Experience the Battle of Princeton

After the successful 1776 Christmas surprise attack on British and Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey, George Washington continued his march in the brutal cold through the Garden State. On January 3, 1777, the Continental Army took British troops posted in Princeton by surprise. Successfully evading the watchful gaze of Lord Cornwallis, Washington and his forces kept the momentum of their victories going. Fighting was fierce, but the Americans broke through enemy lines and notched another win. The Battle of Princeton not only provided a much-needed morale boost for Washington's troops to but also forced the British to retreat through southern New Jersey, giving control back to the colonists. 

The Princeton Battlefield Society has meticulously preserved the site of this monumental battle. With the support of an NEH Celebrate America! grant, the society is hosting a special three-day commemoration of the event, Experience the Battle of Princeton, on December 27, 2026. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch a reenactment of the battle, participate in a memorial ceremony with U.S. military service members and legacy groups, and explore the grounds of the 95-acre National Historic Landmark.