Local Excursions
Albert Einstein's house is just a short walk from the seminary, at 112 Mercer St. Einstein spent the last 22 years of his life in Princeton dedicated to the teaching and exploration of physics as a member of the Institute for Advanced Study. The house is privately owned, so please don't disturb the residents if you go to look.
Drumthwacket (683-0057), 354 Stockton St., is the official residence of the governor of New Jersey. Limited tours. Call to schedule.
The Historical Society of Princeton (921-6748), 158 Nassau St., is based in the Bainbridge House. Built in 1766, it's is a nice stop when you have a bit of time to kill and want to wander back through Princeton's history. Not quite an excursion, but it can feel quite like one.
The Institute for Advanced Study -- accompanied by a 500-acre nature preserve known as the Institute Woods -- was founded in 1930 with the goal of "the pursuit of learning and exploration in fields of pure science and high scholarship." It's the place where intellectuals from various fields convene for a peaceful respite amidst Princeton's green glory. The likes of Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer and John von Neumann have been associated with the institute.
To get there, pick up a shuttle to the institute from Palmer Square (call 734-8000 for information) or walk south on Nassau Street and make a sharp left on Mercer Street. At the first stoplight, make a left onto Olden Lane. Then walk way down, and you'll find it. Trail maps for the woods and brochures about the institute are available in Fuld Hall, its main building.
McCarter Theatre (258-2787) has the double advantage of being right next to Forbes (91 University Place) and offering huge discounts to students. It's one of the best off-Broadway theaters in the country, and does a great job of having something for everybody, with everything from traditional plays, ballet and chamber music to modern musicals, juggling, comedy and jazz.
Morven Museum and Garden (924-8144), 55 Stockton St., was the original residence for New Jersey governors (before Drumthwacket) and is now open to the public; bring your Princeton ID for a discounted ticket.
Princeton Battlefield (921-0074), located at 500 Mercer Road (Princeton Pike), is an 85-acre state park marking the site of one of the fiercest fights during the Revolutionary War.
Princeton Cemetery (924-1369, 29 Greenview Ave.), sounds like a morbid destination, but there's a lot to see. Owned by the Nassau Presbyterian Church (the big white building with columns next to Maclean House), this cemetery was founded in 1757. The oldest structure is the Aaron Burr Sr. monument located in the President's Plot.
Princeton Theological Seminary, bordered by Mercer, Alexander and Stockton streets, is a professional and graduate school of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Founded in 1812, it has an enrollment of 800 divinity students. For a change of pace, dine in the spacious and airy Mackay Campus Center (64 Mercer St.). Bring cash, though -- our PUDS contract doesn't cover meal exchanges with the seminary (it will get you a library card, though, if you're interested in their ample Christian text archives).
Looking for a guide? The Princeton Tour Company offers walking, biking, bus and pre-recorded tours covering history of both the town and the University, as well as ghost tours and pub crawls.
