Princeton University Campus
Only 2 days left on our vacation (New York was first. Little Italy & Chinatown, historical sights, the 9/11 museum, Brooklyn Bridge, Liberty & Ellis Island, then it was Connecticut for a day), so two days left and the weather turned quite cool and rainy. After leaving Thomas Edison’s laboratory we had driven further south to the city of Princeton and stayed at a great hotel my husband had secured for us through Priceline.
I wanted to visit Princeton University because of its long history. Did you know that it was a Bible college first? Started in 1746 by Jonathan Dickinson, John Witherspoon, William Tennent and Aaron Burr Sr., it was located in Elizabeth, New Jersey but in 1756 was moved to Princeton.
It was a beautiful campus and the staff friendly.
John Witherspoon
(the only college president and only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence)
Blair Arch
Alexander Hall/Richardson Auditorium which opened in 1894, could seat 1,500 people.
Because of its acoustics, it has been compared to Carnegie Hall.
Princeton Chapel, completed in 1928 at a cost of more than $2,000,000, it is the third largest university chapel in the world.
The pulpit was made in the 16th century in France.
The pews were made from Civil War gun carriages that weren’t needed because the war ended.
The day we were there they had a noon-day concert on the organ. It was amazing. We couldn’t see the organist so we just figured it was an older person. But then at the end of the concert, out stepped Clara Gerdes, a young lady of 20 years of age. It was her first time to play on this particular organ and she played beautifully.
The organ has 109 stops and 8,000 pipes.
This is Nassau Hall, completed in 1756 it is the oldest building on the campus. It is built of local sandstone and has endured two fires as well as shelling during the Revolutionary War.
The continental congress met in Nassau Hall after they were ran out of Philadelphia.
I love these brick floors and its imperfections. General George Washington received thanks for his part in helping the United States of America in this building. Imagine! George Washington and so many other notable men have walked these floors.
Across the street is the Princeton Cemetery where almost all of the Princeton presidents have been buried.
(John Witherspoon’s grave)
The wives were buried with their husbands.
Jonathan Edwards was also one of Princeton’s president’s.
Grover Cleveland, his wife and daughter were also buried here.
And because it was so so cold that day and rainy, we didn’t do any hiking like I had wanted to but instead just headed for someplace nice and warm. 🙂