Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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A gravel trail in Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
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| Location | Bushkill, Northampton, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 1,168 acres (4.73 km2) |
| Elevation | 489 ft (149 m) |
| Established | 1959 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center |
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Jacobsburg Historic District
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The Henry homestead
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| Nearest city | Nazareth, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 500 acres (200 ha) |
| Built | 1740 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001181 |
| Added to NRHP | October 17, 1977 |
The Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is a large Pennsylvania state park. It covers about 1,168 acres (473 ha) of land. You can find it near Wind Gap, in Bushkill Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The park is special because it almost completely surrounds the Jacobsburg National Historic District. It's easy to get to, just off the Belfast exit of Pennsylvania Route 33.
Contents
Learning About Nature and History
Environmental Education Programs
The main goal of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is to teach people about nature. They focus on students from nearby elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. The center offers many hands-on activities. Students and teachers can learn through "discovery and problem solving." This means they get to explore and figure things out for themselves.
Exploring the Jacobsburg Historic District
The Jacobsburg National Historic District is a very important part of the park. It's home to the Henry Homestead. This is where the famous Henry rifle was made a long time ago. The district has 11 old buildings and 34 historic sites.
The center works with the Jacobsburg Historical Society. Together, they offer special history programs. You can even take classes to learn about gunmaking and blacksmithing. They also have "Living History" events. These include gatherings called "Rendezvous" and military camps from the past. The Pennsylvania Longrifle Heritage Museum is also located at the Henry Homestead.
The Henry Rifle and Its Impact
The Henry Rifle was very important in American history. It played a big role in wars like the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. It was also used in the War of 1812 and during the westward expansion of the American Frontier. Even in the American Civil War, these rifles were still vital.
The story of the Henry Rifle began in 1750. That's when William Henry opened his first gun factory in Lancaster. He even worked as an armorer (someone who makes or repairs weapons) during important military campaigns.
His son, William Henry II, started his own gunmaking shop in 1778. He later moved his business to Jacobsburg in 1792. To make the rifles, he built an iron forge to get the metal he needed. The War of 1812 created a greater demand for rifles. So, Henry II built a second, larger factory in Boulton. The Henry family continued making these rifles for three generations. They even supplied them for the Civil War and for John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company.
Nature and Wildlife
Jacobsburg's Unique Forest
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center has something very special. It's home to the only remaining old-growth forest in the Lehigh Valley. This part of the park is called Henry's Woods. It's a forest that has been largely untouched by humans.
Scientists have noticed that this forest has mostly deciduous trees and eastern hemlocks. There aren't many large eastern white pines. Some of these trees are very tall, reaching up to 130 feet!
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center offers many ways to enjoy the outdoors.
- You can go hiking on 18.5 miles (29.8 km) of trails.
- It's a great place for fishing.
- You can go biking or horseback riding.
- In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing.
- Hunting and picnicking are also popular activities.
A walking bridge near the main parking lot was rebuilt in 2008. It had been destroyed by a flood in 2004. The center also has an environmental education program. They offer classes about natural history.
Wildflowers and History Events
The center is famous for its many different wildflowers. They look especially beautiful in the springtime. There's also a heritage education program. This program shows how guns were made a long time ago. A living history program includes events from the mid-1840s. You can see military re-enactments. Classes for blacksmiths and gunsmiths are offered. You can also take tours of the historic buildings.
Hunting and Fishing Rules
Hunting is allowed on about 937 acres (379 ha) of the park. Common animals to hunt include squirrels, pheasants, rabbits, and white-tailed deer. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed. Hunters must follow all the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Bushkill Creek runs through the park. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks it with trout. This means they add trout to the creek for people to fish.
Nearby Parks to Explore
If you're looking for more outdoor adventures, here are some other state parks. They are all within 30 miles (48 km) of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center:
- Beltzville State Park (Carbon County)
- Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
- Bull's Island Recreation Area (New Jersey)
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (New Jersey)
- Delaware Canal State Park (Bucks and Northampton counties)
- Gouldsboro State Park (Monroe and Wayne counties)
- Hacklebarney State Park (New Jersey)
- Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County)
- Lehigh Gorge State Park (Carbon and Luzerne counties)
- Nockamixon State Park (Bucks County)
- Ralph Stover State Park (Bucks County)
- Round Valley State Park (New Jersey)
- Spruce Run State Park (New Jersey)
- Stephens State Park (New Jersey)
- Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne counties)
- Voorhees State Park (New Jersey)
