Did George Washington ever visit Easton, PA? 

Did the father of our country, Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and our very first president of the United States, ever visit Easton, PA?

There are many that say he visited Easton, PA, several times and the fact is that he very well may have but actual evidence of his visiting is sparse.

One account is a typewritten document found at the Easton Area Public Library in a file at the Henry F Marx Local History Room titled, George Washington, that talks about Elizabeth C Van Duzer.  Elizabeth C Van Duzer was associated with the Warwick Historical Society in Warwick, NY.  In 1927, Mrs Van Duzer is said to have visited Henry F Marx, the first director of the Easton Area Public Library.  Mrs Van Duzer was supposedly researching prisoners of war from Massachusetts that may have passed through the City of Easton during the Revolutionary War.  During a conversation she is said to have had with Mr Marx, she became actively interested in George Washington visiting Easton, PA.

The account of Mrs Van Duzer’s visit goes on to say that in January 1928, Mrs Van Duzer supposedly wrote a letter to Henry F Marx noting the following:

“Friday, July 26, 1782. At a very early hour His Excellency, George Washington, left Bethlehem on his way to Easton. “ 

Another account of Mr Washington visiting Easton, PA, is found in a book in the Marx Room by Joshua Trachtenberg.  On page 71 of the book titled Consider the Years, it states that Mr Washington visited with Michael Hart in Easton, PA, either in 1778 or 1782. 

It is still possible Mr Washington may have visited Easton, PA, at other times but finding concrete proof of his visits to Easton, PA, remains a history mystery.  Come to the Easton Area Public Library Henry F Marx Local History Room to uncover more history mysteries!