Washington's Crossing

Washington's Crossing
Nearest city Titusville, New Jersey, and Yardley, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°18′00″N 74°52′24″W / 40.3°N 74.8734°W / 40.3; -74.8734
Area 872 acres (353 ha)[1]
Built 1776
NRHP reference # 66000650
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966[2]
Designated NHL January 20, 1961[3]

Washington's Crossing is the location of Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25–26, 1776 in the American Revolutionary War. This daring maneuver led to victory in the Battle of Trenton and altered the course of the war. The site, a National Historic Landmark, is composed of state parks in Washington Crossing, New Jersey, and Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, north of Trenton, New Jersey.[1][3]

Description and history

The Washington's Crossing site is located north of Yardley, Pennsylvania and Trenton, New Jersey. The main commemorative sites are located north of a road bridge spanning the river.

Each year on Christmas Day, hundreds of people gather to hear Washington’s stand-in deliver stirring words to the troops and watch three boats make the crossing from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. December 25, 2016, marked the 64th reenactment of Washington's Crossing when he crossed the Delaware river over 240 years ago.[4]

Pennsylvania side

Washington Crossing Historic Park encapsulates the crossing site on the Pennsylvania side. Covering about 500 acres (200 ha), it includes the actual embarkation site for the main crossing, and a 19th-century inn set on the foundation of an 18th-century inn that was present at the time of the crossing. A memorial marker indicates the site of the crossing. The park also includes a detached unit 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the crossing site, where Bowman's Hill Tower, the Thompson-Neely House, and a grist mill that served the army are located.[1]

New Jersey side

Washington Crossing State Park includes the New Jersey side of the crossing site. It is at over 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) much larger than the Pennsylvania park, including a broader array of recreational amenities, including a visitors center, nature center, astronomical observatory, campground, and open-air theater. Elements specifically relating to the crossing including the McConkey Ferry House and a stretch of the original roadway traversed by the army.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 C. E. Shedd, Jr. (August 1, 1960). National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings: Washington Crossing State Parks (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying two photos, from 1960 and undated (32 KB)
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. 1 2 "Washington's Crossing". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  4. ↑ Associated Press (December 25, 2013). "Crowds Relive Washington's 1776 River Crossing". Weekly Times. Retrieved December 25, 2013.

Coordinates: 40°18′00″N 74°52′24″W / 40.3°N 74.8734°W / 40.3; -74.8734

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