Cadwalader Park facts for kids

The main entrance to Cadwalader Park on Parkside Avenue

Cadwalader Park is a beautiful city park found in Trenton, New Jersey. It's a big green space, almost 100 acres, and it's Trenton's oldest park! The park is named after Thomas Cadwalader. He was an important leader in Trenton back in 1746, serving as the chief burgess (like a mayor). A famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, designed this amazing park.

The Park's Beginning

Work on Cadwalader Park started in 1887. This was after the city bought the Ellarslie Mansion from George Farlee. A group from Trenton's city council wanted to create a city park. They reached out to Frederick Law Olmsted for help.

Who Designed Cadwalader Park?

Olmsted is famous for designing Central Park in New York City. He used similar ideas when he designed Cadwalader Park. His goal was to create a peaceful, natural space for everyone to enjoy. The Ellarslie Mansion, which is now the Trenton City Museum, sits right in the middle of the park.

A Former Train Stop

Long ago, the park even had its own train stop! This stop was part of the Belvidere-Delaware Railroad. That train line is no longer around today.

Exploring Cadwalader Park

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Cadwalader Park is full of cool features. You can find a deer paddock, where deer live safely. There's also a stream, a small lake, and hundreds of different trees. Some of these trees are quite rare for this area! A part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal also flows through the park.

Nearby Neighborhoods

The park is surrounded by several neighborhoods. These include Cadwalader Heights, Hiltonia, Hillcrest, and Parkside.

Ellarslie Mansion

Monuments and History

The park has a special memorial for soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. This includes the tall column of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. It was put up in 1903.

The "Swamp Angel" Gun

At one time, the monument had several old cannons. Now, only one special cannon remains. It's called the 'Swamp Angel'. This was a large 8-inch cannon used during the Civil War. It helped bombard Charleston in 1863. The gun actually burst on its 36th shot, and you can still see the break today!