# Washington Crossing State Park

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Not to be confused with [Washington Crossing Historic Park](/source/Washington_Crossing_Historic_Park), a Pennsylvania state park near the same location. For other uses, see [Washington Crossing](/source/Washington_Crossing_(disambiguation)).

United States historic place

Washington Crossing State Park U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. National Historic Landmark New Jersey Register of Historic Places Crossing site, from the New Jersey side, looking west to Pennsylvania across the Delaware River. Washington Crossing State Park Show map of Mercer County, New Jersey Washington Crossing State Park Show map of New Jersey Washington Crossing State Park Show map of the United States Location Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey Nearest city Titusville, New Jersey and Trenton, New Jersey Coordinates 40°18′40″N 74°51′49″W / 40.3111°N 74.8636°W / 40.3111; -74.8636 Area 3,575 acres (1,447 ha) NRHP reference No. 66000650[1] NJRHP No. 1706[2] Significant dates Added to NRHP October 15, 1966 Designated NHL January 20, 1961 Designated NJRHP May 27, 1971

**Washington Crossing State Park** is a 3,575-acre (14 km2) [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey) state park that is part of [Washington's Crossing](/source/Washington's_Crossing), a [U.S.](/source/United_States) [National Historic Landmark](/source/National_Historic_Landmark) area. It is located in the [Washington Crossing](/source/Washington_Crossing%2C_New_Jersey) and [Titusville](/source/Titusville%2C_New_Jersey) sections of [Hopewell Township](/source/Hopewell_Township%2C_Mercer_County%2C_New_Jersey) in [Mercer County](/source/Mercer_County%2C_New_Jersey), north of [Trenton](/source/Trenton%2C_New_Jersey) along the [Delaware River](/source/Delaware_River). The park is operated and maintained by the [New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry](/source/New_Jersey_Division_of_Parks_and_Forestry). It is supported by the Washington Crossing Park Association, a friends group that works to preserve, enhance, and advocate for the park.[3]

This park area, together with [Washington Crossing Historic Park](/source/Washington_Crossing_Historic_Park) on the Pennsylvania side, comprise the Washington's Crossing National Historic Landmark, which was listed on January 20, 1961, and added to the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) on October 15, 1966.[4][5]

The park's natural area consists of 140 acres (0.57 km2) of mixed hardwood forests and fields that offer locations for hiking, picnics, nature walks and cross-country skiing.[6] The Nature Center offers exhibits, displays, and educational programs for children, families and school groups. During warmer months, concerts and plays were once held at the [Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre](/source/Washington_Crossing_Open_Air_Theatre), an outdoor theater with seating consisting of wooden benches and a stage, but this facility has been abandoned since 2017.

[Goat Hill Overlook](#Goat_Hill_Overlook), located nearby in [West Amwell Township](/source/West_Amwell_Township%2C_New_Jersey) in [Hunterdon County](/source/Hunterdon_County%2C_New_Jersey), is administered by the [New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry](/source/New_Jersey_Division_of_Parks_and_Forestry) as part of Washington Crossing State Park.

## Johnson's Ferry

The park includes the site of [George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River](/source/George_Washington's_crossing_of_the_Delaware_River) at **Johnson's Ferry**. This is where [George Washington](/source/George_Washington) and a 2,400-man detachment of the [Continental Army](/source/Continental_Army) crossed the river overnight on December 25, 1776, and into the morning of December 26, 1776, to make a [surprise attack on Trenton](/source/Battle_of_Trenton), a move that would prove to be a turning point in the [American Revolutionary War](/source/American_Revolutionary_War). The corresponding ferry on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River was known as [McConkey's Ferry](/source/McConkey's_Ferry).[7]

The **Johnson Ferry House**, an 18th-century farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River, was owned by Garret Johnson, who operated a 490-acre (2.0 km2) plantation and a ferry service across the Delaware.[8] It was likely used by General Washington and other officers at the time of the crossing.[6] Several rooms are furnished with period pieces, and an 18th-century kitchen garden has been planted. On weekends, living-history demonstrations are frequently held.

## Nelson House

Built c. 1850, the **Nelson House**, also known as the **Alexander Nelson Tavern**, is located near the landing site on the Delaware River and is used for park history demonstrations.[9] The house includes period furnishings and old photographs of railroad and canal transportation.

## Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum

Visitors center museum

Military map by [William Faden](/source/William_Faden) with troop movements during the [Ten Crucial Days](/source/Ten_Crucial_Days)

The Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum focuses on the American Revolution and the military campaign known as the "[Ten Crucial Days](/source/Ten_Crucial_Days)" from December 25, 1776, through January 3, 1777.[10] During this time, the George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River, and fought at the [Battle of Trenton](/source/Battle_of_Trenton), the [Battle of the Assunpink Creek](/source/Battle_of_the_Assunpink_Creek), and the [Battle of Princeton](/source/Battle_of_Princeton). It features the Harry Kels Swan Collection of Revolutionary War artifacts. Over 700 military items from the American and British Armies are included in the collection.[6] The center also includes interpretive history exhibits that cover the Revolutionary War from its prelude in 1758 to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

## Nature Center and 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 houses two telescopes: a 6.25-inch Hastings-Byrne refractor and a 14-inch SCT. The observatory is open for public observing led by association volunteers on Friday nights April through October from 8 to 11 pm, weather permitting.

## Goat Hill Overlook

**Goat Hill Overlook** is a 213-acre (0.86 km2) scenic preserve administered as part of nearby Washington Crossing State Park. The [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection](/source/New_Jersey_Department_of_Environmental_Protection)'s Green Acres program purchased the Goat Hill Overlook property in 2009 for $4.5 million from Constructural Dynamics Inc. of [Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania](/source/Fairless_Hills%2C_Pennsylvania). The company acquired Goat Hill Overlook from the [Boy Scouts](/source/Boy_Scouts_of_America) in 1983 and originally intended to use the land for mining operations. That plan was later changed in favor of constructing a residential development complex at the site. In addition to views of the Delaware River, the property features a prominent rock, known as Washington Rock. According to local legend, General Washington used the views from Goat Hill Overlook to assess battle conditions during the [Revolutionary War](/source/American_Revolutionary_War). The site also offers miles of hiking trails and contains a variety of wildlife and plant species.[11]

## Gallery

		- Johnson Ferry House

		- Stone barn by the Johnson Ferry House[12]

		- Nelson House

		- Ferry boat reproduction[13]

		- Sign marking Continental Army route.

		- Monument near the crossing site

## See also

- [National Register of Historic Places portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:National_Register_of_Historic_Places)
- [New Jersey portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:New_Jersey)

- [List of New Jersey state parks](/source/List_of_New_Jersey_state_parks)

- [National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer County, New Jersey](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Mercer_County%2C_New_Jersey)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nris_1-0)** ["National Register Information System – (#66000650)"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/66000650). *[National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). November 2, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NJRHP_2-0)** ["New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Mercer County"](https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists/Mercer.pdf) (PDF). [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection](/source/New_Jersey_Department_of_Environmental_Protection) – Historic Preservation Office. December 30, 2019. p. 7.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Washington Crossing Park Association"](https://www.wcpa-nj.com/). Washington Crossing Park Association.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nrhpnhl_4-0)** C. E. Shedd Jr. (August 1, 1960). ["National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Washington Crossing State Park"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/66000650_text) (pdf). [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). and [*Accompanying two photos, from 1960*](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/66000650_photos)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nrhpdoc_5-0)** ["New Jersey NHL Washington's Crossing"](https://catalog.archives.gov/id/135813634). *National Archives Catalog for New Jersey*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). August 1, 1960. Downloading may be slow.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wcsp_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wcsp_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wcsp_6-2) ["Washington Crossing State Park"](https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html). [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection](/source/New_Jersey_Department_of_Environmental_Protection).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Rutt, Walter E. (January 25, 1937). ["McKonkey Ferry House"](https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/nj/nj0500/nj0571/data/nj0571data.pdf) (PDF). [Historic American Buildings Survey](/source/Historic_American_Buildings_Survey).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Danilov, Victor J. (2013). [*Famous Americans: A Directory of Museums, Historic Sites, and Memorials*](https://books.google.com/books?id=kWsrAQAAQBAJ&dq=johnson+ferry+house+garret&pg=PA206). Scarecrow Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780810891869](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780810891869).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Osborne, Peter (2012). [*Where Washington Once Led: A History of New Jersey's Washington Crossing State Park*](https://books.google.com/books?id=usWxNAEACAAJ). Yardley Press. pp. 59–64. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9860305-0-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9860305-0-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [895194785](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/895194785).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Ten Crucial Days"](https://revolutionarynj.org/storylines/ten-crucial-days/). [Crossroads of the American Revolution Association](/source/Crossroads_of_the_American_Revolution_Association).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["DEP Preserves Scenic Acres Along the Delaware River"](http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2009/09_0024.htm) (Press release). [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection](/source/New_Jersey_Department_of_Environmental_Protection). October 14, 2009. Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello today announced the preservation of a 213 acres (0.86 km2) scenic property in West Amwell Township, Hunterdon County.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Stone Barn"](https://www.wcpa-nj.com/stonebarn). Washington Crossing Park Association.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Ferry Boat Reproduction"](https://www.wcpa-nj.com/ferry). Washington Crossing Park Association.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Washington Crossing State Park](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Washington_Crossing_State_Park).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Johnson Ferry House](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Johnson_Ferry_House).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Nelson House](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nelson_House_(Washington_Crossing,_New_Jersey)).

- [Official website](https://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/washingtoncrossingstatepark.html)

- [Historic American Buildings Survey](/source/Heritage_Documentation_Programs#Historic_American_Buildings_Survey) (HABS) No. HABS NJ-19, "[Johnson-McKonkey Ferry House, Washington Crossing, Mercer County, NJ](https://loc.gov/pictures/item/nj0571/)", 3 photos, 8 measured drawings, 7 data pages

- ["Ferry Site"](https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7327). [The Historical Marker Database](/source/The_Historical_Marker_Database).

- [Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre](http://www.buckscountyplayhouse.com/OAT/default.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070518011337/http://www.buckscountyplayhouse.com/OAT/default.html) May 18, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [NY-NJTC: Washington Crossing State Park Trail Details and Info](http://www.nynjtc.org/park/washington-crossing-state-park)

v t e New Jersey in the American Revolution 1776 Turtle Gut Inlet New York and New Jersey campaign Fort Lee Geary ambush Iron Works Hill Delaware River crossing First Trenton 1777 Assunpink Creek (Second Trenton) Princeton Millstone Forage War Bound Brook First Middlebrook encampment Short Hills Red Bank Gloucester 1778 Quinton's Bridge Monmouth Baylor Massacre Affair at Little Egg Harbor Chestnut Neck Second Middlebrook encampment 1779 Paulus Hook Jockey Hollow New Jersey Brigade encampment 1780 Connecticut Farms Springfield Bull's Ferry 1781 Pennsylvania Line Mutiny Pompton mutiny 1783 U.S. Capital at Princeton Other Fort Billingsport Fort Mercer Mary Hays ("Molly Pitcher") New Bridge Landing Pluckemin Cantonment Temperance Wick New Jersey Beacons See also: Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, Morristown National Historical Park, Washington Crossing State Park

v t e New Jersey Historic Sites Allaire Village Barnegat Light Basking Ridge white oak Batsto Village Boxwood Hall Cape May Light Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal Clarke House Craig House Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Blackwells Mills Canal House Port Mercer Canal House Prallsville Mills Double Trouble Village Fort Mott Glen Rock Grover Cleveland Birthplace Hancock House The Hermitage Hillman Hospital House High Point Monument Indian King Tavern Jockey Hollow Johnson Ferry House Long Pond Ironworks Historic District Monmouth Battlefield Old Dutch Parsonage Princeton Battlefield Ringwood Manor Rockingham Skylands Manor & State Botanical Garden Somers Mansion Steuben House Trenton Battle Monument Navesink Twin Lights Wallace House Walt Whitman House Wahington's Crossing Waterloo Village Whitesbog Village

v t e Protected areas of New Jersey Federal National Estuarine Research Reserves Jacques Cousteau National Historical Parks Morristown Paterson Great Falls Thomas Edison National Monuments Statue of Liberty National Recreation Areas Delaware Water Gap Gateway National Reserves Pinelands National Trails Appalachian Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Wild and Scenic Rivers Great Egg Harbor River Lower Delaware River Maurice River Musconetcong River National Wildlife Refuges Cape May Edwin B. Forsythe Great Swamp Supawna Meadows Wallkill River Other National Historic Landmarks National Natural Landmarks National Register of Historic Places Wilderness Areas State State parks Allaire Allamuchy Mountain Barnegat Lighthouse Cape May Point Cheesequake Corson's Inlet Delaware and Raritan Canal Double Trouble Edison Farny Fort Mott Hacklebarney High Point Hopatcong Island Beach Kittatinny Valley Liberty Long Pond Ironworks Monmouth Battlefield Parvin Pigeon Swamp Princeton Battlefield Rancocas Ringwood Stephens Swartswood Voorhees Washington Crossing Washington Rock Wawayanda State forests Abram S. Hewitt Bass River Belleplain Brendan T. Byrne Green Bank Jenny Jump Norvin Green Penn Ramapo Mountain Stokes Wharton Worthington Recreation areas Atsion Bulls Island Round Valley Spruce Run Wildlife management areas List of New Jersey wildlife management areas County Nature parks Eagle Rock Reservation Garret Mountain Reservation Sourland Mountain Preserve South Mountain Reservation Watchung Reservation New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route Other Nature centers List of nature centers in New Jersey Category Essex County Hudson County Union County New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry Commons

v t e Nature centers in New Jersey Atlantic County Warren E. Fox Nature Center Bergen County Closter Nature Center Demarest Nature Center Flat Rock Brook Nature Center James A. McFaul Environmental Center Lorrimer Sanctuary Meadowlands Environment Center Ridgefield Nature Center Tenafly Nature Center Burlington County Palmyra Cove Nature Park Paws Farm Nature Center Rancocas Nature Center Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center Cape May County Belleplain State Forest Cape May Bird Observatory Nature Center of Cape May Wetlands Institute Essex County Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary Essex County Environmental Center Greater Newark Conservancy Gloucester County Scotland Run Park Nature Center Hudson County Liberty State Park Nature Center Hunterdon County Whittemore Wildlife Sanctuary Mercer County Lawrence Nature Center The Watershed Institute Washington Crossing State Park Middlesex County Plainsboro Preserve Monmouth County Allaire State Park Huber Woods Environmental Center Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center Poricy Park Nature Center Morris County Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Schiff Nature Preserve Willowwood Arboretum Ocean County Cooper Environmental Center - Cattus Island Park Forest Resource Education Center Island Beach State Park Jakes Branch County Park Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education Wells Mills Nature Center Passaic County Rifle Camp Park Somerset County Duke Farms Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary Somerset County Environmental Education Center Union County Reeves-Reed Arboretum Trailside Nature & Science Center - Watchung Reservation Warren County Merrill Creek Reservoir

v t e National Register of Historic Places in Mercer County, New Jersey Landmarks Abbott Farm Archeological Site Westland Mansion Albert Einstein House Joseph Henry House Lawrenceville School Maybury Hill Morven Nassau Hall Old Barracks Maclean House Princeton Battlefield Prospect House William Trent House Washington Crossing State Park Districts Bear Tavern Road--Jacob's Creek Crossing Rural Historic District Berkeley Square Historic District Delaware and Raritan Canal Drake Farmstead/Brookdale Farm Harbourton Historic District Jugtown Historic District King's Highway Historic District Kingston Mill Historic District Lake Carnegie Historic District Lawrence Township Historic District Mill Hill Historic District Mountain Avenue Historic District Old School Baptist Church and Cemetery of Hopewell Pleasant Valley Historic District Princeton Historic District Riverview Cemetery State House Historic District Stockton Street Historic District Titusville Historic District Trenton Ferry Historic District Windsor Historic District Places of worship First Presbyterian Church of Trenton First Presbyterian Church of Pennington Penns Neck Baptist Church Sacred Heart Church St. Michael's Church Trenton Friends Meeting House Houses John Abbott II House Abbott-Decou House Anderson-Capner House Baker-Brearley House Bow Hill Charles Brearley House Gen. Philemon Dickinson House Douglass House Drumthwacket William Green House Green-Reading House John D. Hart House Hart–Hoch House Donald Grant Herring Estate Highfields House at 379 West State Street Hunt Farmstead Rudolph V. Kuser Estate Ichabod Leigh House Mansion House Mercer Street Friends Center Old Ryan Farm Isaac Pearson House Joseph Phillips Farm John Rogers House Samuel Sloan House Smith-Ribsam House Israel Stevens House Joseph Stout House Tusculum University Cottage Club Colonel John Van Cleve Homestead Jeremiah Vandyke House Isaac Watson House John Welling House John White House Jeremiah Woolsey House Commercial buildings Adams and Sickles Building American Cigar Company Broad Street National Bank Henry Clay and Bock & Co. Ltd. Cigar Factory Golden Swan-True American Hopewell Station In and Out Social Club Thomas Maddock's Sons Company New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles Building Old Eagle Tavern Pennington Railroad Station Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Freight Station Princeton Railroad Station Roebling Machine Shop John A. Roebling's Sons Company, Trenton N.J., Block 3 Somerset Roller Mills Stokely-Van Camp Industrial Complex Trenton Bath House West Trenton Station Public buildings Bellevue Avenue Colored School Carver Center East Trenton Public Library Higbee Street School Mott School and Second Street School Trenton War Memorial Trenton City Hall U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Witherspoon Street School for Colored Children Sites Archeological Site No. 1-18th Century Vessel (28ME196) Crosswicks Creek Site III Mount Rose Distillery Princeton Ice Company Washington Road Elm Allée Structures Hog Island Cranes Morrisville–Trenton Railroad Bridge Trenton Battle Monument Trenton City/Calhoun Street Bridge Former Princessville Inn See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer County, New Jersey and List of National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Israel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Washington Crossing State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Crossing_State_Park) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Crossing_State_Park?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.