History

By David Price, WCHP Historical Interpreter Not long ago I had the opportunity to read a chapter in a manuscript about the turning points of the war for independence. This particular chapter covered the “Ten Crucial Days” (TCD) from December 25, 1776 to January 3, 1777, when Washington’s army won its first three significant victories and profoundly altered the course of the conflict. The draft cited to a quote by a noted military historian referring to the Continental Army’s Christmas Night 1776 crossing, which asserted that this action was perhaps Washington’s only “really brilliant” stroke of the war. Having spent Read More

By Denis J. Cooke  Captain John Lacey arrived home to Bucks County (Buckingham Township) from Fort Ticonderoga on December 1, 1776. His year- long enlistment in the Continental Service was ending and the experience had left a very bad taste in his mouth. In his memoirs, Lacey describes in detail how he and his commanding officer, Colonel Anthony Wayne, had engaged in a clash of wills, and he came home determined to resign from the Army. Catching up on the latest news on his arrival home, Lacey wrote, (original spelling and grammar maintained) “I was however, greatly alarmed on finding Read More

Two pieces of American history were recently restored, and both will soon be displayed at the park. One of the objects was unearthed in the 1970s and has never been seen by the public. The other is a treasure that has been hiding in plain sight for decades. The conservation of both objects is important to the park’s ability to tell the story of daily life in Bucks County during the Colonial era. These restorations were made possible thanks to generous grants from the Americana Corner and the sponsorship of the Washington Crossing Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Read More

Museum professional and Ewing, NJ, resident Patricia Millen always wanted to write a book about Washington Crossing. Unfortunately, she jokes, “Peter Osborne beat me to it!” Fate intervened during the COVID pandemic, however. That’s when longtime friend and fellow museum professional Bob Sands approached her with an idea for a Washington Crossing book – with a twist. He proposed compiling a “pictorial history book” filled with images drawn from the collections of historians, foundations, societies, libraries, museums, and private citizens. Rather than give a full account of Washington’s river crossing, Bob and Patricia’s book would cover the event in the Read More

By Colin Zimmerman, Military Historian, Friends of Washington Crossing Park All too often when we reflect on the Delaware River Crossing and surprise attack on Trenton, our minds naturally drift toward images of General George Washington and his tired, cold, and ragged Continental soldiers struggling with determination through bone-chilling wind, an ice-choked river, and a penetrating wetness produced by a nor-easter.  While certainly this imagery demands center stage of the drama that unfolded, there are other figures and events which played a critical role in precipitating and propelling the operation. One of these essential individuals was Mr. Robert Morris, known Read More

By Thomas Maddock II Historical Interpreter, Washington Crossing Historic Park In any long-term military conflict, there are many events that go unreported but have a very important impact on the eventual outcome. David Price’s fourth book, “The Battle of Harlem Heights, 1776,” gives us a thorough and informative account of this small but vital engagement. It took place on September 16, 1776 and was one of several encounters with the British and Hessians fought during the New York campaign. The Continental Army and its militia support units had been thoroughly defeated earlier at the Battle of Long Island and were Read More

  Fans of the park have been closely following the progress of the $8.7 million Capital Project to preserve 17 historic buildings and structures throughout the park. The year-and-a-half-long undertaking is now 99% complete and in mid-December the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Department of General Services held a ribbon cutting to celebrate. The rehabilitation included the refurbishment of historically accurate roofs and new windows, plastering and painting exteriors, and internal plumbing and electrical work. The project also included renovating and reopening restrooms near the Washington Pavilion and Thompson-Neely House and repaving the road to Read More

George Washington, John Glover, Henry Knox, James Monroe – are all well-known participants in the 1776 Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River. But who were the other 2,396 people who comprised Washington’s army at the time?    Washington Crossing Historic Park curator Kimberly McCarty will introduce guests to a handful of these lesser-known figures during her December 4 lecture, titled “Who Was Here?” The 7 p.m. lecture is free and will be offered in-person and on Zoom. Registration for both in-person and virtual attendance is required on the DCNR website (click here to register). McCarty’s lecture will explore the lives Read More