Washington Crossing State Park " Not to be confused with Washington Crossing Historic Park , a Pennsylvania state park across the Delaware River near Yardley , Pennsylvania Washington Crossing State Park is a state park in the U . S . state of New Jersey that is part of Washington ' s Crossing , a U . S . National Historic Landmark area . It is located in the Titusville section of Hopewell Township in Mercer County , north of Trenton along the Delaware River . The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry . The park includes the site of Washington ' s crossing of the Delaware at Johnsons Ferry . This is where General George Washington and a 2 , 400 - man detachment of Continental Army troops crossed the river overnight on December 25 , 1776 , and into the morning of December 26 , 1776 , in order to make a surprise attack on Trenton , a move that would prove to be a turning point in the American Revolutionary War . This park area , together with Washington Crossing Historic Park on the Pennsylvania side , comprise the Washington ' s Crossing National Historic Landmark . Inside the park is the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre , an outdoor theater with seating consisting of wooden benches . Goat Hill Overlook , located nearby in West Amwell Township in Hunterdon County , is administered by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry as part of Washington Crossing State Park . Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum . The Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum focuses on the American Revolution and the military campaign known as the " Ten Crucial Days " from December 25 , 1776 , through January 3 , 1777 . During this time the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River , and the Battle of Trenton , the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton occurred . The museum houses over 700 period objects . Johnson Ferry House . The Johnson Ferry House , an 18th - century farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River , was owned by Garret Johnson , who operated a 490 acre plantation and a ferry service across the Delaware . It was likely used by General Washington and other officers at the time of the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware . Several rooms are furnished with period pieces , and there is an 18th - century kitchen garden . On weekends , living history demonstrations are frequently held . Nature Center & Observatory . The Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center offers nature education programs are for schools , youth groups , community organizations and visitors to the park . The center is open Wednesday through Sunday , year round . Nearby is the John W . H . Simpson Observatory , which is operated by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton . The observatory houses two telescopes : a 6 . 25 - inch Hastings - Byrne refractor and a 14 - inch SCT . The observatory is open for public observing led by association volunteers on Friday nights April through October from 8 pm to 11 pm weather permitting . Observatory phone : 609 - 737 - 2575 . Goat Hill Overlook . Goat Hill Overlook is a 213 - acre scenic preserve administered as part of nearby Washington Crossing State Park . The DEP ’ s Green Acres program purchased the Goat Hill Overlook property in 2009 for $ 4 . 5 million from Constructural Dynamics Inc . of Fairless Hills , Pennsylvania . The company acquired Goat Hill Overlook from the Boy Scouts in 1983 and originally intended to use the land for mining operations . That plan was later changed in favor of constructing a residential development complex at the site . In addition to views of the Delaware River , the property features a prominent rock , known as Washington Rock . According to local legend , General George Washington used the views from Goat Hill Overlook to assess battle conditions during the Revolutionary War . The site also offers miles of hiking trails and contains a variety of wildlife and plant species .