Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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Trenton Battle Monument Historic Site Overview

The significance of Washington's victory at Trenton made a lasting impression upon the British colonial secretary of state who, in 1779, told Parliament "...all our hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at Trenton."

This monument marks the site of the American artillery emplacement at the head of King (present day Warren) and Queen (present day Broad) Streets. These cannons commanded the two main North/South avenues of the city during the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. General Washington had attacked the three Hessian regiments garrisoned in Trenton around 8 a.m. after crossing the river at Johnson’s Ferry the previous night and marching approximately nine miles through a winter storm. After a short battle, General Washington could claim his first battlefield victory. This victory boosted morale in both the Continental Army as well as the new nation often credited by historians as a turning point in the American War of Independence.

The monument, a 148 – foot high triumphal column of granite in the Roman -Doric style with a large base decorated with acanthus leaves and surmounted by a pedestal supporting a statue of General Washington directing troop movements, commemorates the American victory at Trenton. The monument came to fruition after years of planning by the Trenton Battle Monument Association when the cornerstone was laid on December 26, 1891 (the 115th Anniversary of the battle). The Association employed leading artists of the time to design and construct the monument. The monument was designed by John H. Duncan, architect of President Grant's tomb. William O’Donovan contributed the statues of General Washington atop the pedestal, as well as John Russell of the 14th Continental Regiment and Blair McClenachan of the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse flanking the main door at the base. Thomas Eakins created two of the bas-reliefs,” The Continental Army Crossing the Delaware River” and “The Opening of the Fight” that adorn the base of the monument. Finally, Karl H. Niehaus is credited with the last bas-relief entitled “The Surrender of the Hessians”. Reproductions have replaced the original bas-reliefs which are now housed in the New Jersey State Museum. The rear of the monument contains a historical tablet presented by the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati.

A formal dedication ceremony was held on October 19, 1893, the 112th anniversary of British General Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. This monument continues today to remind visitors of the importance of General Washington’s great victory at the Battle of Trenton.

Facilities for People with Disabilities
We encourage people with disabilities who require special considerations to contact the historic site / park at the phone number listed in the general information on the home page of the historic site / park. The staff will assist with arrangements. Text telephone (TT) users, please call the NJ Relay Services at (800) 852-7899.

For the Comfort and Enjoyment of All
This historic site / park is part of the NJ State Park system and your cooperation with the following will help ensure the survival of the museum collections, historic structures & features and surrounding property for the enjoyment and education of future generations!

  • Keep your historic site / park and surrounding property clean and green! Protect this site by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the site, plan on carrying it out too. Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Thank you!
  • No Smoking on NJ State Park Service Property. Pursuant to N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at state historic sites [ N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6]
  • The collection or removal of any object from State Park property is prohibited without written permission from the Superintendent.
  • Use of metal detecting devices on or unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on or over the property is not permitted without a special use permit (SUP) from the State historic site / park.
  • Commercial photography is not permitted on the property without a special use permit (SUP) from the historic site / park.
  • Interior photography, videotaping or audio taping are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum, except by prior written permission and for educational purposes only.
  • Non-commercial photography is permitted on the property (outside), but please help preserve the historic site / park and any surrounding property by not attaching anything to, climbing or sitting on historic structures and features or disturbing any plants, wild or cultivated. Photography may not interfere with other visitors to the historic site / park or impede site operations.
  • Food and beverages; pets/animals, except for service animals, are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum.
  • Please refrain from touching objects/furnishings in and building components of historic structures and museums, except where invited to do so by staff.

Please contact this historic site / park with specific inquiries about any of these restrictions, as there may be some variations at this specific historic site / park.

Related Links

Washington Crossing State Park

General

Phone Number
609-737-0623

Address
348 North Warren Street
Trenton, NJ 08638

Mailing Address
Washington Crossing State Park 355 Washington Crossing/Pennington Road Titusville, NJ 08560

Email Address
WashingtonCrossing@dep.nj.gov

Historic Site Hours

Grounds Hours Sunrise to Sunset

Historic Site Fees

Entrance Fee None

Other Related Fees
Map / Directions

GPS Coordinates
40.225687, -74.764801