Michelle Flanagan’s appreciation for history began with her family. Her son attended an elementary school that is believed to be the only educational institution that stands on grounds where a historic battle was fought during the Revolutionary War. Every year the staff and students dress in colonial attire and pay tribute to the heroes who fought and died for our freedom. One winter day, her family was taking a drive when they suddenly stumbled upon George Washington’s Birthday Celebration at Washington Crossing Historic Park. She said, “I had no clue it was happening and so much was going on! Read More
Staff Spotlights
Staff Spotlight: Alex Robb
December 20th, 2023Alex Robb was hired in January of 2024 as a full-time Interpretive Program Specialist to assist with the design and implementation of new educational programs that highlight the park’s unique military history as FWCP continues to prepare for the upcoming Semiquincentennial celebration. This position was funded through generous support from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. Alex has always been interested in history, as his mother is a history teacher and his grandfather also used to take him to reenactments and historical sites. He’s been a historical reenactor for the past six years, participating in programs at Washington Read More
Celebrating Our Summer 2023 Interns
August 23rd, 2023The Friends of Washington Crossing Park would like to thank all of our wonderful interns who supported the park this summer! JJ Miller (Shippensburg University), Brandon Fey (Gettysburg College), John Paul Corsilli (Ocean County Community College) and Ryan Thiel (Rowan University) assisted in site research, public living history programs and served as 18th century interpreters for thousands of school children for our Colonial Days Friend Trip Programs. The energy and innovation of all of our interns were a great asset to the park this summer and we are honored for the opportunity to steward the next generation of public historians. JJ Miller is a History Major and rising sophomore Read More
Staff Spotlight: Katherine Heugatter
February 8th, 2023Two coincidences led Katherine Heugatter to Washington Crossing Historic Park. “I had recently moved to the area and was driving on River Road when I saw a ton of cars and wondered what was happening,” she says. “It turned out to be the First Crossing reenactment. Around the same time, a man in my yoga class said he had to work on Christmas Day because he was the Volunteer Coordinator at the park.” Both coincidences caught Katherine’s attention since she had spent most of her career working in museums and holds degrees in history and museum studies. She soon Read More
Staff Spotlight: Mike Kuzar
January 26th, 2023While deployed in Iraq with the Pennsylvania National Guard, Park Manager Mike Kuzar reflected on special aspects of his home state. “I realized how much I missed the natural beauty of Pennsylvania, going on hikes, bike rides, and walking my dog through its parks,” he says. “We’re lucky to have a state park within 25 miles of every resident in Pennsylvania.” Following his military service, Mike enrolled in a park management program at Slippery Rock University. This led him to gain valuable exposure to varied park locations across the U.S. through internships and summer work experiences. After college, he Read More
Military Historian Joins Friends’ Staff
December 27th, 2022Colin Zimmerman recently started a new job as a Military Historian for the Friends of Washington Crossing Park, but he’s a familiar face around the park. “I worked here from 2016 to 2018 as an historical interpreter, and I’m thrilled to be back in this newly created role,” Zimmerman says. “History started out as an interest for me, then turned into a hobby, and eventually became a passion. To me, history is the most fascinating thing in the world and this park is a national treasure.” Zimmerman is currently in the final year of completing his doctoral degree Read More
Staff Spotlight: Guy Sava
June 28th, 2022A dedicated history buff, our Visitor Services Coordinator Gaetano “Guy” Sava III has been lending his knowledge and skills to Washington Crossing Park for over 12 years. It all began when he chose renovations on Bowman’s Hill Tower for his Eagle Scout Project after extensive research. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy put a damper on things and he took up working in the gift shop instead. Here, Guy was inspired by the tours and eventually became a tour guide for the renovated Visitor Center. After time at Bucks County Community College, Guy transferred to Temple and earned his bachelor’s in business Read More
Staff Spotlight: Ross Heutmaker
May 23rd, 2022We can all agree that our sheep and goats are an integral part of our park, but their joyful presence wouldn’t be possible without our Farmstead Manager, Ross Heutmaker. His duties include managing a crew of volunteers, land management at the farmstead, assisting Anna Davis-Agostini—our Historical Horticulturist—with garden maintenance, assisting with the operation and upkeep of the park’s Grist Mill, and of course, overseeing the care of our animals. While Ross didn’t specifically prepare to become a sheep farmer, he fits perfectly into this important role at the park. He is a graduate of The College of New Jersey where Read More