Princeton University Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Princeton University (Princeton)
Why Walk Princeton University Campus
Princeton's campus is widely considered one of the most beautiful in America, a masterful blend of Collegiate Gothic stone buildings, Georgian originals, and contemporary additions woven together by arboretum-quality landscaping. The campus functions as a certified arboretum with over 200 species of trees, many individually tagged along walking paths. Nassau Hall, built in 1756 from local sandstone, served as the seat of the Continental Congress and temporary US Capitol for four months in 1783 — cannonball scars from the Battle of Princeton are still visible on its walls. The Gothic core of campus was largely built in the early 1900s under architect Ralph Adams Cram, whose work for Princeton set the standard for Collegiate Gothic architecture in America. Cram's masterwork, the Princeton University Chapel (1928), seats 2,000 and is one of the largest university chapels in the world. The campus blends seamlessly into the town of Princeton along Nassau Street, where shops and restaurants front directly onto the university grounds. Walking south from Nassau Street through FitzRandolph Gate, visitors pass the cannon-guarded Nassau Hall, enter the elm-lined paths leading to the Gothic residential colleges, and eventually reach the modern engineering quadrangle and the Lewis Center for the Arts — a Steven Holl-designed complex of glass and weathering steel completed in 2017.
About Princeton University
Founded
1746 (as the College of New Jersey; renamed Princeton University in 1896)
Type
Private Ivy League research university
Setting
Suburban campus of about 600 acres in Princeton, New Jersey, roughly midway between New York City and Philadelphia (about an hour from each by train). Nassau Street separates the campus from the downtown shopping district.
Enrollment
About 5,700 undergraduates and roughly 3,200 graduate students, for a total near 9,000.
Mascot
Tiger (the Princeton Tigers; school colors are orange and black)
Free Princeton University Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Princeton University campus tour with audio narration. Explore Nassau Hall, Princeton University Chapel, Princeton University Art Museum, plus hidden spots like Einstein's house and Prospect Garden, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at Princeton University
- •Nassau Hall — Completed in 1756 and designed by Robert Smith in Georgian style, Nassau Hall was the largest stone building in the American colonies and served as the temporary US Capitol from June to November 1783. Its sandstone walls still bear cannonball marks from the Battle of Princeton (1777). The building has been rebuilt twice after fires (1802 and 1855) and now houses the university president's office. Two bronze tigers by sculptor Bruce Moore flank its front entrance.
- •Princeton University Chapel — Completed in 1928, this Ralph Adams Cram-designed masterpiece is one of the largest university chapels in the world, seating 2,000 in its 277-foot-long nave. The Collegiate Gothic structure features a magnificent collection of stained glass windows, including a 1930s Great West Window by Charles Connick, carved oak choir stalls, and a four-manual Mander organ installed in 1991. The chapel hosts regular services, weddings, and musical performances throughout the year.
- •Princeton University Art Museum — Founded in 1882 and recently expanded into a stunning new David Childs-designed building completed in 2024, the museum holds over 115,000 works spanning antiquity to contemporary art. Notable holdings include Chinese paintings and calligraphy, pre-Columbian art, European old masters, and significant works by Claude Monet and Andy Warhol. The new building features nine interconnected gallery pavilions with a translucent facade that brings natural light into the galleries.
- •McCarter Theatre — A 1930 Collegiate Gothic building that has evolved into one of America's leading performing arts centers, winning the 2003 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Its main stage seats 1,077 in an intimate setting, and the adjacent Berlind Theatre adds a 360-seat flexible space. McCarter premieres new plays, hosts national touring companies, and has been a Broadway tryout venue since the 1930s, launching productions that went on to major New York runs.
Signature Architecture
- •Nassau Hall — Built 1756, designed by Robert Smith in Georgian style. It served as the U.S. capitol for about four months in 1783 when the Continental Congress met here. Two bronze tigers flank the front entrance.
- •University Chapel — Completed 1928 in Collegiate Gothic style, designed by Ralph Adams Cram. One of the largest university chapels in the world.
- •Firestone Library — Opened 1948, an open-stack research library holding millions of volumes. A multi-year renovation was completed in 2019.
- •Lewis Arts Complex — Designed by Steven Holl Architects, opened 2017. A contemporary arts building cluster contrasting with the campus's Gothic stone.
- •Princeton University Art Museum — A new building designed by Adjaye Associates opened in 2025, replacing the prior museum. Free admission.
Hidden Corners of Princeton University
- •Einstein's house — The modest two-story white clapboard house at 112 Mercer Street, where Albert Einstein lived from 1935 until his death in 1955, sits quietly on a tree-lined residential street a five-minute walk from campus. Einstein walked daily between his home and his office at the nearby Institute for Advanced Study. The house is privately owned and not open to the public, but its exterior is well-preserved and clearly marked.
- •Prospect Garden — A formal French-inspired flower garden tucked behind Prospect House, the faculty club. Designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman in 1904 with geometric beds, boxwood borders, a central fountain, and seasonal plantings, this one-acre garden is one of the most photographed spots on campus. Open to the public year-round, it is especially stunning in late spring when the peonies and roses reach peak bloom.
Notable Alumni
- •James Madison, 4th U.S. President (class of 1771)
- •Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. President and former university president (class of 1879)
- •Michelle Obama, former First Lady (class of 1985)
- •Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder (class of 1986)
- •Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (class of 1976)
- •F. Scott Fitzgerald, author (attended class of 1917, did not graduate)
- •Alan Turing, computer scientist (earned his PhD here in 1938)
Campus Traditions
- •Reunions: a large alumni gathering held the weekend before Commencement each spring, featuring the 'P-rade' procession of alumni in orange-and-black costumes organized by class year.
- •The eating clubs on Prospect Avenue ('the Street') serve as dining and social hubs for many upperclass students; there are around a dozen, some selective ('bicker') and some sign-in.
- •Singing the alma mater 'Old Nassau.'
- •The FitzRandolph Gate superstition: students avoid walking out the main gate until graduation, the belief being that leaving early means you won't graduate.
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Hoagie Haven on Nassau Street, a long-running sandwich shop known for oversized hoagies.
- •The Bent Spoon, an artisanal ice cream and gelato shop in Palmer Square.
- •Olives, a Mediterranean deli and cafe on Witherspoon Street popular for lunch.
- •Tiger Noodles on Nassau Street for quick, cheap Chinese food.
Did you know? Nassau Hall was briefly the capitol of the United States: in 1783 the Continental Congress met there, making the town of Princeton the national capital for about four months.
Visiting Princeton University
The Frist Campus Center is the main visitor hub and has information. Free guided campus tours and information sessions are run through the Admission Office and the Orange Key student-guide program; reserve tour and info-session slots in advance via the university's admission/visit website, as schedules vary by season. Self-guided walking is allowed on campus grounds, and the Princeton University Art Museum is free. On-campus parking is limited and largely permit-only, with paid public parking in town garages near Palmer Square, so arriving by NJ Transit train (the 'Dinky' shuttle from Princeton Junction to Princeton station) is often easier.
Walking Tip
The campus is compact and walkable. Nassau Street borders the campus with shops and restaurants. The towpath along the Delaware and Raritan Canal is a peaceful walk extending from campus.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. October brings peak fall color. Reunions weekend in late May-early June is Princeton's biggest tradition. Summer is quiet and perfect for walking.
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