Completed in 1756, the same year as Nassau Hall, the President's House was built for the presidents of the College of New Jersey. Completed in 1756, the same year as Nassau Hall, this was built to serve as the home of the President of the College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton University. You can feel the weight of history here: United States Founding Father John Witherspoon lived in this house from 1768 through 1779, during which time he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.
George Washington occupied Maclean House in January 1777 during the Battle of Princeton and again in 1783 while Congress met in Nassau Hall. In more recent times the house serves as the home of the Alumni Association of Princeton University, houses over 20 staff, hosts many alumni functions and showcases Princeton memorabilia and a library of Princetoniana. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
The house’s history also contains difficult truths: at least five Princeton presidents who occupied the President's House between 1756 and 1822 owned slaves who lived and worked in the house, including Aaron Burr Sr., Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Finley, Samuel Stanhope Smith, and Ashbel Green. Notice Nassau Hall just ahead.