Washington's Crossing facts for kids
|
Washington's Crossing
|
|
View of the ferry crossing site in 2013
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Nearest city | Titusville, New Jersey, and Yardley, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | 872 acres (353 ha) |
| Built | 1776 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000650 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
Washington's Crossing is the location of George 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.
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 the Washington Crossing Bridge spanning the river.
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.
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 Johnson Ferry House and a stretch of the original roadway traversed by the army.
