Robert Thompson’s Time-Worn Gravestone Restored
After driving by the cemetery next to the historic Newtown Presbyterian Church countless times, Kimberly McCarty, the curator at Washington Crossing Historic Park, decided one morning that she was finally going to visit the gravesite of Robert Thompson. His was a name she knew well. Robert Thompson developed the Thompson-Neely House and Farmstead—one of the historic sites operated by the Friends of Washington Crossing Park—into what it is today. The original central section of the house was constructed around 1740 by a miller named John Simpson. A year after he died, his widow, Hannah, married Thompson, whose farming and milling Read More
Book Review: A Proper Sense of Honor
A Proper Sense of Honor: Service and Sacrifice in George Washington’s Army By Caroline Cox (The University of North Carolina Press, 2004), 338 pages, reviewed by David PriceCaroline Cox has produced an illuminating study of life in the Continental Army and how it connected to the broader social dynamics of colonial America in explaining the disparity in the conditions of service between officers and enlisted men. Her tightly wound narrative offers a wide-ranging examination of army life that encompasses such issues as: relations among the ranks, discipline and punishment, medical care, death and burial, and the treatment of prisoners. The Read More
Fall Brewfest Fundraiser Set for October 27
To some, beer and cider drinking are seasonal activities, which makes the woods overlooking the Delaware River an ideal setting for the Washington Crossing Fall Brewfest. Come Saturday, October 27, the surrounding foliage should be a canopy of vivid yellows, oranges and reds. As fallen leaves crunch underfoot, peaty woodsmoke from nearby fires will add a hint of warmth to the crisp air. It’s practically a live-action Pinterest board for craft beer fans. “To enhance that effect, we intentionally sell fewer tickets than we do for the Spring Brewfest,” says Glenn Blakely, Fall Brewfest co-organizer and a member of the Friends of Washington Crossing Read More
An Evening with Nathaniel Philbrick
New York Times bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick will appear at Washington Crossing Historic Park on Wednesday, October 17, at 7:30 PM for a lecture, Q&A, and signing of his new book, In the Hurricane’s Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown. Tickets are available only online (click here). Sales will close on Sunday, October 7, and tickets will not be sold at the door. Philbrick’s latest reprises the protagonists of his last Revolutionary War book in a recounting of the events leading up to the colonists’ victory at the Battle of Yorktown, with an emphasis on naval and military strategy. “The author Read More
Autumn Encampment & Market Set for October 13
Bring the whole family to experience colonial life at Washington Crossing Historic Park on Saturday, October 13 from 10 AM to 4 PM. During Autumn Encampment & Market, colonial townspeople gather at their marketplace in the Historic Village to sell their wares while soldiers drill 18th-century military tactics. This special event offers something for everyone, including crafts, cooking demonstrations, tours of historic buildings, military drills, one-on-one interaction with colonial reenactors and more. A highlight of this year’s Autumn Encampment & Market is a full day of colonial music with two groups who will perform songs from the Revolutionary War era. Throughout Read More
Meet the 2018 Volunteer of the Year
When Eleanor Wong began volunteering at the front desk of Washington Crossing Historic Park’s visitor center six years ago, she did so from inside a trailer. That’s because the facility was undergoing an extensive renovation, and its operations were moved to a trailer next to it on River Road. The unusual conditions proved to be fortuitous for Eleanor, who had recently moved with her husband to Bucks County from Syracuse, NY, and knew little about Washington Crossing Historic Park. “It was steep learning curve,” she says. “But being in the trailer every Thursday, it became kind of like a one-room Read More
Friends Group Names New Executive Director
The non-profit Friends of Washington Crossing Park has named Jennifer Martin its executive director. In this position, she will oversee a variety of areas, including daily operations, program development, fundraising, policies and procedures, volunteer management and human resources. Martin has worked for the Friends since 2013, most recently as Assistant Director of Education and Public Programs. Prior to joining the Friends, she worked as a museum assistant at Pennsbury Manor. “I’m thrilled to lead a great team of people who are passionate about Washington Crossing Historic Park and the history that took place here,” Martin says. “The park is a national Read More
Meet the Professor Who Found a Real Durham Boat
Indiana University of Pennsylvania anthropology professor Ben Ford will present a free public lecture on his recent discovery of an original Durham boat on Sunday, September 9 at 2 PM in the Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center. Attendees will learn: The history of Durham boats, including the role in Washington’s historic crossings of the Delaware River What makes a Durham boat different from other vessels How Durham boats contributed to the development of Mid-Atlantic and Northeast commerce How Ford and his team excavated this wreck and what their findings mean Durham Boats in the Colonial Era General Washington used Read More