About this city
Also known as: The Ivy Capital
Nestled beautifully in the rolling, leafy hills of northern Mercer County, Princeton is a dynamic and historic city world-renowned as the home of Princeton University, one of the planet's most elite Ivy League institutions founded in 1746. Incorporated as a borough in 1813, the town played an monumental role in American history, famously serving as the temporary capital of the United States in 1783 where the Continental Congress met inside Nassau Hall following George Washington's decisive victory at the 1777 Battle of Princeton. Today, Princeton functions as a premier global intellectual, scientific, and corporate powerhouse. The highly sophisticated landscape perfectly pairs grand Gothic Revival collegiate architecture with a fiercely creative cultural soul, characterized by Michelin-caliber dining, world-class research institutes, and a historic downtown square.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–3 days
Tour the historic 1756 Nassau Hall and admire world-class visual masterpieces at the Princeton University Art Museum. Stroll through the upscale boutique shops, independent bookstores, and cafes around historic Palmer Square. Explore early Revolutionary War heritage paths and monuments at Princeton Battlefield State Park.
