TURNING THE TIDE: Artillery reenactors participate in a reenactment of the January 1777 Battle of Princeton. Princeton Battlefield State Park recently received $1.3 million in funding from the State of New Jersey, which it is using to preserve and revitalize the park in preparation for an anticipated influx of visitors celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Photo by Andrew Walker)

By Donald Gilpin

The American Battlefield Trust (ABT) has recently received $1.3 million in funding from the State of New Jersey, and, along with the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) and other local partners, has extensive plans for revitalization, transformation, and preservation of the Princeton Battlefield in preparing for the 2026 celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Site of the Battle of Princeton, where George Washington’s Continental Army defeated British forces in 1777, the Princeton Battlefield is a state park and National Historic Landmark. The funding was secured in the state’s FY 2025 budget by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, along with Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis and Assemblyman Roy Freiman, and will be disbursed through the American Battlefield Trust (ABT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving America’s battlegrounds and providing history education.

“Central New Jersey was the location for the 10 crucial days of the Revolutionary War, and preserving our history is more important now than ever,” said Zwicker as quoted in a PBS press release. “In today’s politically divided climate, places like Princeton Battlefield State Park serve as poignant reminders of American unity and the sacrifices made to secure the freedoms and independence we cherish.”

He continued, “By building a new Visitor and Education Center and supporting restoration efforts at Princeton Battlefield, we can celebrate this landmark and use education to inspire the next generation. As the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, I cannot think of a better time to begin work.”

ABT President David Duncan expressed his gratitude for the funding and added, “The state’s $1.3 million investment to enhance the visitor experience at the park will help ensure this famous battleground will be ready for the influx of tourists expected for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.”

PBS President Ben Strong noted, “The American Battlefield Trust and its community partners envision a revitalized Princeton Battlefield State Park equipped with interpretive signage — including 10 wayside signs, two state-of-the-art ‘battle windows,’ and a topographic map of the battlefield — and access to a digital tour app that will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the history.”

PBS Communications Head Todd Quackenbush, who is also a PBS trustee, explained that the first order of business has been a clearing of the battlefield to make it look more like it did at the time of the battle. The area around the Clarke House is being cleared out and opened up to look more like the farm land that was there in 1777.

Upgraded signage to document what went on on the battlefield and a battlefield app are expected to be in place later this year. Next year, said Quackebush, an interpretive pathway will be built around the circumference of the battlefield with new signs to guide visitors and provide information about what happened at each location. Also on the agenda is the re-creation of a trace road that Washington and his forces traveled on on their way to Princeton.

Across Mercer Road, the Ionic colonnade and memorial grove with gravesites commemorating soldiers from both sides lost in the battle will see substantial refurbishment, Quackenbush said. “It’s been through a lot and is in need of attention and tender loving care,” he added.

In the meantime, the PBS is gearing up for two upcoming events: Young Patriots Day on Sunday, September 15, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the battlefield and the 2025 Experience the Battle of Princeton reenactment on Sunday, January 5.

Young Patriots Day festivities will include activities for school-age children and families, highlighting colonial life and the American Revolution. There will be demonstrations and drilling with the New Jersey Grays; a talk with George Washington and Ben Franklin; demonstrations on weaving, woodworking, colonial spies, and 18th century medicine, artillery, and musket firing; information tables; and tours of the Thomas Clarke House and Museum.

Visit pbs1777.org/young-patriots-day for registration and further information.

Quackenbush noted that both visitor attendance and reenactor participation in the annual Battle of Princeton event in January have been “ramping up steadily.” “The 2025 edition is shaping up to be as big or bigger than any in the past 20 years,” he said, “with more than 300 reenactors plus cavalry and artillery on the field.”

As of mid-August, 13 reenactor regiments had already committed to participate. “The Experience the Battle of Princeton Committee is working hard now to make sure we do a great job in January for the thousands of people who come out to watch this turning point in the American Revolution,” said Strong.

PBS Vice President Ken Gavin added, “We’re thrilled to see the early commitments from these 13 units. Just as 13 colonies grew into 50 states, expect at least three times as many units to commit over the coming months and to put hundreds of reenactors on the field.”

The PBS website notes that the January 3, 1777 victory on Princeton Battlefield capped what historians call the “Ten Crucial Days,” that began with Washington’s famous December 25, 1776 crossing of the Delaware. During those days “Washington and the American forces rescued the War for Independence after months of crushing battlefield defeats in New York and New Jersey,” the website states.