Things to Do in Trenton: Museums, Parks, and Historic Sites

Trenton packs a lot of history and culture into a small footprint, and most of it sits within a few minutes of downtown. Whether you have an afternoon or a full day, here is a local’s guide to what is worth your time in the capital city.

Step into the Revolution

Start at the Old Barracks Museum, the only colonial barracks still standing in New Jersey and a key site in the 1776 Battle of Trenton. From there it is a short walk to the Trenton Battle Monument at the Five Points. If the Revolution is your thing, our full guide to the Battle of Trenton maps out the rest.

Museums and art

The New Jersey State Museum on West State Street combines science, history, and fine art under one roof, and includes a planetarium. Nearby, the 1719 William Trent House on Market Street is the oldest building in Trenton, the restored home of the merchant who gave the city its name. For local art and history in a striking setting, the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie sits inside an 1848 mansion in Cadwalader Park.

Parks and the outdoors

Cadwalader Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind New York’s Central Park, is the city’s green centerpiece and an easy place to spend an afternoon. Along the river, Trenton’s waterfront and nearby preserves offer walking and birdwatching.

Just outside the city

A few minutes away in Hamilton, Grounds For Sculpture is a 42-acre sculpture park and museum with hundreds of works set among gardens, founded by the artist Seward Johnson. It is one of the most popular destinations in the region and pairs well with a day in Trenton. The nearest train station is Hamilton, on the Northeast Corridor.

Getting here and around

Trenton is unusually easy to reach without a car, with train service from both New York and Philadelphia. See our guide to getting around Trenton for the details, and for a piece of local lore on your way in, read the story behind the Trenton Makes bridge. More recommendations are in our Food & Culture section.

Frequently asked questions

What is Trenton known for?

Trenton is the capital of New Jersey, the site of Washington’s 1776 victory at the Battle of Trenton, and a former manufacturing powerhouse remembered by the “Trenton Makes, The World Takes” bridge.

Is Grounds For Sculpture in Trenton?

It is in neighboring Hamilton, New Jersey, a short drive from downtown Trenton, with the nearest train stop at Hamilton station on the Northeast Corridor.

What is there to do in Trenton with kids?

The New Jersey State Museum and its planetarium, the hands-on history at the Old Barracks, and the open space of Cadwalader Park are all family-friendly starting points.

Hours and admission change by season, so check each site before you go. Then come see why the capital city rewards a closer look.