The Congress adopt the Declaration of Independence in the morning of a bright and sunny Philadelphia day. John Dunlap printed the Declaration (known as "Dunlap Broadsides"). There are twenty-four known copies, two of which are in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. One of these was George Washington's personal copy.

The next day, John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, dispatched the first of Dunlap's broadsides to the legislatures of New Jersey and Delaware. By July 6th, the Pennsylvania Evening Post printed the first newspaper rendition of the Declaration. On July 8th, the first public reading of the Declaration took place in Philadelphia, PA. General Washington ordered the Declaration be read before the Continental Army on July 9th in New York. It was not until January 18, 1777 that Congress orders that signed copies of the Declaration be printed by Mary Katherine Goddard of Baltimore, Maryland be sent to the states. 

Dr. William Shippen, Sr. (1712-1741) was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress (1778-1780). After his tenure, Dr. Shippen returned to his medical practice in Philadelphia, PA. His eldest son, Dr. William Shippen, Jr. (1736-1808) served in various capacities as Chief Physician and Director General of the Hospital of the Continental Army in NJ (1776), Director of Hospitals West of the Hudson River (Oct. 1776), and Director of Hospitals for the Continental Army, a precursor of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army (11 April 1777 to January 1781). Joseph William Shippen, another son of Dr. Shippen, Sr. who lived at Shippen Manor and supervised the "furnace tract", served as Quartermaster of the American Army hospital in Bethlehem, PA.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AT SHIPPEN

Beginning at 11 a.m., the Colonial Musketeers Junior Fife & Drum Corps (Hackettstown, NJ) will begin our celebration with music from the era. 

At 11:30 a.m., the Bachmann Players (Easton, PA) will commemorate our celebration with readings and other activities that preceded the actual reading of the Declaration. The reading will begin promptly at 12 noon (the same time as the 1776 reading in Easton, PA).  

Following the reading, the Colonial Musketeers Junior Fife & Drum Corps will entertain our visitors with colonial-era music until 1 p.m., when the museum will open for tours.

Upon commencement of this celebration, we invite our visitors to join our docents on the main floor of the museum (accessible along the wooden boardwalk that extends from the Belvidere Avenue parking area to the building) where they will provide tours from 1 to 4 p.m. They will share the history of the Manor, it's people, and the local industrial history of Oxford. We are offering only tours of the main floor of the building. 

The last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.

Our rear parking will be closed prior to and during our "Celebration of Independence", but will open for museum tours (after 1 p.m.). Please exercise caution while on the driveway as there will be other vehicles and pedestrians.  The driveway is a one-way only (please follow the signs).

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There are some changes made at Shippen that we want to make you aware of before you plan your visit.

PARKING & ACCESSIBILITY: 

There is limited accessible parking in our Belvidere Avenue lot (by the boardwalk). Please leave two car spaces closer to the boardwalk for those who need it (there is a blue & white sign that designates those spots for those with HC accessibility tags).

For most regular museum days (that are from 1 to 4 p.m.), the back parking area will be open to the public. Please exercise caution as pedestrians also use the driveway. The driveway is a ONE WAY (except for special occasions). If the lower driveway is open when you exit the back parking, please drive slowly as there will be visitors and staff on the driveway.

For reenactment days or special event days, the back parking area and driveways will be closed to vehicles. On those days, we encourage visitors to park off-site on Washington Ave past the church or in the municipal parking area off Wall Street. Warren Co. Cultural & Heritage Affairs at Shippen Manor is not responsible if a driver receives a ticket for parking in a no parking or limited parking area. Please adhere to all signs. Also, please do not block residents’ driveways.

Parking areas with limited to no restriction:

• Washington Avenue (past the Colonial Methodist Church), municipal lot (off Wall Street), town lot on Kent Street (not on street)

Parking areas with restrictions:

• Wall Street (in town), some parts of Washington Avenue

No parking:

• Belvidere Avenue, Washington Avenue at the bottom of our property (both ways), Cinder Street, residential driveways and accesses

ENTRANCES: There will be two main entrances to the museum (main floor) that are identified with brown and white signs (two brown and white “Museum” signs, one marked for ADA): the “Robeson Study” is the first entrance along the boardwalk from the Belvidere Ave. parking area. “Reception Room” has an ADA accessible entrance (it is the second entrance along the boardwalk from the Belvidere Ave. parking area). If you need any assistance, please speak with one of our volunteers.

EXTERIOR BORDER & DRIVEWAY WALLS: Our walls are delicate and fragile due to age and in order to avoid any potential injuries to you or damage to the site, we ask that visitors (children in particular) not climb, walk or jump off of them. (This also includes the old stone stairs on our neighbors’ property near the Belvidere Ave. parking area.)

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This schedule may be altered or events cancelled.

There is no admission to the museum. This is a family-friendly historic site. Limited accessible parking available on site.

Off-site parking on Washington Avenue (by the Colonial Methodist Church) and municipal lot off Wall Street (Wall to Allen). Please exercise caution when crossing the street to the Manor.

 As per Warren County Parks Regulations, certified service animals are permitted to enter the museum with their handlers. Other pets are not permitted inside of the museum. Thank you for picking up after your pets.

The Shippen Manor and Oxford Furnace historic sites are part of the Warren County Parks System and are an alcohol, drug and tobacco-free site.