Where a Nation Took Shape.
From battlefield victories to the Continental Congress, Princeton stood at the center of the American Revolution between 1776 and 1783.
THE REVOLUTIONARY CAPITAL
Where War, Governance,
and Nationhood
Converged
Between 1776 and 1783, Princeton played a critical role in the American Revolution. From military campaigns to the Continental Congress, the town became a center of leadership, diplomacy, and nation-building.
Adapted from a historical map published by the Rutgers University Department of Geography, Historical Maps of New Jersey Project.
EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE
Stories, Places,
and People of
Revolutionary Princeton
PLACES
Historic Places
Explore the buildings, homes, halls, and landscapes that shaped Princeton’s revolutionary story.
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Timeline
The Timeline
Follow the events that carried Princeton from battlefield to temporary capital of the United States.
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Timeline →
Congress in Princeton
Congress in Princeton
Discover how Nassau Hall became the meeting place of the Continental Congress in 1783.
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“I do not know a more agreeable
spot in America.”
— George Washington, 1783
A REVOLUTIONARY TIMELINE
Princeton Through the Revolution
1777
Battle of Princeton
Washington’s victory at Princeton marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
1783
Congress Meets at Nassau Hall
The Continental Congress convened at Nassau Hall, briefly making Princeton the capital of the United States.
1783
Battle of Princeton
In Princeton, George Washington received the formal thanks of Congress for his leadership during the Revolutionary War.
FEATURED STORY
Nassau Hall and the Birth of a Nation
In 1783, Nassau Hall became the meeting place of the Continental Congress, placing Princeton briefly at the center of the emerging United States.