Governor Mikie Sherrill and First Gentleman Jason Hedberg announced plans to move their family into Drumthwacket this summer, marking a rare return of a sitting governor to New Jersey’s official residence and bringing the state’s first family to Mercer County full time.
“We are excited to let our fellow New Jerseyans know that we are moving our family to Drumthwacket this summer,” Sherrill and Hedberg said in a joint statement. “From Day One this administration has committed to getting to work in Trenton to deliver on our commitments. We’re thrilled to further strengthen that commitment by living full time in the Governor’s official residence and being much closer to the Capital City and the State House.”
While Drumthwacket has long served as the official residence of the governor, it has gone largely unused as a full-time home in recent decades, with governors often choosing to remain in their private residences.
Located along Stockton Street in Princeton, Drumthwacket is one of the nation’s historic executive residences and sits on land tied to the 1777 Battle of Princeton during the American Revolution.
The property traces its origins to the 17th century and was developed into its current form beginning in 1835 by Charles Smith Olden, who would later serve as New Jersey’s governor. The estate was later expanded by industrialist Moses Taylor Pyne and ultimately purchased by the state in 1966 to serve as the governor’s official residence.
In their statement, Sherrill and Hedberg emphasized both the practical and symbolic importance of the move.
“Drumthwacket is the people’s house, and we look also forward to continuing to bring it to life for New Jersey residents and highlight all the incredible history it offers,” they said.
The move will place the governor and her family within close proximity to the State House complex in Trenton, as well as in Mercer County communities that often serve as the geographic and political center of state government activity.
For Mercer County residents, the decision marks a notable shift, with the governor living locally and potentially increasing the visibility and use of Drumthwacket as both a residence and public-facing historic site.
The Drumthwacket Foundation, which oversees preservation and programming at the property, has long worked to maintain the estate and expand public access through tours and educational programs.
Sherrill and Hedberg said they are working with state staff and the foundation as they prepare to make the residence their home.
“Our family looks forward to this exciting next chapter, and we thank the dedicated New Jersey state staff and the team at the Drumthwacket Foundation for all their work to truly make the residence a home,” they said.
