Princeton Battle Monument, Memorial sculpture at Nassau Street, Princeton, United States.
The Princeton Battle Monument is a limestone sculpture at the intersection of Stockton Street and Nassau Street that depicts General Washington on horseback leading troops during the Revolutionary War engagement. Standing approximately 50 feet tall, the work integrates architectural elements with sculptural details and forms the heart of a public gathering space.
The monument was constructed in 1922 by sculptor Frederick MacMonnies and architect Thomas Hastings to commemorate the American victory at Princeton on January 3, 1777. This battle marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War and demonstrated that the Continental Army could hold its ground against British forces.
The monument features a female figure wearing a Phrygian cap that represents Liberty and reflects inspiration from French memorial design. This figure stands at the heart of Princeton's public space, symbolizing the ideals the battle helped establish.
The monument sits at a busy street corner and is accessible at all times without admission fees, making it easy to visit whenever you pass through the area. Evening lighting changes its appearance, so visiting at different times of day offers different viewing experiences.
The monument bears inscriptions in both Latin and English that document Washington's leadership and the battle's role in securing independence. These carved texts reveal how people in the 1920s understood and wanted to remember the Revolutionary War.
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