1776 Map of Upper Makefield
This custom-designed map highlights the properties of landowners in Upper Makefield Township at the time of General George Washington’s historic Delaware River crossing in December 1776, providing important local context to the events surrounding the Crossing. It also features illustrations of key headquarters homes used by General Washington and his officers in the days leading up to the Christmas Night crossing, helping visualize the landscape, community, and preparations behind this pivotal moment in American history.
The research behind the map draws on historic deed records, late-18th-century tax lists, and other archival sources to identify property ownership as closely as possible to December 1776. Because no complete tax list survives for that exact year, research compared multiple records to reconstruct the township landscape, identifying roughly 90–95 landowners owned property and likely lived in the area at the time. Mapping these properties also helped illuminate civilian life surrounding the Crossing, including farmers, tradespeople, and families whose lives were directly affected by the Revolutionary War, whether as Patriots, Loyalists, or those trying to remain neutral.
The project was researched by local historian, member, and supporter, Jeff Marshall, whose longstanding interest in Upper Makefield’s history has contributed significantly to understanding the region’s Revolutionary War landscape. The work was inspired in part by earlier scholarship exploring the local context of the Crossing, and artistically rendered by Virginia Cuba, whose design translates detailed historical research into an engaging visual resource for visitors, educators, and researchers.
Created as part of ongoing preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, this project reflects Washington Crossing Park’s broader commitment to expanding interpretation, supporting scholarship, and connecting the public with the local dimensions of the American Revolution.
Limited-edition printed maps are available for purchase online or in-person for $17.76 in our Patriot Gift Shoppe. Proceeds directly support park enhancements, educational programming, interpretive initiatives, and visitor experience improvements planned for the Semiquincentennial in 2026.
Completed: July 2025
