Nassau Hall

Built in 1756 to house the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), Nassau Hall played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. When Princeton’s campus became a battlefield, the building suffered heavy damage as it was occupied at different times by both British and American troops. The Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, marked a turning point in the war, ending with British forces surrendering Nassau Hall to General George Washington. In 1783, the building briefly served as the nation’s capital, hosting the Continental Congress from June to November—the very place where the peace treaty with Great Britain was first announced to the new United States.