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Exploring Einstein’s Impact on Science, Culture, and Humanity
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Did you know that Albert Einstein’s only home in the United States was in Princeton, New Jersey, where he lived for 22 years? At the Historical Society’s museum, you can come face-to-face with Einstein’s personal furniture and belongings, including his famous ink-stained desk. Explore the Historical Society’s rare Einstein collections and discover his profound scientific, cultural, and humanitarian impact.
Einstein’s house at 112 Mercer Street in Princeton stands as a testament to his legacy. The Historical Society also offers “The Life of Albert Einstein,” an outreach program available to schools, libraries, senior centers, and clubs.
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. Shortly after, his family moved to Munich, where he began his education at the Luitpold Gymnasium. The family later relocated to Italy, and Einstein continued his studies in Aarau, Switzerland. In 1896, he entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich to train as a teacher in physics and mathematics. After earning his diploma in 1901 and acquiring Swiss citizenship, Einstein worked as a technical assistant at the Swiss Patent Office, where he produced much of his groundbreaking work in his spare time.
Einstein received his doctorate in 1905 and soon began his academic career, holding positions in Berne, Zurich, and Prague. In 1914, he became Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Physical Institute and Professor at the University of Berlin. He remained in Berlin until 1933, when he emigrated to America for political reasons and accepted a position as Professor of Theoretical Physics at Princeton.
