Visiting Revolutionary War Era Sites in PA and NJ

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Revolutionary Era Historical Sites

Growing up near Revolutionary-era historical sites was ideal for this history fan. General Washington’s Delaware River crossing on Christmas night in 1776, The Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton took place in and around my childhood stomping grounds. Families with history buffs will love visiting Revolutionary War Era sites in PA and NJ.

New Jersey was the Crossroads of the Revolution. The PA and NJ colonies played key roles in America’s pursuit of independence and freedom. The Battles of Trenton and Princeton proved to the British that the Colonial Army was capable of victory. The past is always present as you drive along the routes where Washington and his troops marched.

Bucks County PA Modern Farm — Bucks County PA Modern Day Farm

Reenacting History

My childhood state is even more enjoyable as an adult. My friend Jane is married to a Revolutionary War reenactor. They live in the heart of Bucks County Pennsylvania. Dana is an 18th-century blacksmith and a modern-day metal craftsperson.

Dana has a fantastic workshop equipped with a 21st-century forge, hundreds of tools, and high-tech machines in his garage. Traveling to Revolutionary War-era events throughout PA and NJ in period clothing is an honorable tradition. Dana demonstrates blacksmithing with a historically accurate portable 18th-century forge.

18th Century Portable Blacksmith Forge — Photo Courtesy of Washington Crossing Woodworking

In addition to blacksmithing, Dana is a master wood craftsman. He can build and restore anything. His restorations are evident at the Eating Clubs of Princeton University and throughout Washington Crossing, PA. Dana also designs storefront signage for local businesses. Businesses’ signage must adhere to standards. These standards preserve the historic feel of the area.

Working the Forge in Period Clothing — Photo Courtesy of Washington Crossing Woodworking

Dana's Woodworking Shop Sign — Dana’s Workworking Shop Sign

Jane is a member of my “village.” Visit my post It Takes A village to learn more about my village. Jane is a chef and her amazing kitchen is my happy place. I recently had the opportunity to visit on a solo weekend.

Copper Measuring Cups in Jane's Chefs Kitchen — The Measuring Cups have a Colonial Look

Eggs in a Ceramic Egg Holder on the Counter — Egg Storage in the Chefs Kitchen

Self Care Child-Free

I make a point of getting out of “dodge” solo at least once a year. It takes a lot of planning but the effort is worth it. I spend a few days not worrying about meltdowns and sensory overload. The itinerary is about my wants and needs. This is my way of recharging in order to face the daily challenges of raising a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Spending time with my friend and her family in one of my favorite areas is relaxing and fun. Since I love history, I never get tired of revisiting the Revolutionary Era sites in PA and NJ.

When my daughter Miss Bee travels with me, I choose vacation destinations that work for her. During a previous visit with Miss Bee, hard lessons were learned in Philadelphia.

Visiting Independence Historical National Park and Reading Terminal Market on the same day was a mistake. There were crowds and it rained periodically. Miss Bee reached sensory overload before we stepped into Independence Hall. We had to skip the rest of the park. This experience has been followed by better planning.

Ben Franklin Statue National Constitution Center — Ben Franklin and Miss Bee – National Constitution Center Philadelphia PA

Jane and Constitutional Congress Delegate

View of Independence Hall, National Constitution Center — Independence Hall

Close Up of The Liberty Bell Cracked Side — The Liberty Bell

Bucks County

The Bucks County area is one of my favorites. Many of my favorite childhood memories of school trips and family adventures took place in this area. Bucks County is dotted with many historical sites and natural rural beauty. The old stone buildings, covered bridges, and endless green woods are soothing for the soul.

Washington Crossing Historic Park – PA

Washington Crossing Historic Park is the gem of Bucks County. The main section of the park boasts a historic village. The walking paths throughout the park are numerous, paved, and accessible.

Visitors Center

Stop at the Visitors Center first. Information is available on how to plan your visit in order to see all the areas of the park. Maps and driving directions are also available along with tour sign-ups. There are engaging historical exhibits in the Visitors Center to enjoy. The Museum Shop is stocked with souvenirs and publications about local history and the Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary Era Eye Glasses Exhibit — Visitor’s Center Exhibit

Washington Crossing Historical Park — Muskets and Canon Balls Exhibit

Historic Village

The village is located along the Delaware River and is an ideal picnic area. Signage and maps throughout the village provide directions to the exibits.

Frye House and Blacksmith Shop

Dana manages the blacksmith shop. During my visit, the roof restoration was underway. Dana has previously restored the interior, forge, and antique tools to ensure this treasure is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Revolutionary Era Blacksmith Tools — Historical Tools Used by a Blacksmith

Replica of a Revolutionary Era Billows in a Blacksmith's Forge — Supersize Replica of a Billows

Revolutionary Era Blacksmith Forge — The Forge

The Fye house is where the blacksmith once lived.

McConkey Ferry Inn

This is the site of the first ferry in the area. The Ferry crossed the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Washington Crossing Bridge was completed in 1904 and now crosses the river in the area where the ferry used to operate. Be sure to pull in your rearview mirror before you drive over the bridge. The Park Service has quite a collection of rearview mirrors the bridge stole.

The Continental Army guarded the Inn and Ferry as they waited to cross the Delaware River on that fateful Christmas night.

McConkey Ferry Inn Washington Crossing Historical Park — McConkey Ferry Inn

Taylor House

The Taylor House is an example of an upper-class home from the 18th-century.

Hibbs House

Hibbs House was once owned by the Taylor family. It was a leased tenant home occupied by local artisans. Dana built the white fence that surrounds the home using period building techniques.

Durham Boat Barn

The Park houses replicas of the Durham boats used by Washington’s troops to cross the Delaware River. No, he did not cross on his horse! The Barn was built in 1977 in order to store the boats. During the 18th Century, Durham Boats carried iron ore and other trade goods up and down the river as far south as Philadelphia.

Revolutionary Era Durham Boat Replicas — Durham Boat Replicas

The Crossing

Every year, weather permitting and depending on the depth of the river, the crossing is reenacted with replica Durham boats and reenactors. Thousands attend to witness this important historical event.

Thompson-Neely Farmstead

The Thompson-Neely Farmstead is located several miles from the main park. This farm is an actual 18th century home with farm buildings and a mill. Guided tours are available.

The Grist Mill

Dana treated me to a tour of his current labor of love – the restoration of the Thompson-Neely Grist Mill. We spent several hours at this site. Questions flew out of my mouth. There was much to learn about this remarkable example of engineering and ingenuity from the 19th-century. There are many different moving parts – pulleys, hoppers, millstones, and crushers to name a few. A creek dam was needed to transform wheat and corn into flour and cornmeal.

The Thompson Nealy Grist Mill — The Thompson-Neely Grist Mill

Thompson Nealy Grist Mill — Barrel Making was Part of Mill Production to Store Grains

Bowman’s Hill Tower

Bowman’s Hill Tower stands 125 feet. From the top viewing deck, the beauty of the Bucks County countryside is endless. Contrary to popular lore, the tower did not exist during the Revolutionary War. Construction began in 1929. Historians believe this hill may have been used by General Washington’s troops as a lookout.

This site was a popular school field trip and scouting destination during my childhood. I have visited many times. Back in the day, the only way to the top was to climb a circular staircase of what felt like a million steps.

Aerial View of Bowman's Tower — Visitor Guide Photo of Bowman’s Tower

Today the Tower is mostly accessible due to the installation of an elevator. It brings visitors 3/4 of the way up. Twenty-two steps remain between the elevator and the viewing deck.

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve

The Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve covers four and a half miles through several different ecological systems. The hiking trails are popular and range from gentle to rugged. Some trails are stroller-friendly. During one hike visitors can traverse wetlands, forests, and meadows. The preserve is a popular venue for special events.

Shopping in New Hope

New Hope is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly destinations in the US. This lovely town was once called Coryell’s Ferry. New Hope lies along the Delaware River and is famous for the Buck’s County Playhouse Summer Theater and some spooky history.

Boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants that serve a variety of cuisines from Creole and Caribbean to Cuban line the streets.

The Ghost Tours of New Hope and the Historical Society Tour are popular. Be sure to walk along the Delaware Canal State Park towpath to see the locks and Locktender’s House. Train fans enjoy rides on the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad pulled by a 1925 steam locomotive.

Delaware Canal State Park, New Hope PA — Delaware Canal Lock

Historic Covered Bridges

Bucks County is home to thirteen covered bridges. The builders of these magnificent bridges used twenty different truss systems in their construction. Preserving and restoring these bridges is an important priority of the Buck’s County Covered Bridge Society.

Legions of covered bridges and history fans visit the bridges as much as fans who love to ride historical rails. Pick up a brochure in the park and spend the day visiting these gems.

Covered Bridge Located in Revolutionary War Era PA — Historical Covered Bridge in Bucks County PA

Farmstands in Revolutionary War Era NJ and PA

One of my favorite things to do is to shop at local farmstands. The Milk House Farm Market is a favorite of Bucks County Residents. The farmstands are plentiful and stocked with local seasonal harvests of delicious fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

Farmstand in Bucks County PA — Milk House Farm Market

New Jersey is Calling Too

No visit to Revolutionary Era Pennsylvania is incomplete without a ride across the river to visit several important historical sites in New Jersey.

After suffering battle losses in New York, the Continental Army retreated from New Jersey to the Pennslyvania shores of the Delaware River. It was during this time in 1776 that Washington’s troops secretly crossed back over to New Jersey in the dark of Christmas night. The Battle of Trenton ensued.

The Old Barracks – Trenton NJ

The Old Barracks was constructed by the Colony of New Jersey in 1758. They housed soldiers during the French and Indian War. Throughout this period the Barracks were occupied by American and British soldiers (not at the same time). In 1777 the Barracks became an army hospital.

Today only one building remains. The Old Barracks Museum opened to preserve history. This structure is the only restored military structure in New Jersey left from the Colonial era wars.

The Old Barracks was integral to the events of December 26, 1776. British and Hessian (German) troops occupied the facility. General Washington marched into Trenton after crossing the Delaware River and captured most of the soldiers.

As a result, there was very little bloodshed due to the element of surprise. After the Battle of Princeton, the Continental Army occupied the Barracks.

Princeton Battlefield State Park – NJ

The Battle of Princeton took place on January 3, 1777. This was the second battle that changed the course of the war. General Washington stumbled upon the British on this field and the battle ensued.

The Princeton Battlefield State Park is located a mile from Princeton University. The Thomas Clarke house was witness to the unplanned battle. Despite the battle surrounding the house, it was not destroyed and still stands. The house contains period Revolutionary War exhibits. There is a white collonade in the park that marks the grave of soldiers that died during this battle. When I was a child I was convinced that the columns were from Greece.

Princeton University Eating Clubs

Throughout my youth, I visited the Princeton University campus. (Fun Fact: Dr. Albert Einstein who was a faculty member was a customer in my grandfather’s shoe store). The campus is beautiful and is steeped in Revolutionary War era history.

Princeton University Eating Club — Ornate Outdoor Lighting

During my recent trip, we visited Dana’s restoration projects. Princeton University students can join an eating club in their sophomore year. Each club has its own historic building. As a result of Dana’s hard work, he has preserved historical architectural details and furniture.

Some examples of Dana’s projects:

Chair Restoration – Notice the pegs that hold them together

The Jersey Shore

Jane and I took a ride to Asbury Park. We enjoyed strolling on the boardwalk. The Jersey Shore has its own rich history. Stay tuned for a future post about the Jersey Shore.

Visit Historical PA and NJ

For information regarding Revolutionary War Reenactment, Restorations and blacksmith projects please contact Dana at 215-783-2277 or GristMill@WashingtonCrossingPark.org.

Unroll a map and start planning. There is much to see and do while visiting Revolutionary War Era sites in PA and NJ.

Visiting Revolutionary War Era Sites in PA and NJ