Have you ever been to the Tulpehaking Nature Center and the Abbott Marshlands in Hamilton Township?
A marsh, according to the National Geographic Society, is a type of wetland, an area of land where water covers the ground for long periods of time. I have to admit, I did not expect marshlands to be this beautiful.
While I had not pre-arranged my visit today (my husband and I just happened to be in the area), I did leave a note for Kelly Rypkema, Director of Environmental Education for the Mercer County Park Commission, and she very quickly provided me with information about the Nature Center and the Marshlands:
“The Abbott Marshlands is an oasis sitting at the crossroads of history and the environment. These 3,000 acres of green space, located within the densely populated Philadelphia-Trenton metropolitan region, are home to a unique tidal freshwater marsh filled with biodiversity and one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Middle Atlantic states. The land bears witness to 13,000 years of human history in this region, and is still held in special regard by the Lenape people as part of their homeland.
The Tulpehaking Nature Center is the educational gateway to the Abbott Marshlands, with programs and exhibits, walking trails, a children’s play space, and live turtles on display. The Tulpehaking Nature Center is owned by the County of Mercer and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission with support from the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands.” Kelly Rypkema, Director of Environmental Education for the Mercer County Park Commission
Nature certainly abounded on our walk through the trails and the marshlands, and the children we saw all seemed to be having a grand time learning about nature (and I guess marshes) as they played.
The Nature Center itself is also amazing, with many exhibits, large rooms for educational programs, learning, and what I believe is called the “Beaver House”.
Now if the Beaver House isn’t your style, also on the Tulpehaking property sits the historic 1708 Isaac Watson House, listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Sites.
Originally set on 800 acres, the Watson House is the oldest home in Mercer County! Tours are given in the spring and fall from 1-4 p.m. on the second Sundays of April through November. I will definitely be making a return trip for that tour!
For more information about the Abbott Marshlands, see https://abbottmarshlands.org/
For more information about the Tulpehaking Nature Center, see https://abbottmarshlands.org/nature-center/
For more information about the Issac Watson House, see https://www.dar.org/national-society/historic-sites-and-properties/isaac-watson-house
Marsh definition: educationn.nationalgeographic.org
All photos copyright ©kbrobinsonphotography
