State Awards $200K Grant To Enhance Washington Crossing Reenactment Experience

WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — The Friends of Washington Crossing Park has been awarded $200,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s 2026 Marquis Events Grant Program to support the 250th Anniversary of General George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware.

The grant recognizes Washington Crossing as one of Pennsylvania’s premier Semiquincentennial events and supports the Commonwealth’s investment in world-class experiences that attract visitors while celebrating Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in the founding of the United States.

The funding will be used to both enhance the nationally significant 2026 Crossing reenactment and create lasting improvements that will benefit visitors and students for generations to come. Grant funds will support expanded marketing, promotion, event infrastructure, and educational programming surrounding the 250th Anniversary celebration.

In addition, the grant will help create dedicated classroom and workshop space within the historic Mahlon Taylor House, support new gallery exhibit enhancements in the Visitor Center, and expand educational resources, historic clothing, and equipment used in school programs and living history demonstrations.

“America’s 250th anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to share one of the most important stories of the American Revolution,” said Jennifer Martin, Executive Director of Friends of Washington Crossing Park. “We are incredibly grateful to Governor Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Deputy Secretary of Tourism Anne Ryan, and the Office of Tourism for their partnership and investment. This funding will help us welcome visitors from across Pennsylvania and beyond while creating educational resources and spaces that will continue serving our community long after the 2026 celebration.”

For more than 75 years, the annual Christmas Day Crossing Reenactment, set to take place on December 25, 2026 from noon–3 p.m., has brought history to life through one of the nation's longest-running Revolutionary War reenactments. During the Semiquincentennial, Friends of Washington Crossing Park will expand that tradition through enhanced living history, immersive educational experiences such as the Durham Boat Project and the new Visitor Center interpretive film, allowing visitors to connect with the people and events that changed the course of world history.

(Photo by Jeff Werner)

(Photo by Jeff Werner)

(Photo by Jeff Werner)

In preparation for the Semiquincentennial, the Friends has also expanded its interpretive programming. Recent initiatives include new resources for visitors who are blind or have low vision, sensory accommodations, new scholarship to increase access to educational programming, and expanded interpretation highlighting the contributions of Black soldiers, women, Native Americans, and, during the Semiquincentennial, Asian Americans who played important roles in the Revolutionary era. Together, these initiatives will provide a richer, more engaging understanding of the diverse individuals whose stories shaped the founding of our nation as Washington Crossing Historic Park prepares to welcome visitors from across Pennsylvania and beyond for this historic anniversary.

The 2026 Marquis Events Grant Program was established to support large-scale events that generate tourism, strengthen communities, and showcase Pennsylvania’s history and culture during America’s 250th anniversary. This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development.

Learn more about the 250th Anniversary Crossing of the Delaware and the Friends upcoming programs at Washington Crossing Historic Park: washingtoncrossingpark.org.