Aaron Burr’s Grave: A Historic Stop in Princeton

The final resting place of Aaron Burr, the man forever known as the killer of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, is located in Princeton, New Jersey. Established in 1757, Princeton Cemetery is sometimes called “the Westminster Abbey of the United States.”  It holds an impressive roster of notable figures, including ministers, scholars, governors, and soldiers. Including the third Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr. 

Visiting Aaron Burr’s Grave

Aaron Burr rests just steps from his father, Aaron Burr Sr., a founder of Princeton University, known then as the College of New Jersey.  

Burr’s modest headstone stands in stark contrast to his dramatic life story—Revolutionary War officer, United States Senator, Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, and a figure forever tied to the fatal duel with Alexander Hamilton.

Visiting the gravesite is a moment to consider the complex man behind the headlines: the soldier who served bravely, the politician who navigated the nation’s earliest growing pains, and the controversial figure whose ambitions sealed his fate.

The grounds are peaceful, shaded by mature trees and dotted with markers that span centuries. A short stroll through the cemetery offers glimpses into Princeton’s layered history, from colonial times to the present. It’s an easy walk from downtown, making it a perfect addition to a Princeton day trip that might also include the university campus, the historic Nassau Inn, or the Princeton Battlefield, a few miles away.

Photo Credit: Jeffery Hayes