours of operation: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., weekends Noon to 4:00 p.m. For further information, see their website at  http://www.historicmorven.org, or call (609) 924-8144 extension 106.

 

Creative Entertainment Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St, Princeton (This theatre is within easy walking distance of the University and the Institute). Theater Office: (609) 683-4656, Movie Recording Line: (609) 683-7595

 

United Artists Movies at Market Fair, 3521 US Rte 1, Princeton (This theatre is a short drive by car from the University and the Institute). (609) 520-8960

 

 

Princeton offers easy access by train to New York City via NEW JERSEY TRANSIT (http://www.njtransit.com) from the "Princeton, New Jersey" station. You would take the shuttle train (often refered to as the "DINKY") on the Northeast Corridor Line to the "Princeton JUNCTION, New Jersey" station, and then change trains to a Northeast Corridor Line train into New York's Penn Station.

 

You may take train transportation to the city of Philadelphia via NJ TRANSIT (http://www.njtransit.com) and then SEPTA trains. You would take the shuttle train (often refered to as the "DINKY") from the Princeton Station on the Northeast Corridor Line to the "Princeton JUNCTION, New Jersey" station. Once you arrive at Princeton Junction station, you need to get off the shuttle train and then take a NJ Transit train southbound to the Trenton Station. At the Trenton Station, you will need to get off the NJ Transit train and take a SEPTA train to Philadelphia.  The SEPTA website and schedule information is located at: www.septa.com.