Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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Washington Crossing Historic Site Overview

Explore George Washington’s military strategy in crossing the Delaware River and view an expansive display of Revolutionary War era artifacts.

Washington Crossing State Park is located just eight miles north of Trenton, at the site of General Washington’s historic Christmas Night Crossing of the icy Delaware River prior to his surprise attack of the Hessians at Trenton on December 26, 1776. It was a bold and daring plan, but as Washington wrote, "...necessity, dire necessity, will, nay must, justify an attack...".

Earliest known records of the area indicate that a ferry crossing was established between Pennsylvania and New Jersey about 1700. At this river crossing location, a ferry was used for both commerce and to transport passengers across the Delaware River. General Washington chose to cross the Delaware River at this strategic point because it allowed his troops to cross without probable detection. After landing in New Jersey, the Continental army marched approximately nine miles through a perilous winter storm and engaged the Hessian garrison at the Battle of Trenton. The victory at Trenton was a tremendous morale boost to the army and nation. Most historians consider these events a turning point in the War for American Independence.

The visitor center museum features a unique collection of over 500 authentic Revolutionary War artifacts, on loan from The Swan Historical Foundation, which represents the many facets of America's war for independence with an emphasis on the military campaign known as the "Ten Crucial Days". This collection serves to remind visitors of the perilous struggles that men and women endured during this era.

Facilities for People with Disabilities
We encourage people with disabilities who require special considerations to contact the historic site / park at the phone number listed in the general information on the home page of the historic site / park. The staff will assist with arrangements. Text telephone (TT) users, please call the NJ Relay Services at (800) 852-7899.

For the Comfort and Enjoyment of All
This historic site / park is part of the NJ State Park system and your cooperation with the following will help ensure the survival of the museum collections, historic structures & features and surrounding property for the enjoyment and education of future generations!

  • Keep your historic site / park and surrounding property clean and green! Protect this site by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the site, plan on carrying it out too. Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Thank you!
  • No Smoking on NJ State Park Service Property. Pursuant to N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at state historic sites [ N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6]
  • The collection or removal of any object from State Park property is prohibited without written permission from the Superintendent.
  • Use of metal detecting devices on or unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on or over the property is not permitted without a special use permit (SUP) from the State historic site / park.
  • Commercial photography is not permitted on the property without a special use permit (SUP) from the historic site / park.
  • Interior photography, videotaping or audio taping are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum, except by prior written permission and for educational purposes only.
  • Non-commercial photography is permitted on the property (outside), but please help preserve the historic site / park and any surrounding property by not attaching anything to, climbing or sitting on historic structures and features or disturbing any plants, wild or cultivated. Photography may not interfere with other visitors to the historic site / park or impede site operations.
  • Food and beverages; pets/animals, except for service animals, are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum.
  • Please refrain from touching objects/furnishings in and building components of historic structures and museums, except where invited to do so by staff.

Please contact this historic site / park with specific inquiries about any of these restrictions, as there may be some variations at this specific historic site / park.

Related Links

Washington Crossing State Park
Johnson Ferry House

General

Phone Number
609-737-0623

Address
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Titusville, NJ 08560

Email Address
WashingtonCrossing@dep.nj.gov

Historic Site Hours

Grounds Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Office Hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitor Center Museum Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Historic Site Fees

Entrance Fee None

Other Related Fees
Map / Directions

GPS Coordinates
40.304933, -74.856894