Washington Crossing State Park

:"Not to be confused with Washington Crossing Historic Park, a Pennsylvania state park across the Delaware River near Yardley, Pennsylvania

Washington Crossing State Park is a convert|3100|acre|km2|0|sing=on state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is part of Washington's Crossing, a U.S. National Historic Landmark area. It is located in Titusville in Mercer County, north of Trenton along the Delaware River. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

The park includes the site of Washington's crossing of the Delaware at Johnsons Ferry. This is where General George Washington and a 2,400-man detachment of Continental Army troops crossed the river overnight on December 25, 1776, and into the morning of December 26, 1776, in order to make a surprise attack on Trenton, a move that would prove to be a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

This park area, together with Washington Crossing Historic Park on the Pennsylania side, comprise the Washington's Crossing National Historic Landmark.

Inside the park is the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre, an outdoor theater with seating consisting of wooden benches.

Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum

The Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum focuses on the American Revolution and the military campaign known as "The Ten Crucial Days" from December 25, 1776 through January 3, 1777. During this time the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River, and the Battle of Trenton and Battle of Princeton occurred. The museum houses over 700 period objects.

Johnson Ferry House

The Johnson Ferry House, an 18th-century farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River, was likely used by General Washington and other officers at the time of the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html Department of Environmental Protection ] ] Several rooms are furnished with period pieces, and there is an 18th-century kitchen garden. On weekends, living history demonstrations are frequently held.

Nature Center & Observatory

The Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center offers nature education programs are for schools, youth groups, community organizations and visitors to the park. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday, year round.

Nearby is the John W. H. Simpson Observatory, which is operated by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton. The observatory is open Friday nights April through October from 7 pm to 11 pm.

References

ee also

*Washington's Crossing
*List of New Jersey state parks

External links

* [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html Washington Crossing State Park official site]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/travel/virtual/tendays/index.html Ten crucial days]
* [http://www.buckscountyplayhouse.com/OAT/default.html Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre]