Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
Encyclopedia
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve (134 acres) is a nature preserve, botanical garden
, and accredited museum located at 1635 River Road (Pennsylvania Route 32), New Hope, Pennsylvania
. It is open daily except for major holidays; an admission fee is charged to nonmembers. A non-profit organization, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Association Inc., maintains the park in accordance to a management agreement with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
.
Today, the preserve contains nearly 1,000 of the 2,000 plant species native to Pennsylvania
, growing in a naturalistic setting of woodlands, meadows, a pond, and Pidcock Creek, with some 2½ miles of walking trails. It is an excellent site for bird-watching. The visitor center includes a collection of nearly 100 taxidermic birds, over 200 nests, and some 600 eggs, given in 1972 by local ornithologist Charles Platt and displayed in dioramas, exhibit cases and photographic panels.
at the site where George Washington
's army camped during the American Revolutionary War
. Just five miles south of the preserve, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River
to fight and win the Battle of Trenton
in 1776.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
, and accredited museum located at 1635 River Road (Pennsylvania Route 32), New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope, formerly known as Coryell's Ferry, is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. A two-lane bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the...
. It is open daily except for major holidays; an admission fee is charged to nonmembers. A non-profit organization, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Association Inc., maintains the park in accordance to a management agreement with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage...
.
Today, the preserve contains nearly 1,000 of the 2,000 plant species native to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, growing in a naturalistic setting of woodlands, meadows, a pond, and Pidcock Creek, with some 2½ miles of walking trails. It is an excellent site for bird-watching. The visitor center includes a collection of nearly 100 taxidermic birds, over 200 nests, and some 600 eggs, given in 1972 by local ornithologist Charles Platt and displayed in dioramas, exhibit cases and photographic panels.
Mission
The mission of Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is to lead people to a greater appreciation of native plants, to an understanding of their importance to all life, and to a commitment to the preservation of a healthy and diverse natural world.History
The preserve was established in 1934 within the Washington Crossing Historic ParkWashington Crossing Historic Park
Washington Crossing Historic Park is a 500-acre site operated by The Friends Of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The park is headquartered in the village of Washington Crossing located in Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania...
at the site where George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's army camped during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Just five miles south of the preserve, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to fight and win the Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
in 1776.
See also
- List of botanical gardens in the United States
- List of museums in Pennsylvania
- Bowman's Hill TowerBowman's Hill TowerBowman's Hill Tower, , is a stone tower located in Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission...