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Walking Tours

Available public walking tour dates are listed below, and can also be found on our calendar of events. There is no tour on May 28 (Reunions/Commencement).

If you have more than six people in your group, please contact eve@princetonhistory.org to schedule a private tour. Private tours of town and campus are available by request for up to 20 participants ($10 per person, $100 minimum).

Walking tours are generously supported by

 

Princeton History Sunday Tour

“We have lived here for nearly 17 years and are familiar with the town and campus. This is the first time we took the tour and wished we had taken it earlier since we learned a fair amount of new information and factoids. (Our guide) was informative and entertaining … Thanks for offering a great resource for the community.” – S. A.

Enjoy a 2-mile walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Nassau Hall, University Chapel, and Palmer Square. In addition to the early history of the town, founding of the University and Revolutionary War,  guides will share some of the lesser-known stories of Princeton’s diverse past. 

Tickets are $10.

Advance purchase is required. Ticket sales end at 1:00 PM on the day of the tour (or when the tour is sold out). Due to space limitations, we cannot accommodate last minute add-ons at the start of the tour. 

Portions of the tour may include stairs and hills, please notify guide of any accessibility needs.

Tours are held in light rain; in the event of severe inclement weather, a message will be sent to the email address used when booking. You can also click here for an update on HSP’s calendar of events. Refunds or ticket exchanges will be issued only if the tour is cancelled.

PARKING: Meters are enforced 7 days a week. Free parking is available on weekends in Princeton University’s numbered lots.

Tickets

Princeton History Walking Tour on June 11, 2023, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Princeton History Walking Tour on June 18, 2023, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Princeton History Walking Tour on June 25, 2023, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Click to buy tickets or view more dates.

Themed History Walks

Historic Stony Brook: Gateway to Princeton History

Before there was a “Princeton,” six Quaker families established a community on the fertile ground along Stony Brook. This two-hour hike explores the lives of the early settlers and the community they established, while following a portion of the trail George Washington took from Trenton to the Princeton Battlefield. Stops include the Stony Brook Meeting House and Burial Ground, walking a portion of the “hidden” back road into Princeton, and a view of the Battlefield.
Tour starts at 354 Quaker Road, Princeton.

Please check back for spring 2023 dates. 

Princeton University Eating Clubs

Join author Clifford Zink on a walking tour outside Princeton University’s majestic eating clubs. Learn about the architecture, origins, and development of the sixteen Classical and Gothic-style clubhouses, which date from 1895 to 1928. 
Tour starts outside Colonial Club, 40 Prospect Avenue, Princeton.

Copies of Zink’s 2017 book, The Princeton Eating Clubs, will be available for sale at a discounted price at the tour.
Co-sponsored by Princeton Prospect Foundation and the Historical Society of Princeton.

Please check back for fall 2023 dates.

In Her Footsteps: How Women Shaped Princeton

Wiebke Martens and Jennifer Jang, authors of Discovering Princeton, have developed a brand new tour dedicated to the contributions of women in the community. The walk includes an overview of Princeton’s history and focuses on some of the women who have helped make Princeton – both town and its namesake University – what it is today. Stops include the new Betsey Stockton Garden, Alexander Hall, and Dorothea’s House.
Tour starts outside Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton.

Please check back for available dates.

Princeton University Architecture Tour

This unique tour explores the phenomenal modern architecture on campus. Buildings include extraordinary contemporary designs, including the Frank Gehry-designed Lewis Library, the Stadium, the Icahn Laboratory, and the brand-new Princeton Neuroscience Institute/Psychology facility. 

Please check back for available dates.

Digital Tours

Experience the Historical Society of Princeton’s local history walking tours digitally – anytime, anywhere!

Explore some of Princeton’s most notable – and more hidden – places, with the help of an audio guide and unique material from HSP’s extensive collections.

Download the free HSP app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.

Don’t have a smart phone? Click the links below to access our digital tours on the web.