Emerging from the Catskills, the Delaware River winds along the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Atlantic, offering hundreds of miles of magnificent scenery. Its sparkling waters supported the Lenape tribes growing maize along its banks. English explorers sailed the river in search of the mythical Lake Laconia, believed to be the source of all northeastern rivers. Urban growth pitted railroads, industry and energy companies against protectionists in continuing fights over appropriate use of the river. Hunting, fishing and boating remain vital local traditions passed from one generation to the next. Author Frank H. Moyer charts the life and legacy of the mighty Delaware.

When Henry Hudson explored the Delaware River in 1609, he dubbed it “one of the finest, best, and pleasantest rivers in the world.” Today, those same qualities make the Delaware one of the most popular rivers for recreational use in the United States. Although in places a near-wilderness, the Delaware is easily accessible to millions of residents. On any summer day there may be thousands of people rushing down its exciting rapids or lazing through its serene eddies. A Paddler’s Guide to the Delaware River is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to experience the Delaware River in a kayak, canoe, raft, or tube—or, for that matter, an automobile or an armchair. Reading the book is like travelling down the river with an experienced guide. It charts the non-tidal Delaware 200 miles from Hancock, New York, to Trenton, New Jersey, describing access points, rapids, natural features, villages, historical sites, campgrounds, outfitters, and restaurants. The Delaware comes alive as the author introduces some of the people, places, events, and controversies that have marked the river from earliest times to the present day. Completely revised, the third edition offers: An overview of the river including watershed, history, place names, paddlecraft, safety, and fishing. The River Guide: ten sections that can each be paddled in one day (about 20 miles), with a mile-by-mile account of rapids, access, natural features, historic sites, and other features. All new maps, with names for virtually every rapid, eddy, and other river feature, plus detailed diagrams for routes through even the most severe rapids. Features in the River Guide highlight the people, events, natural history, and communities that define the river experience, such as Tom Quick, the infamous “avenger of the Delaware”; the mysterious migration of eels, the battle over Tocks Island Dam; and many others. Appendices of Important Contacts, Outfitters and Campgrounds, River Trip Checklists, and more. Whether you are a novice out for an afternoon float, a seasoned adventurer on an overnight expedition, or a resident fascinated by the lore of the Delaware Valley, this book is an invaluable guide.

Narrative nonfiction account of the record-setting Delaware River flood of August 18-20, 1955, reads like a thriller. This devastation was caused by rain from hurricanes Connie and Diane, hitting within five days of each other. The flood killed nearly 100 people in PA, NJ & NY, with the highest flood crest recorded on river to date. This is an extremely readable narrative woven from interviews with 100+ survivors & eyewitnesses. With 105 historic photos bringing these events to chilling life, this is the first comprehensive account of a tragic event that changed life in the Delaware Valley forever.

The Delaware River flows out of New York's Catskill Mountains and winds its way through woodland and rural farmland, through the great Water Gap ravine, and finally past one of the world's most industrialized riverfronts. Yet it remains one of the country's last undammed rivers, with a natural life as rich and varied as its human history. In Natural Lives, Modern Times, Bruce Stutz has written a thoroughly modern natural history, blending keen observations of the nature of the Delaware's enduring complex of river, glacial streams, marshlands, and forest with glimpses of history and folklore and with luminous portraits of those whose lives are sustained by the river. The Delaware was the waterway of the nation's first mercantile, philosophical, scientific, cultural, and industrial heartland, hosting immigrants from Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean, all looking for new lives along the ancient river. In this always entertaining and often haunting intertwining of human and natural history, Bruce Stutz discovers those who regret what has been lost and those passionate about preserving what remains. Most of all, however, he lets us see what's at stake in a wonderfully diverse world. Not since Mark Twain has anyone taken such a freewheeling river journey.

This completely updated edition of Paul Weamer's guide to the Upper Delaware includes new interviews with some of the river's most renowned guides and outfitters, including the legendary Al Caucci. Includes information on the latest dining and lodging options in the area, as well as access points and the hatches and patterns that work best.

"Dale brings us the stories behind each bridge, covering design, engineering, ownership, finances, and politics. He chronicles the life of each, from the original construction, through modifications, and sometimes, through the bridges' multiple destructions and reconstructions... Dozens of rare photos give readers a captivating window back into the past"--from back cover.

Tracing the history of the Delaware, this book delves into archives and newspaper files to explore the men who tried to tame this wild river. Many attempted to venture down it in a variety of vehicles due to the needs of commerce, but in recent times it has been converted to leisure activities.

Join Harry Kyriakodis as he strolls Front Street, Delaware Avenue, and Penn's Landing to rediscover the story of Philadelphia's lost waterfront. The wharves and docks of William Penn's city that helped build a nation are gone lost to the onslaught of over 300 years of development. Yet the bygone streets and piers of Philadelphia's central waterfront were once part of the greatest tradecenter in the American colonies. Local historian Harry Kyriakodis chronicles the history of the city's original port district from Quaker settlers who first lived in caves along the Delaware and the devastating yellow fever epidemic of 1793 to its heyday as a maritime center and then the twentieth century that saw much of the historic riverfront razed.

Canoeing the Delaware River provides a mile-by-mile account of the Delaware's course from where the East and West Branches meet in Hancock, New York, two hundred miles downstream to tidewater at Trenton, New Jersey. The book describes rapids, access areas, and points of interest in detail. It is an invaluable resource to both the novice out for an afternoon paddle and the adventurer on a ten-day trip. This completely revised and updated edition provides new maps, guides to river outfitters, campgrounds, information sources on river conditions, and new photographs.In addition to guiding the way, Canoeing the Delaware River portrays the people, places, and events associated with the river from its colorful past through present times. Gary Letcher also includes information on canoe safety and environmental concerns.-- A mile-by-mile guide to the Delaware River for canoeists and other river users, with maps and photographs.-- Describes historical and present-day points of interest, and provides suggestions for activities within easy reach of the river.

Opportunity Valley portrayed the Delaware River valley before 1800 as the most successful seaport of North America, the natural capital for an emerging independent nation, a world-famous haven for flocks of religious refugees and dissenters, and a well-advertised gateway to land ownership. Why write a colonial history of this valley? Don't we already have plenty of colonial histories of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York? We need an early history of the Delaware River's vast valley because such a watershed naturally functions as a unity and because what happened here from 1600 to 1800 was of major importance to the future of this nation and the entire world. The energetic people of this valley developed a world-class seaport. They created a peaceful and cooperative home for diverse peoples. They formed a cradle for the growth of the young United States. They took on the role of a leader in abolishing slavery. They built a center for education, culture and gracious living second only to London. As readers would expect, key areas of the valley are singled out as chapters for detailed exploration: Dutch beginnings, the Swedish colony, West Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware's lower counties and New York's headwater counties. Also, as a surprise to some readers, the Connecticut colony on the upper Delaware River has a chapter. Four topics of regional importance also provide chapters: (1) a new nation evolves, (2) Benjamin Franklin's contribution, (3) the valley's campaign against keeping slaves, and (4)the valley as an outstanding center for American culture. The chapter presenting the evolution of the new nation distinguished between 120 cradle years when peace and collaboration dominated and 80 crucible years resulting from 15 years of actual war and 65 years of the serious threat of war. The actual war years were: (1) the New Sweden and New Amsterdam War, two weeks during 1655;(2) the Seven Years War (French and Indian War), from 1754 to 1763, and (3)the War for American Independence, from 1775 to 1783. Benjamin Franklin was portrayed as a dominant figure throughout the eighteenth century in regional, national and international events. His businesses, inventions, achievements and contributions were presented in the format of the decades of his life, mostly lived in the Delaware Valley. The chapter on the valley's campaign against slavery focused on the Quaker leadership in awakening consciences. The contributions of John Woolman, the abolition societies and colonial and state assemblies were emphasized. The valley's connection with British abolitionists bore fruit in 1807 when the British Parliament abolished the slave trade. The development of the Delaware Valley as a center for culture and learning could be expected to deal with education, architecture, science, medicine, publishing, libraries and the arts. The chapter also gives attention to agriculture, gender equality and opposing cruelty to animals. The valley's cultural achievement was understood to benefit not only from gifted leadership and generous philanthropy but also from a prosperous economy, a favorable natural environment and a receptive public. The final chapter deals with the valley's people working together in fostering major achievements. Examples of such cooperation include island jurisdiction decisions, and settling disputes about shipwrecks, fisheries, ferries and bridges. The greatest contribution of the Delaware Valley to the nation and the world was seen to be the egalitarian view of freedom flourishing here, especially influential in forming a democratic national government and, eventually, in freeing the slaves. This book is alive with appropriate maps and illustrations. One of the most interesting is a number of pages from a standard artillery manual published in 1780 and official in the armies of France, England, Germany and our new