Today is the 239th anniversary of Washington’s victory at the Battle of Princeton. Unfortunately, it’s also a day in which Princeton Battlefield is under threat. Despite concerns from preservationists, historians, hydrologists, and now state lawmakers, the Institute for Advanced Study shows no signs of slowing down in its effort to build faculty housing at the site.
Why not commemorate the battle’s anniversary by taking a few minutes of your time to help protect the place where it happened? Here are a few easy things you can do.
- Donate to the Princeton Battlefield Society. These folks have been at the forefront of the effort to keep the battleground intact.
- Join the Civil War Trust’s advocacy campaign by signing their letter to Gov. Christie. (Yep, the CWT defends Rev War sites, too!)
- Contact the Institute for Advanced Study and let them know that you’re one of the many folks who oppose their construction project.
- Support the National Trust for Historic Preservation and its work on behalf of Princeton Battlefield and other special places.
- If you’re in the area, pay a visit to the site. Higher visitation makes it easier for people who care about historic sites to make a case to the powers that be that these places are worth protecting.
James Peale’s depiction of the battle. From the collections of the Princeton University Art Museum via Wikimedia Commons
Past in the Present 