As a community with a history dating back to the very beginnings of our nation, Trenton has no shortage of historic neighborhoods, each with their quirks and charms. One of Trenton’s most storied communities is Cadwalader Heights, a region defined by grand architecture, historic charm, and the stunning Cadwalader Park. Whether you’ve lived in the area all your life or have never stopped by this charming corner of town, all are certain to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the upcoming home and garden tour of Cadwalader Heights.
All are invited to tour this historic Trenton neighborhood conceived and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape designer of New York City’s Central Park, and meet its residents, too. “Cadwalader Heights: Welcome Back to the Neighborhood” will showcase a sampling of beautiful homes and gardens and their unique stories, from construction to the present day.
The Cadwalader Heights neighborhood’s last House Tour was in 2019 before the global pandemic disrupted the biennial tradition. Now, Cadwalader Heights’s neighbors are again opening their homes to visitors, sharing their community and homes with civic pride and a warm welcome.
The tour will be set in the neighborhood of Cadwalader Heights, bounded by Parkside, Stuyvesant, and Bellevue avenues and Belmont Circle. The festivities will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, from 12 pm to 5 pm. Tickets are $20/person and can be purchased in advance on the Cadwalader Heights Neighborhood Association website (www.cadwaladerheights.com) or can be purchased on the day of the tour for $25/person. In-person registration will be hosted at the Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum’s registration center in the heart of Cadwalader Park. GPS coordinates for the museum are 299 Parkside Ave., Trenton, New Jersey 08618. Please note that this is a rain-or-shine event.
In the late 1800s, Frederick Law Olmsted, the country’s preeminent landscape architect and the designer of New York City’s Central Park and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., also designed Trenton’s Cadwalader Park and the adjoining neighborhood, Cadwalader Heights, the only residential community Olmsted designed in New Jersey. The houses range in size from cottage to castle and in style from Colonial Revival to Tudor Revival.
In its earliest days, Cadwalader Heights was home to the captains of Trenton’s industry, government, education, and fraternal organizations. One hundred and ten years later, the neighborhood is still one of the jewels of Trenton, successfully fulfilling Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision—a design intentionally cultivated to weave together a diverse group of people and foster a strong sense of community and mutual respect.
This year’s house tour will feature a representative sample of homes and the current “Ellarslie Open 40” exhibit at the Trenton City Museum. Enjoy the house tour, the museum exhibit, and other activities throughout the neighborhood.
In addition to being an excellent chance to get out and explore, the tour is also an opportunity for the Cadwalader Heights neighborhood to give back to the community. This year, the nonprofit partner, which will receive a portion of the proceeds from the tour, is HomeWorks Trenton, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free, after-school residential program for marginalized high school girls that provides academic and identity-driven leadership enrichment to supplement public schools and develop community leaders. Please visit the Philanthropy Page to see some of the organizations our neighborhood has directly supported over the years.
For those planning to attend, please visit www.cadwaladerheights.com to learn more about the tour. A glimpse at these stunning homes and gardens awaits, so submit your RSVP today!
