New Brunswick and Rutgers A Self Guided Walking Tour

Colonel John Neilson once stood on a tavern table and read the Declaration of Independence aloud. This self-guided walking tour begins in Monument Square, where it happened, then follows New Brunswick from colonial settlement to Rutgers’ historic campus. Walk George Street and Easton Avenue past the Stress Factory Comedy Club, then duck beneath the train station into Old Queens, the university’s original one-block footprint. Kirkpatrick Chapel’s Tiffany windows, Will’s Way, and a mastodon skeleton share the route with a 2,400-year-old Egyptian mummy. Stop for stromboli at Stuff Yer Face, once staffed by future chef Mario Batali. Hear why students still paint a stolen cannon scarlet, and end at The Barn, where Rutgers stakes its claim as the birthplace of college football. Perfect for history buffs, curious students, alumni, and food lovers. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start exploring.

1. 1

   State Theatre New Jersey

   Pass by

   Stroll past the beautifully restored 1921 State Theatre, anchor of New Brunswick’s theater district. Catch Broadway tours, concerts, or ballet at reasonable prices, often with student discounts. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   Pass by

   Walk past the legendary Stress Factory Comedy Club, bringing laughter downtown since 1991. This intimate venue has hosted Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart, alongside up-and-coming comedians. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   Pass by the New Brunswick Train Station, source of the city’s “Hub City” nickname. Ride NJ Transit or Amtrak to New York City in under an hour. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Pass by

   Stroll past Old Queens, Rutgers’ oldest building and symbolic heart. Begun in 1809, it originally housed the college, prep school, and seminary, and today holds the president’s office. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

5. 5

   Kirkpatrick Chapel

   Pass by

   Wander past Kirkpatrick Chapel, an 1873 Victorian Gothic gem with Tiffany windows. Graduating classes have carved their years into its brownstone walls since 1876. It hosts concerts and weddings. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   Walk past The Yard, a mixed-use plaza opened in 2016 on the former site of the legendary Grease Trucks. Enjoy movie nights, concerts, jumbotron watch parties, and RU Hungry’s famous Fat Sandwiches. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Pass by

   Pass by the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, home to over sixty thousand works, including the largest collection of Soviet nonconformist art outside Russia. Rotating exhibitions run year-round. Closed Mondays. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Pass by

   Walk up to the College Avenue Gym, “The Barn,” built in 1931 on the site of the first intercollegiate football game: Rutgers beat Princeton 6–4 in 1869. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.