Washington's Crossing

This article is about the National Historic Landmark. For other uses, see Washington Crossing.

Washington's Crossing
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
View of the ferry crossing site in 2013
Washington's Crossing Show map of Mercer County, New Jersey Washington's Crossing Show map of New Jersey Washington's Crossing Show map of Pennsylvania Washington's Crossing Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Titusville, New Jersey, and Yardley, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°17′47″N 74°52′10″W
Area	872 acres (353 ha)[2]
Built	1776
NRHP reference No.	66000650[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	January 20, 1961[3]

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 maneuver led to victory in the Battle of Trenton. The site, a National Historic Landmark, is composed of U.S. state parks in Washington Crossing, New Jersey, and Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, north of Trenton, New Jersey.^[2][4]

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. A reenactment of the crossing is performed every December.^[5]

Pennsylvania side

Main article: Washington Crossing Historic Park

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.^[2]

New Jersey side

Main article: Washington Crossing State Park

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. It includes 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.^[2]

See also

• List of National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania

References

1. "National Register Information System – (#66000650)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. 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)
3. "Washington's Crossing". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
4. "New Jersey NHL Washington's Crossing". National Park Service. August 1, 1960 – via National Archives Catalog for New Jersey. Downloading may be slow.
5. "The Crossing Reenactment". www.washingtoncrossingpark.org. November 11, 2014.