{{short description|State park in Springfield and Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox park | name = Fort Washington State Park | image = PA-MONTCO-FTWASHINGTON-WISSAHICKON.JPG | image_caption = [[Wissahickon Creek]] runs through Fort Washington State Park. | image_alt = Creek | image_size = 280 | location = [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.13027|-75.21764|format=dms|display=inline,title}} (office) | coords_ref = <ref name="fwsp"/> | area = {{convert|493|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="fwsp"/> | elevation = {{convert|328|ft}} | established = 1953 (state park) | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = | free_data = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = Philadelphia#Pennsylvania | label = Fort Washington State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location near Philadelphia | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Fort Washington State Park''' is a {{convert|493|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Springfield]] and [[Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania|Whitemarsh]] Townships in [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]]. The park is noted for the springtime flowering of [[dogwood]] trees, and is popular with families for [[picnic]]s and [[hiking]]. It is approximately {{convert|17|mi}} north of [[Philadelphia]], {{convert|2|mi}} from exit 339 of the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]].
==History== ===American Revolutionary War=== {{main|Battle of White Marsh}} [[Image:PA-MONTCO-FTWASHINGTON-OBSDECK.JPG|thumb|The observation deck at Fort Washington State Park overlooks the [[Wissahickon Creek]], a [[National Natural Landmark]]]] [[File:EMLEN HOUSE, FT. WASHNGTON, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.jpg|thumb|Emlen House, [[George Washington]]'s headquarters in November and December 1777]] Both Fort Washington State Park and the [[Fort Washington, Pennsylvania|neighboring town]] are named for American defenses and encampment established here in 1777, during the [[Philadelphia campaign]] of the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref name="fwsp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/fort-washington-state-park |title=Fort Washington State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2025-12-30}}</ref>
After Washington's defeat at the [[Battle of Germantown]], his 11,000 [[troop]]s were encamped in this area from November 11, 1777 to December 11, 1777, after which they marched to [[Valley Forge]] for winter quarters.
From December 5–8, 1777, the [[Battle of White Marsh]] was fought in the immediate vicinity. The park's Fort Hill marks the spot where a temporary fort once stood. The Pennsylvania militia under Generals [[John Armstrong, Sr.|Armstrong]], [[John Cadwalader (general)|Cadwalader]] and Irvine held positions on what is today called Militia Hill.<ref name="fwsp"/>
===Park's establishment=== The park was established by Philadelphia's [[Fairmount Park]] Commission in the early 1920s. The commission, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, administered the park until 1953. That year, an act of state legislature transferred responsibility of the park to the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (known today as the [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]).<ref name="fwsp"/>
Recreational activities at Fort Washington State Park include [[Disc golf]], [[fishing]], [[hiking]], [[dog]] walking, [[Birdwatching|bird]] and [[wildlife]] watching, [[sledding]], [[cross-country skiing]] and [[picnicking]]. From September 1 to October 31, an organized "[[Hawk]] Watch" takes place in which viewers can observe all 16 [[species]] of [[Bird of prey|raptors]] that migrate on the East Coast from the park's observation deck. [[Hunting]] is prohibited at Fort Washington State Park.<ref name="fwsp"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Fort Washington State Park}} {{Portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/fort-washington-state-park Fort Washington State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources * {{cite web|url= http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004722.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034916/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004722.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 4, 2016 |title=Fort Washington State Park official map }} {{small|(153 KB)}}
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:1953 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1953]] [[Category:Protected areas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]]