Washington Crossing State Parks: PA and NJ – Remembering Christmas 1776

A statue dependent on Emmanuel Leutze’s popular portray of George Washington crossing the Delaware River in close proximity to the historic park.

On both of those sides of the Delaware River are two point out parks committed to an event that occurred on Xmas Day in 1776.  On that day, General George Washington led about 2400 weary and improperly outfitted troopers in a surprise attack on a garrison of 1500 Hessian mercenary soldiers who were wintering in Trenton, New Jersey.  Washington’s Military began their journey in McConkey’s Ferry, Pennsylvania, and crossed the ice-choked Delaware River to at some point shock the Hessian troopers and rating a vital morale-setting up victory.

As an elementary university instructor, I relished telling that tale more than twenty-5 occasions to pupils in the spot where it occurred.  It’s a relocating story of beating hardship and jeopardizing all to maintain a floundering motion alive.  Inevitably at the conclude of my presentation, there was usually just one scholar who would set up a hand, issue to a close by steel bridge, and inquire, “Why did not they just use the bridge around there?”  Of class, McConkey’s Ferry was a quite distinctive place two hundred forty decades ago.

Emmanuel Leutze’s well-known portray of George Washington crossing the Delaware River

The Heritage of Washington’s Crossing

The American War for Independence was not going properly for the American forces again in December of 1776.  They had shed significant battles in and close to New York City and had been chased by the far better-outfitted British through the colony of New Jersey.  Eventually, Basic Washington decided to seek harmless territory by crossing above the Delaware River into the colony of Pennsylvania.  In a good move of forethought, he commandeered all the boats up and down the river for many miles.  Back in 1776, there were no bridges crossing the Delaware River, only a collection of tiny independently run ferry crossings.  Securing all the boats presented Washington’s Army with the security they necessary to keep away from an imminent British assault.

Throughout December, Washington’s military was in poor form and situations were acquiring worse.  By the new year, the enlistments for a lot of of his troopers would conclusion.  Poor gear, condition, humiliating losses, and dwindling spirits did not make for a promising long run.  Washington realized he needed a morale-boosting victory.  Along with his advisors, he formulated a plan to make a daring nighttime crossing of the Delaware River and seize the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey.  It was a risky scheme, but it experienced the prospective to give him the vital victory he desired to continue to keep his troops focused to the cause.

Washington made the decision to make his go on Christmas day figuring out that the Hessians had been celebrating and most probably would not be all set for a major combat.  Facing very poor climate and an icy river, Washington counted on the aspect of shock to give him an edge.  His troops made the crossing, astonished the Hessians, and obtained a vital victory.  Thus started a person of America’s most well known independence tales.

Washington Crossing State Park – Pennsylvania

Currently, that occasion is commemorated by condition parks in each Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Together, the two parks form the Washington Crossing, U.S. Countrywide Historic Landmark space.  The parks are well managed and provide site visitors fantastic insight into what happened ahead of, through, and right after Washington’s renowned midnight maneuver.  

Pennsylvania’s 500-acre Washington Crossing Historic Park was made in 1917 and is currently operated by a partnership involving the Pennsylvania Division of Conservation and Normal Assets and the Mates of Washington Crossing Park.  The park is divided into two sections about 4 miles from every other.  Pennsylvania’s park is most famed for its yearly recreation of Washington and his military crossing the Delaware River by re-enactors each Christmas Working day.

The reduced park, positioned in the local community of Washington Crossing, capabilities a Visitor’s Heart and 13 historic structures. The most famed construction is the McConkey’s Ferry Inn where by Basic Washington and his aides created programs right before the crossing.  

An additional well known constructing is a 20th Century barn that properties 5 replicas of the sturdy Durham boats that were developed to transport pig iron.  These and other watercraft ended up utilised to transport troopers, artillery, and horses for the duration of the famous crossing.  

The Visitor’s Heart capabilities a film about the crossing together with a electronic full-size duplicate of Emanuel Leutze’s 1851 portray of Washington Crossing the Delaware that is presently displayed in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.  There is also a modest museum that characteristics artifacts from the time of the crossing along with displays about the diverse men and women who served in Washington’s Military.  

Driving about 4 miles north alongside the Delaware River accesses a different portion of the park.  It attributes a scenic lookout named Bowman’s Tower alongside with a wildflower grove.  Here people can also see the Thompson-Neely Farmstead, which was employed as a military healthcare facility in the course of Washington’s encampment.

The historic marker indicating the area in which Basic George Washington and his military built their historic crossing of the Delaware River

The Delaware River where by Standard George Washington and his military produced their historic crossing of the Delaware River

Washington Crossing Point out Park – New Jersey

New Jersey’s 3,575-acre Washington Crossing State Park focuses on telling the tale of what took place after Washington’s Army arrived on the other side of the river.  It was produced in 1912 and is maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and supported by the Washing Crossing Park Association citizen’s group.  On the New Jersey facet, the corresponding ferry procedure was regarded as Johnson’s Ferry.  

The gardens at the Johnson Ferry Residence in New Jersey’s Washington Crossing State Park

The entrance to the Johnson Ferry House and Tavern in New Jersey’s Washington Crossing State Park

The stone barn by the Johnson Ferry Residence in New Jersey’s Washington Crossing Condition Park

Site visitors can knowledge a dwelling history presentation at the Johnson Ferry House which attributes a colonial backyard garden, farmhouse, and an 18th Century tavern total with a bar and protective grill.  Another historic creating alongside the Delaware River is the Alexander Nelson Tavern, which functions a duplicate of a flat-base ferry boat that was employed at this area.

The historic Taylorsville district of Washington Crossing Historic Park, Pennsylvania

The historic marker at the starting of the Continental Path which follows the path Washington’s Military took to Trenton, NJ

On the New Jersey facet of the Delaware River is a mountaineering pathway known as the Continental Trail that marks the route Washington’s Military marched on their way to assault the Hessians in the town of Trenton.  Hikers can follow that similar route right now.  The park also has a Visitor’s Heart that options a historical film known as “Ten Crucial Days” and a museum that incorporates the 700-piece Harry Kels Swan Selection of Innovative War artifacts.  On pick times, the park employees also presents residing historical past demonstrations that incorporate uniformed troopers and musket firing demonstrations.

The Mahlon K. Taylor house in the Taylorsville district of Washington Crossing Historic Park, Pennsylvania

The Thompson-Neely Farmstead in the northern segment of Pennsylvania’s Washington Crossing Historic Park

Canals

On the two sides of the Delaware River are canals that ended up applied for shipping and delivery uncooked supplies and goods from northern Pennsylvania to significant metropolitan areas in each states.  On the Pennsylvania facet is the 60-mile-prolonged Delaware Canal.  New Jersey attributes the Delaware and Raritan feeder canal that runs from Lambertville to Bordentown.  Both canals can be utilised for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.  Along each and every canal are towpaths that are excellent for bicycling, hiking, jogging, and horseback using.

When to Pay a visit to Washington Crossing State Parks

Both equally parks are open every single day of the calendar year, from sunrise to sunset, and attribute several historical past-connected gatherings, demonstrations, and encampments.  Pennsylvania’s park delivers ticketed each day excursions of the historic area.  Summers are the most active and weekends are the busiest with site visitors.  The parks have minimal functions all over the winter season months.  

When I visited on a weekday all through the second week of October, I professional only a handful of men and women.   Guests can arrive at equally parks by driving about an hour north of Philadelphia or two hours west of New York City.  They are close to Interstate 95 and make for a scenic working day excursion.  The quaint and picturesque riverside towns of New Hope and Lambertville are north of both of those parks.  Linked by a walkable bridge, each communities attribute several eating places and eclectic browsing chances.

A reproduction of a flat-bottom ferry boat that was applied at this site next to the Alexander Nelson Tavern

Other Innovative War Sites Nearby

There are a lot of Revolutionary War points of interest within just an hour’s drive of Washington Crossing.  Less than an hour absent is Valley Forge, Washington’s well-known winter camp.  In New Jersey is the Old Barrack’s Museum, generally awarded as New Jersey’s greatest museum primarily based on its residing heritage presentation on the persons and gatherings connected with Washington’s march on Trenton.   Outside of Trenton is the Princeton Battlefield, the website of an additional American victory by Normal Washington.  On the campus of Princeton University, New Jersey, is Outdated Nassau Corridor exactly where skirmishes happened and British troops surrendered to Normal Washington.  

New Jersey has also preserved two extra of Washington’s wintertime camps.  In Somerville are the Wallace Dwelling and Old Dutch Parsonage Condition Historic Site and Morristown capabilities Jockey Hollow and the Ford Mansion.  The Schuyler-Hamilton House wherever Eliza Schuyler met and was courted by Alexander Hamilton is also in Morristown.  About 90 minutes absent is the Monmouth Battlefield Point out Park popular for a big fight in between the British and Washington’s army as nicely as the legend of Molly Pitcher.

The Visitor’s Center at New Jersey’s Washington Crossing Point out Park

Summary

I observed it thrilling to stand at the true locale where by the crossing started and glance across the Delaware River.  The two point out parks of the Washington Crossing Historic Landmark aided me comprehend the comprehensive tale of Washington’s well-known crossing by presenting the factual aspects of what transpired.  They are fantastic destinations to expertise American heritage and see precise web-sites that were being major in the fight for American Independence.  Even nevertheless they are in two distinctive states, nowadays you can effortlessly make your personal crossing by only having the bridge.