Woodland Ferry, Historic ferry crossing on Nanticoke River in Woodland, Delaware
Woodland Ferry is a river crossing over the Nanticoke River in Delaware that uses a cable-operated vessel for transporting vehicles and pedestrians. The boat requires only one operator and connects the two riverbanks with a simple, direct passage.
This crossing was founded in the 1740s by James Cannon and remained under private control for many decades. Local government took over operations in the mid-1800s and has continued running it ever since.
The Georgian-style Cannon Hall, the historic house linked to this crossing, reflects how early American families built their homes near river transport points. The architecture shows the wealth and status that ferry operations once brought to this rural region.
The current ferry vessel can carry up to six vehicles at a time and operates year-round except on national holidays. Plan some extra time when you arrive since the crossing is brief, but departures happen whenever enough vehicles have gathered.
This is the last remaining cable ferry in Delaware and one of the few still operating cable ferries on the American East Coast. Its continuous operation since at least 1793 makes it a rare working connection to that era of early river transportation.
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