Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)

"Lake Carnegie" redirects here. For the ephemeral lake in Western Australia, see Lake Carnegie (Western Australia).
Lake Carnegie
The lake, with Princeton University's Cleveland Tower in the background
Location of Lake Carnegie in New Jersey, USA.
Location of Lake Carnegie in New Jersey, USA.
Lake Carnegie
Location of Lake Carnegie in New Jersey, USA.
Location of Lake Carnegie in New Jersey, USA.
Lake Carnegie
LocationMercer / Middlesex counties, New Jersey, US
Coordinates40°22′13.39″N 74°37′17.57″W / 40.3703861°N 74.6215472°W / 40.3703861; -74.6215472
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsMillstone River
Primary outflowsMillstone River
Basin countriesUnited States
Lake Carnegie Historic District
Lake Carnegie (New Jersey) is located in Mercer County, New Jersey
Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)
Lake Carnegie (New Jersey) is located in New Jersey
Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)
Lake Carnegie (New Jersey) is located in the United States
Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)
LocationRoughly bounded by Lake Carnegie shoreline from Conrail bridge at W end to dam W of Kingston at E end, Princeton, New Jersey
Area262 acres (106 ha)
Built1906
ArchitectPennington Satterthwaite (boathouse)
Landscape architectHoward Russell Butler
Architectural styleMission Gothic
NRHP reference No.90001000[1]
NJRHP No.1747[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 28, 1990
Designated NJRHPJanuary 22, 1990

Lake Carnegie is a reservoir that straddles the borders of the towns of Princeton, West Windsor, Plainsboro and South Brunswick in Mercer and Middlesex counties in central New Jersey. The lake was created by construction of a dam along the Millstone River, though the lower portion of the lake actually follows the valley of its largest tributary, the Stony Brook. The Delaware and Raritan Canal and its associated tow path are situated along the eastern shore of the lake. Noted businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated money for the construction of the lake, which was donated to Princeton University. In 1990, the Lake Carnegie Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The lake, which is privately owned, is used by the university's rowing team, and is home to the US Olympic rowing team.[3][4] It is, however, available for public use for activities such as ice skating, fishing, and picnicking. Fish species include largemouth bass, carp, pickerel, crappie, channel catfish and occasionally a few rainbow and brown trout that make their way into Carnegie Lake from Stony Brook. Years of pollution have led to a dangerous decrease in the lake's safety levels. Efforts to improve the water quality of Carnegie Lake are ongoing.[5][6]

An aerial view of this lake appears in the opening title sequence of the drama series House M.D.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places — Mercer County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection — Historic Preservation Office. April 5, 2013. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  3. ^ Eilerson, Nick (August 6, 2016). "American doctor weighs Rio's health concerns, wins women's rowing heat". Washington Post.
  4. ^ See also Cooper River (New Jersey)#Sports.
  5. ^ "Exhibit to mark lake's centennial". Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
  6. ^ "Assessing Water Quality". Archived from the original on October 1, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2006.