Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

NJ State Park Service LogoNJ State Park Service Logo

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S  BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

At the JOHNSON FERRY HOUSE, Washington Crossing State Park New Jersey

Saturday, February 17, 2024, from 1 to 4 pm

 
Johnson Ferry House Historic Site Overview

Bearing witness to General Washington’s daring move across the Delaware River on Christmas Eve 1776, this dwelling was also home to followers of the 18th century religious movement, The Great Awakening.

This circa-1740 gambrel-roof farmhouse and ordinary located in Washington Crossing State Park, near the Delaware River was built by Garret Johnson on his 490-acre tract. James Slack operated the ferry service in 1776. In addition to using the ferry service, General Washington and other officers probably used the house at the time of the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware. The site also includes an 18th-century kitchen garden.

The keeping room, parlor, pantry and bedchambers of the Johnson Ferry House are furnished with local period pieces and reproductions similar to the furniture used by the Johnson and Slack families from 1740 to 1780. Interpretive tours focus on the impact of the Ten Crucial Days upon the local civilians and the crucial role they played in the unexpected success of the Crossing and the Battles of Trenton. James, Richard, and Uriah Slack, who lived in the ferry house, were front-line rescue workers for Patriots in danger, and for the Continental Army as they operated the ferry boats across the river either to safety, or to do battle. Living history demonstrations are frequently held on weekends. The interpretive programs emphasize the domestic and cultural aspects of colonial life with frequent special events and demonstrations of foodways, textiles, wood joinery and homelife.

  • Grades: 3rd – 12th; year-round;
  • Topics: Colonial living and kitchen chores, colonial education, corn and beans, mattress ticking and pillow stuffing.

Facilities for People with Disabilities
We encourage people with disabilities who require special considerations to contact the historic site / park at the phone number listed in the general information on the home page of the historic site / park. The staff will assist with arrangements. Text telephone (TT) users, please call the NJ Relay Services at (800) 852-7899.

For the Comfort and Enjoyment of All
This historic site / park is part of the NJ State Park system and your cooperation with the following will help ensure the survival of the museum collections, historic structures & features and surrounding property for the enjoyment and education of future generations!

  • Keep your historic site / park and surrounding property clean and green! Protect this site by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the site, plan on carrying it out too. Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Thank you!
  • No Smoking on NJ State Park Service Property. Pursuant to N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at state historic sites [ N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6]
  • The collection or removal of any object from State Park property is prohibited without written permission from the Superintendent.
  • Use of metal detecting devices on or unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on or over the property is not permitted without a special use permit (SUP) from the State historic site / park.
  • Commercial photography is not permitted on the property without a special use permit (SUP) from the historic site / park.
  • Interior photography, videotaping or audio taping are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum, except by prior written permission and for educational purposes only.
  • Non-commercial photography is permitted on the property (outside), but please help preserve the historic site / park and any surrounding property by not attaching anything to, climbing or sitting on historic structures and features or disturbing any plants, wild or cultivated. Photography may not interfere with other visitors to the historic site / park or impede site operations.
  • Food and beverages; pets/animals, except for service animals, are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum.
  • Please refrain from touching objects/furnishings in and building components of historic structures and museums, except where invited to do so by staff.

Please contact this historic site / park with specific inquiries about any of these restrictions, as there may be some variations at this specific historic site / park.

Related Links
Washington Crossing State Park

General

Phone Number
609-737-2515

Address
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd.
Titusville, NJ 08560

Email Address
WashingtonCrossing@dep.nj.gov

Historic Site Hours

Grounds Hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tour Hours 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Park Fees

Entrance Fee Washington Crossing State Park entrance fee may apply.

Other Related Fees
Map / Directions

GPS Coordinates
40° 18’ 17.76” N 74° 51' 24.82" W