This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. The Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) is excited to participate in this semiquincentennial celebration, a multi-year, nonpartisan initiative honoring the nation’s history, diversity, and resilience. We have a variety of exhibitions, programs, and community events planned to educate and reflect on the past, while looking toward the future.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up (more events will be added soon):
HSP’s collections are featured in 250th exhibitions at Princeton University Library and Morven Museum & Garden.
Princeton’s Taverns: On the Road to Revolution (on view at Dohm Alley, next to Starbucks on Nassau Street)
HSP presents a special exhibition exploring the role of taverns in the town’s early history. More than places to eat, drink, and sleep, these everyday spaces served as centers of conversation, exchange, and civic life in Revolutionary-era Princeton and offer a lens for thinking about what spaces serve that role today. Free “Community on Tap” programs will be held in Dohm Alley on the following dates: July 3 at noon and 1 pm; Aug. 7 at 5 and 6 pm; and Sept. 11 at noon and 1 pm. These informal guided tours invite visitors to explore the exhibition in greater depth and learn more about the stories, sources, and research behind the project.
America250 Walking Tour
What happened in Princeton during the Revolution? Visit locations occupied or ransacked by the British in 1776; homes of signers of the Declaration and members of the Continental Congress; taverns, where Patriots and Loyalists mingled, debated, and plotted; and a site where the Battle of Princeton was fought.
Tours will be held June 28 (sold out) and July 5 (limited availability).
Fourth of July Jubilee
When: July 4, 2026, 12-3 pm
Where: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street
A free festival featuring music, speakers, artmaking, community partners, food, and more—all exploring what it means to be an American and a community member for different generations of people, past and present.
“11 for the Semiquin” with West Windsor Arts Council (July 2026)
A special art exhibition to celebrate New Jersey’s role in the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. Eleven artists are paired with local museums or historical sites to create new artwork exploring the relevance of the people and places in today’s America, and reflecting the cultural richness of our region. These new works will be exhibited in the main gallery of the West Windsor Arts during the summer of 2026. HSP is paired with artist Laura Warne, who sketched HSP’s historic farmhouse for our America250 logo.
Brooke Barbier: A Revolutionary Take on Cocktails & History
When: Friday, July 31, 5:00-7:00
Step back in time to the candlelit taverns of 1776 and the years before as public historian Brooke Barbier examines the surprising role that alcohol played in shaping the nation. In her latest book, “Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicated History of the American Revolution,” Barbier uncovers how a good pour influenced politics, relationships and the colonial economy. Pairing great stories with great libations, each chapter concludes with an 18th-century cocktail recipe. Join us at the Nassau Inn for an evening of unexpected history, storytelling and spirited sips.
Click here for more information and to register.
Princeton and the American Revolution: A Four-Part Series
When: Thursdays, September 10, 17, 24, and October 1
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm (one hour talk with Q & A)
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton
Dive into the 250th anniversary with this comprehensive program highlighting several Revolutionary War events, culminating in the Battle of Princeton. Discussions will include the largest battle of the war, the Battle of Brooklyn, and its local implications; the “Ten Crucial Days;” and the summer of 1783, when Princeton served as the nation’s capital.
Princeton 1776 Fest, 12-3 pm
When: October 3, 2026 (rain date Oct. 4)
Where: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street
This free community celebration — 250 years in the making — will include live music, living history interpreters and craftspeople, special exhibitions, and food and drink. Co-sponsored by HSP, Morven, Princeton Battlefield Society, and Daughters of the American Revolution.
PAST EVENTS:
America Laments Her Loss: George Washington Memorial Needlework
When: April 25, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton
America’s first national tragedy, the death of George Washington, was memorialized in many decorative arts. Among these were the samplers and other needleworks made primarily by young girls as part of their educational process. Dan Scheid, a prominent local needlework collector, will show numerous examples of these works from the early through mid-19th century that honor our first president and reflect the nation’s sense of loss.
The Ingenious Mr. Hopkinson: A Life in Words & Musick
When: April 29, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Where: Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street
Francis Hopkinson, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also an inventor, designer, accomplished poet, and multi-talented musician, credited as the first native composer of the United States. This lecture/performance, led by The Practitioners of Musick’s John Burkhalter, will include a rich and diverse selection of music, the same repertory owned and enjoyed by Hopkinson in printed and manuscript copies that survive to this day.
Cuyler Lecture: Revolutionary Princeton
When: May 4, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton
In conjunction with the Semiquincentennial, historian and author Larry Kidder chronicles the experiences and contributions of Princeton residents during the Revolution. Their individual and group stories help us understand the challenges faced by ordinary people and reveal the human consequences, costs, and benefits of the war.
Building Princeton: America250 Edition
When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 3:00 pm
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton
Visualize the town and campus as you’ve never seen them before! Working from photographs, teams recreate iconic Princeton structures out of LEGO building blocks. Choose among more than 50 historic structures, famous residences, community buildings, and houses of worship to construct a scale model. Additional 18th century buildings have been added for the Semiquincentennial. When complete, models are placed on a 30-foot map of Princeton, providing an amazing aerial view.
Illustrated Lecture: The History Behind the Paintings
When: Friday, June 12 at 6:30 pm
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton
“Every picture tells a story.” Examine some well-known paintings depicting key people and local events from the American Revolution, then delve deeper into the stories behind them. Who painted them, and why? What did they intend to teach?
