Splash into Summer Fun at the Fountain of Freedom

The Fountain of Freedom is a great way to beat the heat and our favorite activity in Princeton. This is a fountain that you can actually walk into! Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to make your childhood dreams come true.

Things to Know About the Fountain of Freedom

What is the Fountain of Freedom?

The Fountain of Freedom is a fountain into which people can go. The rectangular collecting pool surrounding the fountain is large so many people can go into this at the same time. It has a few shallow steps that make it easy to go down into the water. Be aware that no coins should be thrown into this fountain. 

Where is the Fountain of Freedom located?

The Fountain of Freedom is located on part of the Princeton University campus in Princeton, New Jersey. on Washington Road. If you are driving into Princeton on that road it will be on your right hand side a couple blocks before you reach Nassau Street. It can be found within Scudder Plaza adjacent to the beautiful white pillars of Robertson Hall that resemble the Parthenon.

 

What is the history behind the Fountain of Freedom?

The Fountain was created by James Fitzgerald in 1966 and is one of the biggest cast bronze sculptures in the United States. The eroded forms on the sculpture are symbolic of Woodrow Wilson’s eroding aspirations and frustrations at the time. It stands an impressive 23 feet high. 

What are the coolest things about the fountain?

When you visit on a sunny day you can always see a rainbow from certain angles as you go closer to the center of the fountain. Unfortunately I never found any gold at the end of it. 

If you walk close to the center you can feel the mist coming off the water that feels better than a misting station at a theme park. If you go through the center of the fountain lots of cascading water will fall onto you from different places which feels similar to walking under multiple buckets at a water park. 

How to Prepare for your Visit

How old do I need to be to visit the Fountain of Freedom?

Any age! People of all ages love to frolic in the fountain. We have seen professors dipping their feet in after class, tourists taking pictures, couples strolling dreamily along hand in hand, students running in after a sports practice and kids splashing in the water.  The babies in the fountain are always giggling and they love being able to sit in the water. Even people not in the water are having a great time doing things such as enjoying novels, practicing skateboard tricks, having picnics and playing with footballs.

How deep is the water?

The water is very shallow with most places only about a foot deep. It is slightly more deep at the center of the Fountain. There are a few steps that go down into the water along the four edges. 

Is there shade and are there places to sit near the Fountain?

There is no direct shade over the fountain. Sometimes there is shade provided over parts of the fountain from the nearby buildings depending on the time of day. There are plenty of trees and huge benches along the sides of the fountain that are a great spot to drink some water or have a snack. 

What should I pack for the Fountain of Freedom?

Our family likes to stay for at least two hours so we pack a large beach bag with towels, sunblock, sunglasses, hats and cover-ups or changes of clothes. We also bring snacks or a picnic meal as well. 

What should I wear to the Fountain of Freedom? 

Our family wears swimsuits since we like to go through the center of the fountain where the water comes out and get drenched. Most people who visit just stay along the outside of the fountain. If your plan is to do that I would recommend shorts or a dress. Our family usually wears athletic sandals for footwear since you may want to walk around Princeton so it is a good idea to wear supportive footwear. 

What are places nearby that are easy to eat with kids?

Two of the closest places that are quick to get food are Tacoria and Say Cheez. 

Where can I go to the bathroom?

There are many great restaurants nearby that have bathrooms. If the cafe at Robertson Hall is open during your visit there is a bathroom there as well. 

Where should I park?

Princeton has lots of street parking and you can download the Park Princeton app to make paying easier for this: https://parkprinceton.ppprk.com/park/. There are also some parking garages and some parking lots as well. When visiting the Fountain we generally look for street parking on William Street or Nassau Street. 

The water is off! What should I do?

There were only 2 times I visited during hot days in the past where the water was off, one of them being due to construction. If your kids still want to do a water activity and you are going after Memorial Day just keep driving to Mary Moss playground nearby which has a small splash pad area and playground.

My Visits to the Fountain

I have been visiting this Fountain for many different stages in my life. When I was a kid I always loved seeing fountains and going close enough to be sprayed by the water. It was always a bummer to me that even for the large ones people were usually unable to go into the water. I could never figure out why this was the case. They looked like so much fun and this seemed to be a tantalizing tease of water fun that I was unable to fully enjoy.  

Fast forward to high school where we discovered the Fountain of Freedom! In high school and college I would visit with my friends when we were spending the day in Princeton for a brief reprieve from the heat. It was also fun to dare each other to run through the center. When dating my husband we went there as part of our dates and I got a new view of how peaceful it can be in the evening and at night. 

In the past seven years I have been going even more often with my children. We often have play dates with our friends so that we can all enjoy some water fun. It is a great place to bring kids of multiple ages since the water is shallow, it is easy to view kids at all times and it is a free activity. My kids often like to bring clean applesauce cups to play with in the fountain. Sometimes the adults have even more fun than the kids!

Currently our favorite times of day to visit are around 10 am and during the golden hour. There is often water in the Fountain before Memorial Day which is great for those unexpectedly hot Spring days. Our most recent visit was on a ninety degree day in April. Since 2019 there is a new art installation called Double Sights near the fountain that is also fun for kids to play near. Our kids like looking at themselves in the installation and making funny faces since it has a reflective surface like a mirror.

Sometimes when we go we also spend most of the day in Princeton. Some of the things we have done include heading to Small Word Coffee for a cafe au lait, walking around the artwork on the University campus or playing lawn games in Palmer Square. There are plenty of things to do all around town. 

The Fountain of Freedom is a truly serene place where you can see people from all walks of life living in the moment and embracing their inner child. Our family enjoys going to the Fountain of Freedom multiple times each year. Be sure to visit and it will likely become one of your favorite haunts as well.