Mercer is teeming with history that goes back centuries. Our historical impact even reaches back to the American Revolutionary War! And we fortunately have many places throughout Mercer that showcases this history in truly unique ways. We’ve put together several of the top art museums and historical venues that are worth visiting this season in order to get your full fill of what makes this place so special. Keep reading —

Princeton University Art Museum

Elm Drive (located on the University Campus. Follow lamp post museum banners)

Princeton, NJ 08544

https://www.visitprinceton.org/listing/princeton-university-art-museum/6718/

One of the nation’s finest museums with a collection featuring more than 100,000 works of art, which span the world over many centuries. Guided and self-guided tours are available. And the museum is always free!

A view of mummies in the princeton university art museum

Photo via commons.wikimedia.org

 

Grounds for Sculpture

80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619

https://www.visitprinceton.org/grounds-for-sculpture/

Encompasses 42 acres where visitors enjoy a collection of contemporary outdoor sculpture set amidst a beautiful landscape of native and exotic trees and flowers. Three buildings house six galleries with rotating exhibitions. Guided tours are available.

Grounds for Sculpture West Gallery

Photo via http://paulhenryramirez.art/rattle-2016-2017.html

 

Old Barracks Museum

101 Barrack Street

Trenton, NJ

https://www.visitprinceton.org/listing/old-barracks-museum/6858/

Brings Colonial America to life through interpretive programs and exhibits that present NJ’s history and its diverse people. Built to house 300 soldiers during the French and Indian War, the Old Barracks is one of the oldest surviving buildings in NJ, and the last remaining British barracks in North America.

An interior shot of old barracks museum

 

New Jersey State Museum

205 W State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608

With more than 2 million objects, artifacts and specimens, the museum broadly covers natural history, archaeology, ethnography, cultural history and fine art. It’s 140-seat planetarium is also worth seeing.

a hanging dinosaur in NJ state museum

 Photo via trentonnjtoday.com

 

McCarter Theatre Center

91 University Place, Princeton

https://www.visitprinceton.org/listing/mccarter-theatre-center/4459/

A Tony award-winning regional stage, offers a full schedule of plays and hosts topflight musicians and performers year-round.

A view of the outside of the McCarter Theater

Photo via mccarter.org

 

Princeton Symphony Orchestra

575 Ewing Street, Princeton, NJ 08540

https://www.visitprinceton.org/listing/princeton-symphony-orchestra/6751/

Bringing classical music to the area. It’s season features six classical concerts, three pops concerts and a chamber music series. Concerts are on the Princeton University campus or at McCarter Theater.

a view from the balcony looking down at the princeton symphony orchestra

Photo via princetonsymphony.org

Morven Museum & Garden

55 Stockton Street, Princeton 08540

https://www.visitprinceton.org/listing/morven-museum-%26-garden/6025/

Residence of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Two centuries and 11 families later, Brendan T. Byrne was the last governor to call the Princeton mansion home. Guided and self-guided tours of the house and garden are available.

A group looking through an exhibit at morven museum

Photo via morven.org

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Want even more Mercer history? See our top 10 historic landmarks here.