Princeton University, Research university in Princeton, United States
Princeton University is a research university in Princeton, New Jersey, spreading across roughly 500 acres with numerous buildings designed in collegiate Gothic style. Nassau Hall, completed in 1756, stands as the oldest structure on campus and sits surrounded by wide lawns and shaded pathways.
The institution was founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey and later relocated to Princeton, where Nassau Hall briefly served as a meeting place for the Continental Congress in 1783. The college expanded during the 19th century and officially adopted the name Princeton University in 1896.
Students wear academic robes at certain commencement events, and many participate in local traditions such as evening singing gatherings around the campus. Visitors can walk through open courtyards and libraries where undergraduates study and relax, experiencing the daily rhythm of scholarly life.
The campus is easy to explore on foot, and visitors can enter most public areas without prior registration, although certain buildings may be closed or reserved for events. Travelers coming from New York City or Philadelphia can take a train to Princeton Junction, then use a local shuttle or short taxi ride to reach the campus.
Bullet marks from the 1777 Battle of Princeton remain visible on the outer wall of Nassau Hall, where British troops had taken shelter during the fighting. The nearby Alexander Hall lecture space features a freestanding wooden ceiling built without visible supports, echoing medieval carpentry techniques.
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