The Old Barracks was built in Trenton in the midst of the French and Indian War in 1758. The purpose of the barracks was to house some three hundred British troops during the winter months of the war; four other such barracks were constructed throughout New Jersey as a defensive measure against raids by the French and their Native American allies. At the time the Old Barracks was built, it was the largest building in Trenton and the second largest building in the colony. The Old Barracks continued to be used for housing troops until the conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763.
During the Revolutionary War, the Old Barracks was featured in Washington’s famous surprise attack at Trenton on 26 December 1776. Before the Battle of Trenton, Hessian soldiers were stationed in the small town and stayed in the Barracks for a short time. After crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1776, George Washington marched his 2,400 troops and several cannons toward Trenton. After arriving in Trenton early the next morning, Washington launched his attack, taking the Hessians completely by surprise. As many as 900 Hessians were taken prisoner, with very few losses to the Continental Army.
After claiming victory at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton on 3 January 1777, the Americans returned to Trenton in January of 1777. Under German Doctor Bodo Otto, the Old Barracks was used by the Continental Army as a hospital, primarily for treating smallpox. Disease was a major issue in the Continental Army and in 1783 had caused more casualties for the Americans than actual combat. Dr. Otto’s treatment of smallpox was one of the first large scale medical treatments in the colonies.
After the war, a portion of the Old Barracks was demolished to connect Front Street to the State House. In 1902, the Daughters of the American Revolution purchased the south portion of the Barracks, and in 1914, the State of New Jersey bought the north section. After undergoing extensive restoration, the Old Barracks now appear as they are thought to have looked in 1758.
