Washington Crossing Park Preps for 250th Anniversary Events
From lantern tours in October to river crossings in December, historic sites across the region are launching a series of commemorative programs.
By Lauren Foster ·
Washington Crossing Historic Park is set to host a series of commemorative events marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The park, located along the Delaware River, serves as the site where General George Washington and his troops began their military efforts to shift the momentum of the American Revolution on Christmas night in 1776. Local organizers are preparing a schedule of reenactments, tours, and exhibitions that will continue through the winter months.
The current programming includes Fall Lantern Tours, which are available on Fridays and Saturdays through October 31. These guided walks take place at twilight, matching the time of day when Washington’s troops prepared for their crossing. On November 11, the Friends of Washington Crossing Park will premiere a new introductory film at 6 p.m. The same day, the park offers complimentary guided historical tours to all active-duty military personnel and veterans to coincide with Veterans Day.
Further in the season, a lecture titled “River of Victory: The Daily Delaware Crossings” is scheduled for December 6 at 2 p.m. Author and historian William “Larry” Kidder will discuss the logistics of the 1776 river maneuvers. A full-scale rehearsal of the crossing will take place on December 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring reenactors in replica Durham boats. The 74th Annual Christmas Day Crossing Reenactment is set for December 25 from noon to 2 p.m., where hundreds of Continental Army reenactors will row across the freezing Delaware River.
Bus tours titled “Traversing the Ten Crucial Days” will operate on December 18 and January 2, 15, and 30. These day-long trips begin and end at Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and retrace the military engagements between December 26, 1776, and January 3, 1777. Historical interpreters Roger Williams and Larry Kidder will lead these tours, covering the events at Trenton and Princeton.
Other sites in Bucks County, the Philadelphia region, and the Lehigh Valley are also hosting related events. Mercer Museum in Doylestown is displaying “The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution” through December 31. The Museum of the American Revolution in Center City is presenting “The Declaration’s Journey” through January 3. In Allentown, a transportation museum is showcasing “America on Wheels 250” through December 31.
Yardley’s African American museum is hosting “Gather Place Underground Railroad & 250th Gallery” on Fridays and Saturdays through October 31. Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is offering walking tours of the 18th-century industrial quarter on Saturdays and Sundays through October 31 at 2:30 p.m. Lehigh University Art Galleries in Bethlehem will host “This Land: Reimagining the Union” through December 4. The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are jointly presenting “A Nation of Artists” through December 31.
Andalusia Historic House & Gardens is featuring “Radical Americana” through November 13. The Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Museum is showcasing “Threads of a Dream” through December 21. The 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment Reenactment will take place on November 7 at Fort Washington. For more information, visitors can check the Friends of Washington Crossing Park’s website or the Lehigh Valley 250 website.
Source: LevittownNow
