NASSAU INN INDUCTED INTO HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA®
PRINCETON, October 7, 2024 – Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ, is pleased to announce it has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America®, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States.
Nassau Inn is one of more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the country that is recognized by Historic Hotels of America for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance.
“Historic Hotels of America is delighted to induct Nassau Inn, a colonial hotel, the current location was built in 1937, with the original dating back to 1756,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “We commend Nassau Inn, Palmer Square, and leadership team for their careful historic preservation work, stewardship and vision that will allow future generations of travelers to experience this unique historic destination.”
To be selected for membership in Historic Hotels of America, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance.
“It is both an honor and a privilege to be entrusted to carry on the legacy of our predecessors,” said Lori Rabon, Vice President Nassau Inn and Palmer Square. “The Nassau Inn is rich in history and architectural integrity.”
About the Nassau Inn:
Old Nass
The Nassau Inn dates to 1756 and was the home of Judge Thomas Leonard, a future signatory of the Declaration of Independence. Leonard moved there to spend the last years of his life in view of the college that he had helped to bring to Princeton University. When he passed away in 1769, Judge Leonard’s elegant home became a hostelry, named “College Inn” by its new owner. The first innkeeper was Christopher Beekman and he developed College Inn into a hub for Princeton town life.
Wine and debate flowed freely in Christopher Beekman’s taproom where his wife helped tend the punchbowls. During these uncertain times, students and townsmen gathered over food and drink of the news and opinions of honored guests such as Paul Revere, Robert Morris, and Thomas Paine, who stayed the night more than once at the public house.
Patriots often visited the inn to rest and plan. In 1775, Princeton’s Committee of Safety met at College Inn, and a few weeks later, delegates frequently stopped there overnight on their way to the first meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Signers of the Declaration of Independence, passing through Princeton in 1776, rested at College Inn.
As the war began, military men took the place of travelers. Officers of the Continental Army, also the British and Hessians (depending upon which side was in possession of the town), whiled away their time in the taproom.
Later, the Battle of Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris were properly celebrated over College Inn punchbowls. When the Continental Congress met in Princeton in 1783, the national celebrities of the day were guests of the Inn, just a few steps from the historic session in Nassau Hall.
At the turn of the 19th century, innkeeper couple Christopher Beekman and Grace Otis Beekman retired. John Gifford took over the hostelry, changed its name to Nassau Inn, and swung a sign picturing Nassau Hall over its entrance. The inn remained there until 1937, when it closed its doors at 52 Nassau Street and the establishment moved to a larger, more comfortable and modern hotel on Palmer Square to meet growing demand. Despite its move to another location, the charm of Nassau Inn lies in the spirit and traditions of “Old Nass” that it keeps alive for contemporary travelers.
Today, much of the charm of Nassau Inn lies in the fact that it tells a story. The architect even designed the different wings of the building to depict the progress of a successful inn from the eighteenth to the twentieth century.
For example, the wing representing the earlier period is built in the style of Princeton’s founders, with the low-raftered ceiling of oak timber, large stone fireplace in the center, and quaint little staircase. A small stone addition and a substantial multi-story brick wing were added over the years.
Materials and historic artifacts from the first Nassau Inn are part of the 1937 iteration, too. Just inside the red door of the Inn is a stone platform seat, which was used in the cellar of “Old Nass” to support casks of wines and spirits. On the north wall of the lobby, near the entrance to the dining room (Palmer Room), there are two weapons, a Hessian sword and a gun that were used in the Battle of Princeton.
The inn’s famous Yankee Doodle Tap Room, a favorite gathering place of students and locals, is very historic. The centerpiece of the room is a 13-foot mural titled Yankee Doodle, painted by Norman Rockwell in 1937 above the grand oak bar, from which the room gets its name. Rockwell captures in a humorous way the historical legend of Yankee Doodle, who came to town upon his pony amid the mockery from the Hessians and townsfolk but had the love and admiration of the Innkeeper’s daughter, who is visible in the window on the left side of the painting. Norman Rockwell also painted the Yankee Doodle sign (at the entrance). Also of great interest are the names and initials carved into the solid oak tabletops, a tradition reminiscent of “Old Nass.” Amongst these carvings is Albert Einstein’s mark.
The Yankee Doodle Tap Room is historically known for being Princeton’s destination for dining and community gatherings. This restaurant has a unique atmosphere and features entertainment on many occasions that also offers an American gastropub menu. In the dining room, well-known Princeton University graduates have their portraits adorning the wall, their youth forever captured with framed senior-class photos. The long-standing tradition of Princeton class jackets is said to have originated in the Nassau Inn shortly after Prohibition. The jackets, also known as “beer coats,” appeared just before WWI on students frequenting the Inn. In theory, the coats served to hide the smells associated with an evening drinking at the Tavern and were easy to wash.
Inscribed over the hearth, the following quote above dates back when the Nassau Inn was rebuilt on Palmer Square in 1937: “Rest traveler, rest and banish thoughts of care; Drink to thy friends and recommend them here.” The fireplace beneath is lit during the wintry months and provides welcoming warmth to the guests.
In 2010, Yankee Doodle Tap Room added a patio, so guests can dine alfresco in the heart of Palmer Square seasonally.
The Yankee Doodle Tap Room and the greater Nassau Inn both remain integral establishments in the Princeton community, still serving residents, travelers, dignitaries, students, and alumni alike.
For complete history visit here!
About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading the movement to save places where our history happened. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org.
Media Contact: Katherine Orr
Historic Hotels of America
Director, Marketing Strategy & Communications
Tel: +1 202 772 8337
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