Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 1,168 acres (4.73 km²) |
| Established: | 1959 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is a 1,168 acre (4.73 km²) Pennsylvania State Park near Wind Gap, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Jacobsburg National Historic District is almost entirely surrounded by the park. Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is just off the Belfast of Pennsylvania Route 33.
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[edit] Environmental Education
The main purpose of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is to provide environmental education for the citizens of Pennsylvania and specifically the students of the nearby elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Jacobsburg stays busy offering hands on opportunities to these students and their teachers with a "discovery and problem solving" approach.
[edit] Jacobsburg National Historic District
The Jacobsburg National Historic District is the location of the Henry Homestead, where the famous Henry Rifle was manufactured. Along with the staff of the Jacobsburg Historical Society the center provides a heritage education program, with classes in gunmaking and blacksmithing. Rendezvous and period military encampments are included in the center's Living History program. The Pennsylvania Longrifle Heritage Museum is located in the Henry Homestead.
The production of the Henry Rifle was vitally important to the outcome of the French and Indian War, American Revolution, the War of 1812, westward expansion of the American Frontier, and the American Civil War. William Henry opened his first gun factory in Lancaster in 1750. During the French and Indian war he was an armorer for the Braddock Campaign of 1755 and the Forbes Expedition of 1758. His son William Henry II established a small gunmaking shop in Christian Springs in 1778. He moved his operation to Jacobsburg in 1792. Soon he built an iron forge to provided the needed iron to manufacture the Henry Rifle at Jacobsburg. The War of 1812 lead to a greater need for the rifle and Henry II built a second and larger factory in Boulton. The Henry family continued for three generations in manufacturing the Henry Rifle for use in the Civil War and John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company.
[edit] Recreation
Recrational opportunities include hiking on 18.5 miles 29.77km), fishing, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, hunting, and picnicking. The walking bridge adjacent to the main parking lot was destroyed several years ago during a flood and is yet to be replaced. The center provides an environmental education program, with classes in natural history. The center is known for its diversity of wildflowers that are especially striking during springtime. There is a heritage education program at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. This program displays and demonstrates early gunmaking practices. A living history program includes a mid 1840s rendezvous and military re-enactments. Blacksmith and gunsmith classes are offered and the historic buildings are open for tours.
Hunting is permitted on about 937 acres (3.79km) of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. The most common game species are squirells, pheasants, rabbits and white-tailed deer. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission.
Bushkill Creek is stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center:
- Beltzville State Park (Carbon County)
- Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
- Bull's Island Recreation Area (New Jersey)
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (New Jersey)
- Delaware Canal State Park (Bucks and Northampton Counties)
- Gouldsboro State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- Hacklebarney State Park (New Jersey)
- Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County)
- Lehigh Gorge State Park (Carbon and Luzerne Counties)
- Nockamixon State Park (Bucks County)
- Ralph Stover State Park (Bucks County)
- Round Valley State Park (New Jersey)
- Spruce Run State Park (New Jersey)
- Stephens State Park (New Jersey)
- Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- Voorhees State Park (New Jersey)
[edit] References
- Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- Map Reference for Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- Jacobsburg State Park, USGS WIND GAP (PA) Topo Map. TopoZone. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
