Wood Lawn
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Wood Lawn in 2020
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Location	Douglass Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Coordinates	40°28′54″N 74°25′59″W / 40.48167°N 74.43306°W / 40.48167; -74.43306 (Wood Lawn)
Built	1830 (1830)
Architect	McKim, Mead & White
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	78001772[1]
NJRHP No.	1883[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 8, 1978
Designated NJRHP	April 15, 1977

Wood Lawn is a historic mansion located off Ryders Lane on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers University in the city of New Brunswick in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1978, for its significance in architecture and education.^[3] It is currently used by the Eagleton Institute of Politics.^[4]

History and description

The house was built by Colonel James Neilson (1784–1862) in 1830 on land purchased in 1720 by his mother's grandfather, Johannis Voorhees.^[4] Neilson served on the Rutgers Board of Trustees from 1833 until 1862. In 1850, a kitchen wing was added. In 1868, bay window extensions were added by his son, James Neilson (1844–1937), who was a trustee from 1886 until 1937. The last major changes were made by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White in 1905. The previous Victorian architecture was transformed into its present Classical Revival style.^[3]

Gallery

• 
  NRHP plaque
• 
  Facing the great lawn, with an Eagleton Institute of Politics banner