Old Queens | |
 Old Queens, oldest building at Rutgers University | |
     | |
| Location | New Brunswick, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°29′55.5″N 74°26′46.5″W / 40.498750°N 74.446250°W |
| Built | 1809–1825 |
| Architect | John McComb Jr. |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Queens Campus, Rutgers University (ID73001113) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001164[1] |
| NJRHP No. | 1878[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated CP | July 2, 1973 |
| Designated NJRHP | May 11, 1976 |
Old Queens is the oldest extant building at Rutgers University and is the symbolic heart of the university's campus in New Brunswick in Middlesex County, New Jersey in the United States. Rutgers, the eighth-oldest college in the United States, was founded in 1766 during the American colonial period as Queen's College. Queen's College was named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the daughter of a German duke who became the queen consort of British king George III. Old Queens is located on a six-acre hilltop city block bounded by Somerset Street, Hamilton Street, College Avenue and George Street that was previously an apple orchard. Donated to the college in 1807 by James Parker, Jr., this city block become known the Queen's Campus and is the historic core of the university. Because of this, by metonymy, the name "Old Queens" came to be used as a reference to Rutgers College and is often invoked as an allusive reference to the university or to its administration.
Designed by American architect John McComb Jr., who also designed New York City Hall, the cornerstone of Old Queens was laid in 1809 by the college's third president, the Rev. Ira Condict. Due to financial constraints, construction was not completed until 1825. In its early days, Old Queens provided instruction space for lectures, student and faculty housing, a college library, and a chapel that was shared by three institutions: the college, its grammar school (today, Rutgers Preparatory School), and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Today, Old Queens houses the university's administration including the offices of its president and governing boards.
Old Queens was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historical Landmark on May 11, 1976 for its significance in architecture and education. It is regarded as a fine example of Federal architecture on a college campus.[3] Queen's Campus, including Old Queens, was added to the NRHP on July 2, 1973.[2][4]
- ^ "National Register Information System – (#76001164)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
- ^ a b "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Middlesex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. December 30, 2019. p. 7.
- ^ Pitts, Carolyn (February 4, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Old Queen's". National Park Service. With accompanying 10 photos
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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