Credit: Washington Crossing Historic Park
The McConkey Ferry Inn in Upper Makefield Township, a landmark with a history that stretches back over three centuries, is set to receive a substantial renovation, thanks to a $502,768 grant from the National Park Service (NPS).
The new grant will enable comprehensive interior renovations up to museum standards and facilitate an update to the inn’s documentation for the National Register of Historic Places, the Friends of Washington Crossing Park said in a statement.
“McConkey Ferry Inn is an important part of our site interpretation for daily tours, field trip programs and public living history programs, including the annual crossing reenactments. We are grateful for the opportunity to restore the site in commemoration of the upcoming Semiquincentennial celebration,” said Jennifer Martin, executive director of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park.
The Friends of Washington Crossing Park, which received of the grant, were among only 20 groups nationwide to receive funding for cultural resource preservation projects.
The funds are in addition to last year’s $8.7 million capital project dedicated to various park renovations at the site owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“I appreciate the Friends of Washington Crossing Park for applying to this grant on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,” said Park Manager Mike Kuzar. “I look forward to working with the Friends and PDP Architects to restore this important building and the opportunity to share it with our park visitors in 2026.”
The grant was distributed as part of the NPS’s Semiquincentennial Grant Program, which was initiated in 2020 by Congress to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding.
“The Semiquincentennial is an opportunity for the nation to recognize and reflect on the diverse cultures, events, and places that have helped shape our country,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams.
The McConkey Ferry Inn was originally established by the Baker family in 1699. The building has witnessed the ebbs and flows of American history. Samuel McConkey took over ownership in 1776 from the Bakers. The inn began with a tavern license in 1752 issued to Mary Matthews.
The inn played a pivotal role during the Continental Army’s stay in Bucks County in December 1776. It was from the nearby ferry site that George Washington penned his letter to Colonel Cadwalader, signaling his intent to cross the Delaware River.
