Friends of Washington Crossing Park

ABOUT

The Friends of Washington Crossing Park is a 501c3 advocacy organization for Washington Crossing Historic Park, the site where General George Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas night 1776 to save the American Revolution.  The Friends of Washington Crossing Park operates the park in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Friends’s mission is to share the powerful story of General Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River and interpret its ongoing impact on world history for both today’s citizens and future generations.

The 500-acre Washington Crossing Historic Park is split between two different sites and has a tremendous amount to offer visitors. The “lower park” is the site of General Washington’s famous crossing in the village of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. The lower park includes the McConkey’s Ferry Inn where Washington and his officers met and dined prior to the crossing, as well as a building that houses five Durham boats like those used to cross the river in 1776.

The 100-acre “upper park,” about 4.5 miles away, has the Thompson-Neely House that served as a temporary regimental army hospital during Washington's 1776-77 winter campaign. There is also a cemetery where an unknown number of Continental Army soldiers who died during the 1776 encampment are buried.

The park and visitor center are open to the public every day except for select holidays.

HISTORY

The Friends of Washington Crossing Park was established in 2009 when state budget cuts forced the closure of the park to the public. Even the iconic reenactment of Washington’s Christmas Night Crossing of the Delaware, held every year since 1953, was threatened with cancellation.

A group of concerned Bucks County citizens stepped into the breach and raised funds to save the event. They soon formalized their efforts by establishing the non-profit Friends of Washington Crossing Park. Thanks to their on-going work, all Americans can continue to learn about this momentous event in our nation’s history and better understand the sacrifices our forefathers made to create the United States of America.

GRANT PROJECT

The Americana Corner Preserving America grant awarded to The Friends of Washington Crossing Park funded five “76 Seconds of History” videos, part of a series that features a 76-second presentation of Revolutionary War history using artifacts, buildings, and monuments found at Washington Crossing Historic Park.  

Inspiration for the project came from the need to help teachers present the park’s history to students before touring the site. These videos educate students about 18th century life and historic trades to create an immersive experience and deeper understanding of the American Revolution. Importantly, over 10,000 students from 150 schools visit the park each year.

Americana Corner is proud to assist The Friends of Washington Crossing Park with its mission to preserve the Great American Story and to help our fellow citizens grow their love of country.