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):
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.
Annual Meeting and Lewis B. 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.
Princeton’s Taverns: On the Road to Revolution (opening May 2026)
HSP will present a new outdoor exhibition for Dohm Alley (next to Starbucks on Nassau Street) 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.
America250 Walking Tour (starting in May 2026)
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.
Illustrated Lecture: The History Behind the Paintings
When: June 12, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Where: Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton
A talk presented by Steve Yacik examining four depictions of local Revolutionary events.
Fourth of July Jubilee
When: July 4, 2026
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.
“Ten 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.
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
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.
