Princeton Junction in West Windsor Township in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Martian Landing Site
Photographed By Rc, October 3, 2007
1. Full view of Martian Landing Site Marker
On the evening of October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre presented a dramatization of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds as adapted by Howard Koch. This was to become a landmark in broadcast history, provoking continuing thought about media responsibility, social psychology and civil defense. For a brief time as many as one million people throughout the country believed that Martians had invaded the Earth, beginning with Grover's Mill, New Jersey.
Erected 1988.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 30, 1932.
Location. 40° 18.765′ N, 74° 36.333′ W. Marker is in West Windsor Township, New Jersey, in Mercer County. It is in Princeton Junction. Marker is on Cranbury Road (County Route 615). Marker is located in Van Nest Park which can be reached from US Rt. 1 (North of Trenton/South of Princeton). Exit onto NJ Rt. 571 East and turn left on Cranbury Rd. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Princeton Junction NJ 08550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. You'll Do Lobelia (approx. 1.4 miles away); Burial site of "Elsie"
this page online
More about this marker. Marker is located immediately next to a persimmon grove in the park and there are plenty of persimmons to be had during the fruit bearing season.
Also see . . .
1. War of The Worlds Radio Broadcast. Placing the radio broadcast in historical perspective. (Submitted on January 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. The War of the Worlds radio script. Sacred Texts website entry (Submitted on November 7, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Martian Landing Site. Roadside America article. (Submitted on January 9, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
4. Bell System Telephone Operators Recall “War of the Worlds” Panic During Broadcast. From the AT&T archives, YouTube video of 1988 interviews with telephone operators who were on their shifts
Photographed By Rc, October 3, 2007
2. Marker Text
Additional commentary.
1. Style and design of marker
Whomever designed this marker did an excellent job of making it look like something out of "Star Trek" or perhaps the movie "Forbidden Planet." The angles are unusual and somewhat "alien..."
— Submitted January 8, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas.
Additional keywords. Martians, invasion, science fiction
Photographed By Erik Lander, June 25, 2009
3. Martian Landing Site Marker
Photographed By Rc, October 3, 2007
4. View of marker with bushes and grove of trees visible
Photographed By Rc
5. Side view of unique marker design.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 3, 2018
6. Martian Landing Site trail
As part of an Eagle Scout project, a narrative trail now leads to the marker.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 3, 2018
7. Martian Landing Site narrative trail marker #1
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 3, 2018
8. Martian Landing Site narrative trail marker #2
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 3, 2018
9. Martial Landing Site narative trail marker #3
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 3, 2018
10. Martian Landing Site narrative trail marker #4
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 3, 2018
11. The "Martian War Machine"
Nearby is this water tower, supposedly mistaken for a Martian war machine and shot at.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. This page has been viewed 4,650 times since then and 164 times this year. Last updated on February 25, 2013, by Alistair Adcroft of West Windsor, New Jersey. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 8, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. 3. submitted on June 28, 2009, by Erik Lander of Brooklyn, New York. 4. submitted on January 8, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. 5. submitted on January 20, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. 6, 7, 8. submitted on December 3, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 9, 10, 11. submitted on December 26, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
