Washington Crossing Historic Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Washington Crossing Historic Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

Roadside sign near the entrance of Washington Crossing Historic Park
Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Between Yardley and New Hope, on the Delaware River, Yardley, Pennsylvania
Area	500 acres (200 ha)
Built	1776
NRHP reference No.	66000650
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	January 20, 1961

Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special place in Pennsylvania. It's a 500-acre state park that helps us remember an important event in American history. This park is where George Washington and his army crossed the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War.

The park is split into two main parts: the "lower park" and the "upper park." The lower park is in a village called Washington Crossing. It has 13 old buildings, including McConkey's Ferry Inn. General Washington and his helpers ate dinner and planned their famous crossing here.

You can also see a barn with five replica Durham Boats. These were large boats used to carry heavy iron. On the night of December 25–26, 1776, these boats helped transport soldiers, horses, and equipment across the river. Every year, people reenact this historic crossing using these replica boats.

The "upper park" is about 4.5 miles away. It covers 100 acres and includes Bowman's Hill Tower. It also has the Thompson-Neely House, which was a hospital for soldiers. Many soldiers who died there are buried nearby. There are 23 memorial headstones to honor them.

The lower park has a visitor center. It was updated and reopened in 2013. Inside, you can see artifacts from the Revolutionary War. There's even an original letter written by George Washington. A huge digital copy of the famous painting Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze hangs in the auditorium.

Why Was Washington Crossing Park Created?
How the Park is Managed Today
McConkey's Ferry: The Historic Crossing Point
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Why Was Washington Crossing Park Created?

The park was started in 1917 to remember the famous crossing. This event was a "turning point" in the American Revolution. The people who created the park wanted to make it a historical shrine. They also wanted to keep its natural beauty and offer fun activities.

Washington Crossing the Delaware,
by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Bowman's Hill Tower was built to honor a spot where Washington's troops might have watched for enemy soldiers. The park also includes the Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. This area is home to many native plants, trees, animals, and birds. Today, the park helps us learn about and remember Washington's crossing.

How the Park is Managed Today

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) manages the park. In 2009, the park faced money problems and had to close for a short time. A group called the Friends of Washington Crossing Park was formed in 2010. They helped reopen the park and continue its important work.

The park is open for guided tours from April to December. You can visit Monday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The picnic areas and other outdoor spots are open all year from morning until evening. The park hosts the annual reenactment of Washington's crossing. They also have other programs about the Revolutionary War.

The park was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1961. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

McConkey's Ferry: The Historic Crossing Point

On the night of December 25–26, 1776, General George Washington led 2,400 soldiers across the Delaware River. They crossed at a place called McConkey's Ferry. Their goal was to surprise a group of 1,500 Hessian soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey.

This crossing happened when the American army was feeling very discouraged. It brought new hope to the soldiers and the American people. On December 26, at the Battle of Trenton, Washington's army won. They forced the Hessian soldiers to surrender without losing any American lives.

The ferry at this spot has a long history. Henry Baker first started it in 1684. Samuel McConkey bought it in 1774, and that's how it got its famous name. On the New Jersey side of the river, the ferry was known as Johnson's Ferry.