DISCOVER!

What We Know

At the 1719 William Trent House Museum, we don’t just preserve history; we don’t just interpret history; we uncover history and help our visitors explore and reflect on the complex and rich history of our city, state, and nation.

william trent house, William Trent built his country home north of Philadelphia in New Jersey on ancestral lands of the Lenni Lenape people about 1719 It remained a private home until 1929 when it was donated to the city and became a museum

The House

William Trent built his country home north of Philadelphia, in New Jersey, on ancestral lands of the Lenni Lenape people around 1719. It remained a private home until 1929, when it was donated to the City of Trenton. The House was restored in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration and was dedicated as a museum in 1936 and opened to the public in 1939. Click image for more info.

Residents

After purchasing land from Mahlon Stacy the first English colonist, William Trent, his family, and enslaved servants made the house at the Falls of the Delaware their permanent residence in 1721. Following Trent’s death in 1724, many others lived in the house. Click image for more info.

Inventory

The William Trent House Museum is fortunate to be able to use the probate inventory of the house taken after his death as a “blueprint” for re-interpretation of Trent’s home and household. Click image for more info.

grounds and gardens Managed by historical horticulturist Charles Thomforde with the assistance of Rutgers Mercer County Master Gardeners the Trent House garden and orchard grow examples of vegetables herbs and apples that Trent’s plantation probably contained

Grounds & Gardens

Managed by historical horticulturist Charles Thomforde with the assistance of Rutgers Mercer County Master Gardeners, the Trent House garden and orchard grow examples of vegetables, herbs, and apples that Trent’s plantation probably contained. Click image for more info.

What We're Learning

Archaeological Investigations

Since 1995, Hunter Research has been conducting archaeological investigations on the Trent House property. New excavations are being conducted in 2019-2020. Click image for more info.

Slavery in New Jersey The Trent House Museum is recognized as one of 20 sites interpreting slavery in the northern colonies Visit the House to learn more about the eleven enslaved people in the Trent household and how this history continues to affect us today

Interpreting Slavery

The Trent House Museum is recognized as one of 20 sites interpreting slavery in the northern colonies. Visit the House to learn more about the eleven enslaved people in the Trent household and how this history continues to affect us today. Click image for more info.

Archival Research

Interns and volunteers continue to find documents related to occupants of the Trent House from Trent’s time on. Contact Us to learn more and to get involved. To learn more about the Trent family history, contact Jason Cherry, Trent House consultant researcher, at [email protected].

1719 William Trent House Museum

William Trent House Museum
Located at: 15 Market Street,
Trenton, NJ 08611

Mailing address: P.O. Box 77234,
Trenton, NJ 08628

Email address: [email protected]

Hours of Operation
Wednesdays – Sundays
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Closed Municipal Holidays

Admissions
Adults: $5.00
Children and Seniors: $4.00
Members: FREE

Museum
(609) 989-3027
Trent House Association
(609) 989-0087

Additional Information
Accessibility
Parking
Groups or Special Tours
Directions

Volunteer
Visit Contact page

The William Trent House Museum is a National Historic Landmark in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area and on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. The Museum is dedicated to sharing the authentic history of the house, property, and people with our communities, connecting the past with today and tomorrow. Owned by the City of Trenton, it is operated by the Trent House Association, which is supported by the generosity of its donors; by grants from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the New Jersey Historic Trust, the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission with funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission, and the Bunbury Fund and the NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation; and by gifts from NJM Insurance Group and Orion General Contractors.