Titusville, New Jersey

Titusville is an unincorporated area located within Hopewell Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. The area includes a post office with its own ZIP code (08560), a small village of homes, and a large park dedicated to George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River in 1776.

History

Titusville's central feature is a small village that sits on a bluff overlooking a picturesque stretch of the Delaware River with stairwells connecting the village to private docks on the river. The Delaware & Raritan Canal runs parallel to the river just to the east of the village, which is connected to River Road (Route 29) by several two-lane bridges. A biking/walking trail follows the canal, constructed when a rail line was removed. Opposite the canal from the river, extending eastward, are a number of small residential streets, a county park centered about Baldpate Mountain, and the homes ringing the base of the mountain and county park.

Titusville is the location of Johnson's Ferry (later named Taylor's Ferry), which was the scene of Washington's crossing of the Delaware during the American Revolution. In 1831, the ferry was replaced by the Washington Crossing Bridge, which connects it with Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.

Each year on Christmas Day, General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River is commemorated at Washington Crossing State Park, which lies at the south end of Titusville. The annual reenactment depicts General Washington's December 25, 1776 river crossing and the attack on the Hessian troops in Trenton, which was one of the key battles of the American Revolutionary War. Re-enactors assemble on the Pennsylvania side of the river, where their commander reads Thomas Paine's immortal pamphlet, "The American Crisis." The soldiers then climb into boats and cross the river, though the crossing is often canceled due to weather and speed of river.

Washington Cross State Park includes a Visitor Center that features the Harry Kels Swan Collection of Revolutionary War artifacts. Nearly 900 military items from the American and British Armies are included in the collection. The center also includes interpretive historys exhibits that cover the Revolutionary War from its prelude in 1758 to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

The park also contains the Johnson Ferry House, where Washington and his officers are believed to have discussed military strategy. The Nelson House lies along the river at the spot where Washington and his men landed. The house includes period furnishings and old photographs of railroad and canal transportation.

The park's natural area consists of convert|140|acre|km2 of mixed hardwood forests and fields that offer locations for hiking, picnics, nature walks and cross-country skiing. The Nature Center offers exhibits, displays, and educational programs for children, families and school groups. During warmer months, concerts and plays are held at the nearby Open Air Theatre.

The park is also home to the annual Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair, held each May. The fair features historical programs, exhibits and hands-on interpretive activities.

Geography

Titusville is located at coor dms|40|18|0|N|74|51|36|W|city (40.30, -74.86).GR|1

The town is bisected by state New Jersey Route 29, a busy road that conveys traffic along the Delaware River.

Washington Crossing State Park is an 800 acre (3.2 km²) tract of woods, fields, and streams. The park covers the gradual slope from Bear Tavern Road down to Delaware River.

ee also

*Howell Living History Farm

References

External links

[http://www.titusvillechurch.org First Presbyterian Church of Titusville]