Rehabilitation of McConkey Ferry Inn
The Friends of Washington Crossing Park received a $502,768 grant from the National Park Service’s Semiquincentennial Grant Program to undertake a comprehensive interior rehabilitation of the McConkey Ferry Inn.
The Inn played a vital role during the Revolutionary War. On the eve of the historic December 25, 1776 crossing of the Delaware River, it served as a feeding station, planning site, and guard post for Washington’s troops. As the launch point for this legendary maneuver, the Inn remains an essential part of our national narrative, deeply woven into reenactments, daily tours, school programs, and living-history events.
The grant funding will upgrade the Inn’s interior to museum standards, enabling exhibit-quality displays, historically accurate period interpretation, and updated documentation for its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This project builds on last year’s $8.7 million capital investment in park-wide improvements, ensuring that the Inn’s legacy receives the same level of care and attention.
Following the crossing, the Inn briefly served as a holding site for captured Hessian soldiers. To help bring this story to life, new Hessian uniforms are being recreated by renowned historical tailor Henry Cooke, whose work is featured at the Museum of the American Revolution and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Museum.
Estimated Completion: December 2026
