Princeton Nurseries

Princeton Nurseries is a large property in Kingston with about 40 buildings and various structures spread along two roads. The site includes storage buildings, propagation houses, and multiple rows of greenhouses that remain visible today.

The nursery was founded in 1913 and used the local soil and proximity to major cities as advantages for a rapidly growing business. It became the largest commercial nursery in the United States and shaped the country's landscaping for decades.

The site reflects how a large-scale plant production business once operated, with buildings and structures that show the working methods of a historical nursery. Visitors can observe how the facilities were organized for growing and shipping plants across the country.

The property is now part of a state park and houses a visitor center in a renovated early 20th-century building. Plan time for a walk across the large grounds, which is best done during daylight hours.

The company developed a special elm variety that resisted a devastating fungal disease and was planted in many American cities. This innovation shows how a commercial nursery also engaged in breeding and advanced landscape design.

Location: Middlesex County

GPS coordinates: 40.36861,-74.61528

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:20