Prospect House, known also as just Prospect, is a historic house on the

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

campus in

Princeton, New Jersey The Municipality of Princeton is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, Borough of Princeton and Pri ...

, United States. Built in 1851, it is a fine example of the work of architect John Notman who helped popularize

Italianate architecture The Italianate style was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. Like Palladianism and Neoclassicism, the Italianate style combined its inspiration from the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century ...

in America. Notable residents include

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to serve as president during the Prog ...

during his tenure as president of the university. The building now serves as a faculty club. It was designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 1985 for its architecture and historic associations.

Description and history

Prospect House stands on the Princeton University campus, between the Princeton University Art Museum and Washington Street. It stands on of landscaped grounds that are a remnant of a once-larger estate. The house is a two-story stone structure, built out of rustically cut sandstone, with a three-story tower at one end, and a single-story service wing. The roofs are low-pitch hip roofs, with broad eaves decorated with brackets. The main facade has a central stone porte-cochere topped by a balustrade. Flanking this are slightly projecting bays, featuring matching second-story balconies. A modern dining room addition, designed by Warren Platner, extends to the rear. Prospect House was built in 1851-52 for Thomas Fuller Potter. Prior to its construction, the site had been that of a farm whose house had hosted

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

both during and after the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

. The new house was designed by John Notman, a Scottish architect based in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

who is credited with introducing the Italianate style of architecture to the United States. In 1878, it was acquired by brothers Alexander and Robert Stuart, who gave it to the College of New Jersey, which became

and served as the house of the school president.

, the third Princeton president to live here, was resident from 1902 to 1911, when he became

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The ...

en route to becoming

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

. On February 10, 1913, Thomas J. Preston Jr., a professor of archeology at Princeton University, married Frances Folsom Cleveland, the widow of President

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. He was the first U.S. president to serve nonconsecutive terms and the first Hist ...

at Prospect House. In 1968, the president's official residence was moved to another house, and Prospect House was adapted for use as a private clubhouse for the university faculty. It was designated a U.S.

in 1985. and

Gallery

File:Prospect House Garden, Centaur by Dimitri Hadzi (1954).jpg, ''Centaur'' by Dimitri Hadzi (1954) File:Prospect House Garden, Titan by Michele Oka Doner (2004).jpg, ''Titan'' by Michele Oka Doner (2004) File:Prospect House Garden (2).jpg, The garden from the house File:Prospect House Garden, Japanese Yew Tree.jpg, English yew tree

References

Prospect House History

External links

Princeton University: Prospect House
{{NRHP in Mercer County, New Jersey National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey Houses in Princeton, New Jersey Houses completed in 1851 Princeton University buildings National Register of Historic Places in Mercer County, New Jersey 1851 establishments in New Jersey Historic district contributing properties in Mercer County, New Jersey

Description and history

Gallery

See also

References

External links