The Swan Collection contains 1200 original items from the period of the American Revolution (1750-1810).
Most of these objects are on view at the
Visitors Center at Washington Crossing State Park
Others are on loan to other institutions or in storage. The collection was assembled initially by Harry Kels Swan.
Most of these objects are on view at the
Visitors Center at Washington Crossing State Park
Others are on loan to other institutions or in storage. The collection was assembled initially by Harry Kels Swan.
Capt. Jedidiah Swan Pension Record - September 10, 1776
*Just a small preview of items contained within the collection pictured below
Collection DatabaseOur collection database includes images, descriptions and catalog information for hundreds of artifacts and works of art in our collections, ranging from paintings and porcelain to weapons, textiles, statues and medals.
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Library CatalogOur online library catalog documents all our library holdings, including rare books, pamphlets, broadsides, prints, maps, manuscripts and works of art on paper, as well as our extensive modern reference collection.
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Digital Library
The Digital Library of the Swan Collection includes hundreds of manuscripts, prints, maps and broadsides from our collections, and includes books and pamphlets from our holdings not otherwise accessible online.
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Albumen Photograph of Reverend Daniel Waldo
Signed.
Signed.
This photograph of Reverend Daniel Waldo of Syracuse, New York, was taken in October, 1862 on his one-hundredth birthday
Construction Begins on the New Visitors Center at Washington Crossing State Park
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The Swan Historical Foundation is proud to be a partner and sponsor of RevolutionNJ, and is looking forward to the restoration of the New Jersey State Park and this beautiful new state-of-the-art structure.
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Work has begun on the new Visitors Center at Washington Crossing State Park. Illustrated above, the building sits o a bluff overlooking the park the Delaware whee Washington crossed on Christmas night in 1776 to attack the Hessians at the First Battle of Trenton. The building embodies cutting edge Green design and will. replace the Visitors Center. Its completion is anticipated for 2026 in time for the 250th anniversary ("semiqincentennial") of the birth of the United States.
The Swan Historical Foundation's world class collection of artifacts will be moved from the current Visitors Center to the new Center. They will be on view in newly designed exhibits to provide a narrative that spans the entire American Revolution with a focus on New Jersey, the so-called "cockpit of the Revolution." The current Visitors Center will be closed during this transition.
The Swan Historical Foundation's world class collection of artifacts will be moved from the current Visitors Center to the new Center. They will be on view in newly designed exhibits to provide a narrative that spans the entire American Revolution with a focus on New Jersey, the so-called "cockpit of the Revolution." The current Visitors Center will be closed during this transition.
Construction is underway on a new visitor center at Washington Crossing State Park!
Spring 2025
A new visitor center is coming to Washington Crossing State Park — just in time to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026!
The visitor center will feature: An immersive experience where visitors can reenact General Washington’s crossing of the Delaware.
Exhibits taking visitors through a timeline of the Revolutionary War starting in 1775.
A 125-seat multipurpose theater.
A green roof with native plantings.
And more!
The building’s design is inspired by the shape of a leaf and follows the curvature of the Green Dot Trail, which takes park visitors to the pedestrian overpass leading to the historic site of the crossing. Additionally, the visitor center will feature a new overlook of the site of the crossing from a rooftop walkway.
Funding for the project is made possible through constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax revenue in accordance with the Preserve New Jersey Act. Additional support is provided by the American Rescue Plan made available by Governor Phil Murphy for projects supporting improvements to the state’s Revolutionary War historic sites in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Learn more: https://www.wcpa-nj.com/new-museum
The visitor center will feature: An immersive experience where visitors can reenact General Washington’s crossing of the Delaware.
Exhibits taking visitors through a timeline of the Revolutionary War starting in 1775.
A 125-seat multipurpose theater.
A green roof with native plantings.
And more!
The building’s design is inspired by the shape of a leaf and follows the curvature of the Green Dot Trail, which takes park visitors to the pedestrian overpass leading to the historic site of the crossing. Additionally, the visitor center will feature a new overlook of the site of the crossing from a rooftop walkway.
Funding for the project is made possible through constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax revenue in accordance with the Preserve New Jersey Act. Additional support is provided by the American Rescue Plan made available by Governor Phil Murphy for projects supporting improvements to the state’s Revolutionary War historic sites in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Learn more: https://www.wcpa-nj.com/new-museum
The visitor center is being constructed in preparation for America250 America250 — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
This video shows a glimpse of construction progress so far, stay tuned for updates. A video of showcasing what the future visitor center will feature can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIiKGRlUSvA
Funding for this project is made possible through constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax revenue in accordance with the Preserve New Jersey Act. Additional support is provided by the American Rescue Plan made available by Governor Phil Murphy for projects supporting improvements to the state’s Revolutionary War historic sites in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Learn more: https://njparksandforests.org/washingtoncrossing/
This video shows a glimpse of construction progress so far, stay tuned for updates. A video of showcasing what the future visitor center will feature can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIiKGRlUSvA
Funding for this project is made possible through constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax revenue in accordance with the Preserve New Jersey Act. Additional support is provided by the American Rescue Plan made available by Governor Phil Murphy for projects supporting improvements to the state’s Revolutionary War historic sites in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Learn more: https://njparksandforests.org/washingtoncrossing/
Help Support the Swan Historical Foundation
Swan Historical Scholarship Fund - Support our fellowship awards through the American Philosophical Society
and the David Library for the American Revolution
Building Fund - Support our exhibits in the new Washington Crossing State Park Visitor's Center, scheduled to open in 2026.
and the David Library for the American Revolution
Building Fund - Support our exhibits in the new Washington Crossing State Park Visitor's Center, scheduled to open in 2026.
Donate to
The Swan Historical Foundation, Inc.
to help support our:
Scholarship Fund
Building Fund
&
the General Fund to Support Conservation and Acquisitions
The Swan Historical Foundation, Inc.
to help support our:
Scholarship Fund
Building Fund
&
the General Fund to Support Conservation and Acquisitions
We need your support in order to reach these goals. Your donations generate the resources we need to grow and innovate, year after year.
Gifts of any size make an impact and are deeply appreciated.
A contribution to the Swan Historical Foundation is a lasting investment and is 100% tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Gifts of any size make an impact and are deeply appreciated.
A contribution to the Swan Historical Foundation is a lasting investment and is 100% tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
