FitzRandolph Gate, Campus entrance gate at Princeton University, United States.
FitzRandolph Gate is a wrought-iron gate designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1905, standing on Nassau Street in front of Nassau Hall. It was restored for its centenary in 2005, when over 230 cast metal pieces were replaced with authentic English wrought iron worked with traditional blacksmithing tools.
Augustus Van Wickle funded the gate through a bequest honoring his great-grandfather Nathaniel FitzRandolph, who donated the four and a half acres for Nassau Hall. McKim, Mead & White designed it, and it was completed in 1905. For its centenary in 2005, over 230 cast metal pieces were replaced with English wrought iron worked with traditional blacksmithing tools.
The gate serves as a symbol of transition for students, marking their passage through university life. Its permanent opening represents the university's intent to connect openly with the surrounding community rather than remain isolated.
The gate stands on Nassau Street directly in front of Nassau Hall, at the campus's main pedestrian approach, and is open at all times since 1970. Visitors reach it on foot from the surrounding blocks of downtown Princeton; the entrance is at street level.
First-year students enter through the gate during orientation ceremonies, marking their official arrival at the university. Graduating students exit through it at commencement, creating a full-circle moment that bookends their educational journey.
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