A reproduction of the watercraft George Washington sailed on during the 'Crossing of the Delaware' event will be brought to Bucks County.
Collaborative Project Brings the Durham Boat to Life in Pennsylvania's Suburbs
In an effort to celebrate the country's upcoming 250th anniversary, the Friends of Washington Crossing Park (FWCP) and the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) have teamed up to recreate a crucial piece of historical artifact—the Durham boat. By next year's semiquincentennial celebrations, visitors to the Washington Crossing Historic Park will have the opportunity to experience a replica of the iconic boat used by General George Washington and his troops to cross the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, an event that marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
Every December, the Washington Crossing Historic Park hosts two reenactments of the crossing, complete with Durham boats. However, for logistical and safety reasons, the park cannot take visitors out on boats on the river. To bridge this gap, the FWCP wanted to find a way to allow students and the more than 750,000 recreational visitors to experience the historical significance of the Durham boat.
The new 40-foot-long replica will be stationed on dry land, allowing visitors to climb into it and take photos with the Delaware River visible in the background. Jennifer Martin, executive director of FWCP, described it as a "gateway into history."
The partnership between FWCP and ISM's Seaport Boat Shop dates back to 2018, when Martin first reached out to shop director Dave Dormond to discuss maintenance work on one of the Durham boats used for the crossing reenactment. Martin was inspired by a boat created by Independence Seaport on display at the Museum of the American Revolution, leading to the plan to bring their own replica boat to Washington Crossing Historic Park.
"I was very moved with the work that Independence Seaport Museum has done," said Martin. "Just doing the wooden boat building, that old style of craftsmanship, it was really important to us to partner with someone that not only really valued and understood our educational mission, but also had the ability to make this as historically accurate as possible."
Dormond, who is also the director of waterfront operations at ISM, said the shop has already begun designing the boat. They plan to produce a series of YouTube videos to offer the public a behind-the-scenes look at the crafting process. Monthly Table Saw Talks will also be held to explain and demonstrate the process.
The team is focusing on using historical materials and methods for every step of the construction process, noting the challenges of building a boat using traditional methods in a manner that can stand the test of time. They plan to build the boat in sections for easy transportation and installation onsite. The project aligns with the museum's goal of highlighting Philadelphia's often-overlooked role in boat history.
The Durham boat is anticipated to be ready for public viewing by May 2026, with the goal of everything being set up for the public by the semiquincentennial. However, Martin emphasized that the semiquincentennial is not the end game but rather the start. By immersing people in the story of the crossing, in the story of the Revolution, she said, they hope to create a lasting legacy and inspire the next generation.
In this collaboration between the Friends of Washington Crossing Park (FWCP) and the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM), the Durham boat will not only be a historical artifact but also a prolific addition to the home-and-garden of the Washington Crossing Historic Park, serving as an immersive lifestyle experience for visitors. As preparation for the replica's completion, FWCP and ISM's Seaport Boat Shop aim to create a series of YouTube videos and Table Saw Talks to educate the public about the traditional boat-building process, showcasing their commitment to historical accuracy and an appreciation for home-and-garden craftsmanship.
