Fort Washington State Park

State park in Springfield and Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States

Fort Washington State Park

IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)

Wissahickon Creek runs through Fort Washington State Park.

Location of Fort Washington State Park

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Fort Washington State Park (Pennsylvania)

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Location| Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nearest town| Fort Washington and Flourtown
Coordinates| 40°07′11″N 75°14′01″W﻿ / ﻿40.11972°N 75.23361°W﻿ / 40.11972; -75.23361[1]
Area| 493 acres (200 ha)
Elevation| 328 feet (100 m) [1]
Established| 1953 (1953) as a state park
Named for| The temporary fort built by George Washington’s troops in the fall of 1777, before heading to Valley Forge
Administrator| Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Fort Washington State Park
Pennsylvania State Parks

Fort Washington State Park is a 493-acre (200 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Springfield and Whitemarsh Townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The park is noted for the springtime flowering of dogwood trees, and is popular with families for picnics and hiking. It is approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of Philadelphia, 2 miles (3.2 km) from exit 339 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

## History

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### American Revolutionary War

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Main article: Battle of White Marsh

The observation deck at Fort Washington State Park overlooks the Wissahickon Creek, a National Natural Landmark Emlen House, George Washington's headquarters in November and December 1777

Both Fort Washington State Park and the neighboring town are named for American defenses and encampment established here in 1777, during the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War.[2]

After Washington's defeat at the Battle of Germantown, his 11,000 troops were encamped in this area from November 11, 1777 to December 11, 1777, after which they marched to Valley Forge for winter quarters.

From December 5–8, 1777, the Battle of White Marsh was fought in the immediate vicinity. The park's Fort Hill marks the spot where a temporary fort once stood. The Pennsylvania militia under Generals Armstrong, Cadwalader and Irvine held positions on what is today called Militia Hill.[2]

### Park's establishment

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The park was established by Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Commission in the early 1920s. The commission, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, administered the park until 1953. That year, an act of state legislature transferred responsibility of the park to the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (known today as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources).[2]

Recreational activities at Fort Washington State Park include Disc golf, fishing, hiking, dog walking, bird and wildlife watching, sledding, cross-country skiing and picnicking. From September 1 to October 31, an organized "Hawk Watch" takes place in which viewers can observe all 16 species of raptors that migrate on the East Coast from the park's observation deck. Hunting is prohibited at Fort Washington State Park.[2]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Fort Washington State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 2, 1979. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
2. ^ a b c d "Fort Washington State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2006.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Washington State Park.

* Pennsylvania portal

* "Fort Washington State Park official map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. (153 KB)

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Protected areas of Pennsylvania

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State|

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* Alan Seeger
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Scenic Rivers|

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State Game Lands|

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Wild areas|

* Algerine
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* Burns Run
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* Penns Creek
* Quebec Run
* Quehanna
* Russell P. Letterman
* Square Timber
* Stairway
* Thickhead Mountain
* Trough Creek
* Wolf Run

Other|

* Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
* Mohn Mill Ponds Wild Plant Sanctuary
* Stone Valley Recreation Area

Local and private|

* Abernathy Field Station
* Asbury Woods
* Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
* Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center
* Boyce Park Nature Center
* Briar Bush Nature Center
* Carbon County Environmental Education Center
* Churchville Nature Center
* Endless Mountains Nature Center
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* Harrison Hills Park Environmental Education Center
* Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
* Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center
* Jarrett Nature Center
* John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
* Lacawac
* Lancaster Environmental Center
* Latodami Nature Center at North Park
* McKaig Nature Education Center
* McKeever Environmental Learning Center
* Millbrook Marsh Nature Center
* Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center
* Myrick Conservation Center
* Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
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* Peace Valley Nature Center
* Pocono Environmental Education Center
* Pool Wildlife Sanctuary
* Powdermill Nature Reserve
* Richard Nixon Park Nature Center
* Riverbend Environmental Education Center
* Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
* Silver Lake Nature Center
* South Park Nature Center
* Strawberry Hill Nature Center
* Tom Ridge Environmental Center
* Trexler Environmental Center
* Trexler Nature Preserve
* Tyler Arboretum
* Welkinweir
* Whites' Woods Nature Center
* Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College
* Woodbourne Forest and Wildlife Preserve
* Woodcock Creek Nature Center

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