The Day George Washington Crossed the Grays Ferry Bridge

April 20th - 1789. George Washington crosses the Schuylkill River at Grays Ferry en route to New York for his inauguration. George Gray and his family owned and operated a ferry crossing at the bank of the river that eventually was replaced by a floating bridge which was utilized during the Revolution by both the British and Continental armies. Gray’s family also owned and operated a tavern near the site of the bridge, known to be frequented by a few of the founding fathers, setting the stage and raising the bar for the Irish immigrants who would open taverns in GF almost 200 years later!

The bridge was dressed in pomp and flag, Washington crossed and was greeted by cheering crowds, eventually making his way to New York to be sworn in as the first president of the United States. History is all around us.

JH

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