The House Front

Photographed by Gary Nigh, August 10, 2008

1. The House Front Marker

Inscription. Richard Stockton, the son of the Signer, known as the Duke, made many changes around 1790 to 1800. He rebuilt the central section of the house and covered the building’s brickwork with a white lime wash. In the 18th and early 19th century, there were no foundation plantings. The present plantings and trees in front of the house, as well as the small hillock, represent the landscape created by his son, the Commodore, in the mid-19th century.

Archaeology has shown that in the 18th century one of the main entries to the house went straight from Stockton Street to the front door. The Duke laid out the present horseshoe-shaped drive; at the same time he built a paved forecourt in front of the house. In his day a symmetrical landscape plan would have been favored, in contrast to the picturesque, irregular design applied to the front plantings by the Commodore.

The landscaping was always intended to impress visitors as they passed on the road or approached the house.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1790.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 20.854′ N, 74° 39.979′

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W. Marker was in Princeton, New Jersey, in Mercer County. It could be reached from Stockton Street (U.S. 206). This marker is next to an entrance road to the parking area of Morven Museum and Garden. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 55 Stockton Street, Princeton NJ 08540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in New Jersey’s Central Jersey.

It was also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Horse Chestnut Walk (within shouting distance of this marker); Princeton Battle Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel John Haslet (within shouting distance of this marker); Campsite of The Army of Louis XVI, King of France (within shouting distance of this marker); New Jersey Patriots (within shouting distance of this marker); Marines in the Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Princeton Battle Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); W 3 R (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Princeton.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Wash House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Horse Chestnut Walk (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Front Garden (was within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Gary Nigh, August 10, 2008

2. The House Front Marker

Morven is in the background.

marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Colonial Revival Garden (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The King’s Highway (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Morven Museum & Garden. (Submitted on August 20, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Historic Morven image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, January 1, 2013

3. Historic Morven

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2008, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,126 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 19, 2008, by Gary Nigh of Trenton, New Jersey. 3. submitted on January 1, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.