The Delaware Canal State Park isn’t just another pretty place; it has economic value. Last year, on July 4th weekend, several favorite spots along the canal exceeded capacity. The gates at the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area had to be closed due to ov …

William Steiner Bench pre-restoration After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, when so many people lost their lives, including some of our Bucks County neighbors, the Friends committed to remembering these victims wi …

Bucks County is rich in history, and we can trace much of that history and growth to the impact of the Delaware River and Canal. River towns became hubs of industry, and when the Canal opened for operation, it spurred additional investment. Mills, lime …

PARK MANAGER’S REPORT – Spring – Summer 2023 By Brian Heath Park Manager, Delaware Canal State Park We want to thank the Friends and all the volunteers who participated in the Annual Canal Clean-up event. Volunteers who are willing to sacrifice their t …

The Delaware Canal towpath spans 58.9 miles, and in that distance, you can spot many flowering plants along the way. Some are relatively obvious, and others require a keen eye. Here are a few to look for. < Dame’s Rocket is a flowering biennial memb …

Few people who lived and worked along the Canal could imagine building a life without the mule. Mules, it is said, were the engines of the Canal. Or put another way, the workhorses moving coal from Mauch Chunk (present-day Jim Thorpe) to Bristol. Mules …

Sommer’s Bridge Restoration—A Family Legacy Lives On The Canal has many tales to tell, and so do the bridges and buildings along the way. The Sommer’s Bridge is no exception. In its day, farmers, quarrymen, and the townspeople used this bridge. Today, …

Betty Orlemann with a “Miles of Mules” sculpture Since the formation of the Delaware Canal State Park (originally called Roosevelt State Park) in 1940, residents along the 58.9-mile greenway have advocated for the restoration and preservation of this v …