On the evening of 8 December 1776, the Continental Army, finally safe from Cornwallis' assault, encamped in the Thompson's Mills section of this 500-acre historic site. Over the next two weeks, additional American troops arrived from the Hudson River valley under General Sullivan and by order of the Continental Congress, from the Pennsylvania militia. Meanwhile, at the British headquarters on Staten Island, General Howe order the closing of the Campaign and the wintering of his troops. And on 19 December, in Philadelphia, the first printing of Thomas Paine's American Crisis was issued. Washington ordered the pamphlet read to all American troops.

It was from the McKonkey's Ferry section of this site in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that Washington and his army crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night and having reached the New Jersey shore, marched nine miles south to attack the Hessian forces at Trenton. The American victories at Trenton on 26 December and at Princeton on 3 January 1777 are often said to mark the turning point in the Revolutionary War. A re-enactment of the midnight crossing is held on Christmas Day each year.

Damian Siekonic and Robert Gerenser of the "Spirit of 76" have created an excellent web site for Washington Crossing Historic Park. A tour of the Park should begin in the McKonkey's Ferry section. Here is the modern Memorial Building and Visitor Center, which features a documentary film and rotating exhibits, as well as the only exact copy of Leutze's famous painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware." In this section of the Park, replicas of the heavy wooden boats used by Washington and his troops may be found on exhibit at Durham Boat House. Boats like these were originally designed to haul iron ore. Also in this section is the mid-18th century McConkey's Ferry Inn itself, which served as a guard post during the Continental Army's 1776 encampment in Bucks County.

Three and one-half miles up the River Road is the Thompson's Mill section of the Park. The Continental Army was encamped here just prior to the Crossing. Here is the 18th century Thompson-Neely House, in December 1776 the quarters of the American Brigadier General William Alexander (who claimed the title, Lord Stirling) and the place where Washington made his decision to attack Trenton. In 1930 a 110 foot observation tower was built on Bowman's Hill, in this section of the Park.

There are a total of thirteen historic buildings in the Park, including several structures dating to the first years of the 19th-century village of Taylorsville. There are also outdoor recreation and picnic areas. The Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission administer the Park.

Washington's Crossing is a National Historic Landmark.

The David Library of the American Revolution
P.O. Box 748
1201 River Road
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania 18977
(215) 493-6776

The David Library of the American Revolution is located on the stretch of River Road between the two sections of Pennsylvania's Washington Crossing Historic Park. Though none of the buildings on this Bucks County farm is as old as the year of the Crossing, this site is as significant to historians of the American Revolution as any other. The David Library of the American Revolution is a privately endowed, nonprofit foundation devoted to the study of American history from 1750 to 1800. The library's mission is the collection and dissemination of information on the period and the support of related programs. It was founded by Sol Feinstone (1888-1980), a businessman, philanthropist, and collector of Americana who emigrated from Lithuania in 1902 at age fourteen.

The library was established in 1959 and opened on its present location in 1974. The nucleus of books and manuscripts initially donated by Feinstone has now grown to include 40,000 printed materials in bound volumes and microcards, as well as 10,000 reels of microfilm containing original American, British, Loyalist, French and German records. The collections also hold a wealth of material on women, families, African Americans, and Indians. Facilities include the research library, a conference center, and a residence for visiting fellows.

Washington Crossing State Park
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Titusville, New Jersey 08560-1517
(609) 737-9304 or 737-9304 (Visitor Center)
(609) 737-2515 (Johnson Ferry House)
(609) 737-0623 (Park administrative office)

New Jersey and Pennsylvania each honor Washington's momentous Crossing of the Delaware with a large historic park and nature preserve. The visitor will find the New Jersey site similar to that of Pennsylvania. There is a modern Visitor Center and an 18-century historic house museum. From these buildings, professional staff interpret the historic landscape, structures, and artifacts associated with the Revolutionary War. Patrick Tadeushuk's web site "Are We There Yet?: The Ultimate Field Trip Resource" offers an excellent introductory web page to the Washington Crossing State Park.

The Park was founded in 1912 with a 100-acre tract, which included an overlook to the place where the Continental Army landed. In the period since that time, the Park has grown to a 900-acre historic site and recreation area. The Visitor Center, located near the place of the landing, offers historians of the Revolutionary War an introductory film and permanent exhibits which document the extraordinary accomplishments of the American people during the War. The presentation includes re-enactments of the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, filmed during the Bicentennial. The exhibition areas include the Harry Kels Swan Collection of Revolutionary War artifacts. The Swan Collection totals 900 military objects from both American and British armies, including the beautiful brace of pistols owned by Colonel George Taylor. Arranged chronologically, the exhibit encompasses twelve interpretive themes, beginning with the Prelude to the Revolution (1758-1773) and ending with the Results of the Revolution (1781-1783).

The Johnson Ferry House, built as early as 1740, was the only structure on the site at the time of the War. It is believed to be the place where Washington and his officers discussed military strategy while the Army continued crossing the Delaware. The House is interpreted as a ferry keeper's family farm house. Washington Crossing State Park also includes a "Continental Lane," an old road believed to be the route taken by the American soldiers as they marched on Trenton and several significant historical markers.

Throughout the year the Park staff conduct regular public programs, including historically accurate demonstrations, as well as special events. The Nelson House, at the landing spot along the Delaware, features period furnishings, as well as historic photographs of 19th century railroad and canal transportation. Washington Crossing State Park is administered by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks & Forestry.

Old Barracks Museum
Barrack Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08608
(609) 396-1776

Built in 1758 as a military base for the British army, in mid-December 1776 the Barracks became the winter quarters of Hessian troops under the command of Colonel Johann Rall. Other Hessian command posts, under the command of Colonel Carl von Dunop, were established to the south, at Mount Holly, Bordentown, and Burlington, New Jersey. On the morning of 26 December, not long after dawn, American forces under the commands of Generals Greene and Sullivan reached Trenton. Washington ordered an attack and within two hours the Barracks had been seized and nearly 1,000 Hessians captured. The 1st Battle of Trenton was a decisive American victory.

The British command was angered by the loss. General Howe ordered General Cornwallis to destroy the Continental Army. Cornwallis quickly gathered 8,000 troops at Princeton and on 2 January 1777, marched for Trenton. He reached the town near dusk and attacked Washington's troops at once. The Americans held the south bank of the Assunpink Creek and were able to defend their position and keep the British from crossing. Night fell and the battle stopped. Washington knew his position was vulnerable. Adopting the strategy of his principal advisers, Washington ordered his troops to break camp at midnight and to travel by back roads towards Princeton. He hoped to outflank Cornwallis and surprise him by attacking the British rear guard on the day of 3 January. The 2nd Battle of Trenton thereby ended in a draw.

During the remainder of the War the Barracks served as an American military hospital and smallpox inoculation facility. The hospital continued in use until 1781, much of the time under Dr. Bodo Otto, famed 18th century physician. The Old Barracks Museum has recently undergone a major restoration and upgrading of its facilities, reopening to the public in December 1998 after eighteen months of restoration and renovation. The visitor will now find a "barrack yard" and parade ground; a new exhibition gallery; four restored and furnished barrack/hospital rooms; furnished officers quarters; an interactive "History Lab"; and a new lecture hall and other educational programming spaces.

Old Barracks is a National Historical Landmark.

The Thomas Clarke House
located in the
Princeton Battlefield State Park
500 Mercer Street
Princeton, New Jersey
(609) 921-0074

A little after dawn on 3 January, the Continental Army reached Stony Brook, about two miles west of Princeton. Here they met approximately 1,200 British troops, under the command of Colonel Charles Mawhood, who had been stationed at Princeton to protect the lines of communications and supply. In preparation for the battle he expected that day at Trenton, Cornwallis had ordered Mawhood to reinforce him. At first light Mawhood was leading his troops on Cornwallis' mission. In the first hour of the Battle of Princeton, the British forced the Continentals back, killing General Hugh Mercer in the process, but soon Washington's superior numbers turned the engagement in the Americans' favor.

Meanwhile General Sullivan was taking the town of Princeton, capturing 100 British soldiers who had barricaded themselves in Nassau Hall of Princeton University. Washington ordered the seizure of British ammunition and supplies and that which could not be carted away, destroyed. He then abandoned the town, leading the Continental Army north, towards Morristown. Cornwallis, returning to Princeton within hours, found the place deserted. He did not stay, but continued his march back to New Brunswick.

Within a few days General Putnam marched north at the head of a column of Continental forces from Philadelphia and Americans re-occupied Princeton. The Battle of Princeton was small in terms of numbers of casualties and prisoners of war, but huge in terms of renewing the spirit of the American Revolution. Five years later, following the British surrender at Yorktown, Cornwallis acknowledged the battles of Trenton and Princeton as the turning points in the War.

The Princeton Battlefield State Park, an 85-acre site, is located on Mercer Street about 1.25 miles west of the center of town. It commemorates the Battle of Princeton, fought in an open field on 3 January 1777, in which General Washington and the Continental Army won a clear victory against the British army. In 1908 a great limestone battle monument was commissioned to mark this site. Designed by the prominent Beaux Arts sculptor Frederick MacMonnies with the help of architect Thomas Hastings, it was finished and dedicated in 1922, with President Harding in attendance. The sculpture depicts Washington leading his troops into battle, as well as the death of General Mercer. On the sides of the monument are the seals of the United States and the original thirteen states, including New Jersey.

The Princeton Battlefield site is a National Historic Landmark.

The Thomas Clarke House (1770 with additions) was a Quaker farmhouse which saw use as a hospital for American soldiers following the battle. General Mercer died here of wounds suffered in the engagement. The Clarke House was restored in 1975 and open to the public in 1976. It is furnished, with exhibits of weapons and paintings from the Revolutionary War. The State of New Jersey purchased the Clarke House and farm in 1946 and created the Princeton Battlefield State Park. The Park is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks & Forestry.

Historical Society of Princeton
Bainbridge House
158 Nassau Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
(609) 921-6748

Among its many public programs, the Historical Society of Princeton participates broadly in the interpretation of the American Revolution in central New Jersey. The Society's activities include historic preservation of local Revolutionary War sites and the development and servicing of special collections which document 18th century Princeton.

The resources of the Historical Society of Princeton may prove helpful to the historian of the American Revolution, particularly with regard to the military actions relating to the Battle of Princeton on 3 January 1777.