A VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW
As we start the New Year, arctic cold has transformed the Susquehanna outside our Zimmerman Center for Heritage into an icy winter wonderland. We are thankful to be inside looking out, warm with the layers of history that inhabit this 18th century stone sentinel of a building on what was once America's frontier. It's a great time to reflect on another successful year advancing our vision for the river as a national destination for outdoor fun and cultural discovery.
 
In 2017 we launched year-round weekend hours and programs at the Zimmerman Center, doubled annual visitors to almost 5,000, and welcomed over 400 local school children to learn about history, nature, and art through the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. At Columbia Crossing River Trails Center we launched new exhibits and programs, hosted the Canoemobile event for hundreds of 5th graders, and helped 23,000 visitors find their place on the river. We saw our National Heritage Area bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and celebrated with many generous friends of the river at our Annual River Experience event in Wrightsville and our first-ever Extraordinary River Party in Columbia.
 
More is on the way for 2018. With the National Park Service and other partners, we'll complete important planning efforts for the John Smith Chesapeake Trail, design accessibility improvements at the Zimmerman Center, and prepare for new land and water shuttle service linking both sides of the river. We'll continue to lead tourism development for the Susquehanna Riverlands, publish maps, websites, and social media, and improve visitor readiness. All of these efforts will enhance quality of life for residents and bring economic vitality to our communities through tourism.
 
This is all possible through strong, sustaining funding partnerships with the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, National Park Service, Lancaster and York Counties, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Columbia Borough, the Ralph H. Goodno Riverlands Fund managed by Lancaster County Conservancy, and our many generous individual and corporate donors. Thank you all so much. We'll see you along the river - whatever the season!
 
Mark Platts, President

Trouble on the River - SAVE THE DATES
The Zimmerman Center's 2017-18 Heritage Lecture Series,
Trouble on the Susquehanna! resumes Wednesday, March 14, when the presentation The Shad Wars will give us a look at the big trouble caused when we started damming the river. Tickets must be purchased in advance.  Furious River - Floods and Ice Flows, the lecture originally slated for February 14, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 11.
 
TADPOLE TIME IN 2018
 
Columbia Crossing's monthly storytime for early learners returns in 2018 with a new set of themes and topics to explore! Little ones will explore the world of nature through stories, nature walks, art projects, and hands-on activities. 

Tadpole Time is geared for children ages 2-5 with their caretakers and takes place on the second Wednesday of the month from 10:30 am - 11:30 am. 

$4 per child. 
Class size is limited, registration recommended by calling 717-449-5607 or by emailing at  info@columbiacrossing.org .

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Host your next family or business event at Columbia Crossing or the Zimmerman Center. All rentals support our important work along the River. 

This is no time to hibernate! Winter calm on the Native Lands Trail and ever-changing ice by our riverside pavilion make this an exhilarating time of year to explore the Zimmerman Center. Need to warm up? Come inside, check out our Visions of the Susquehanna river art collection, or take a tour of our home, the c.1750 Dritt Mansion. For the first time, we're open all Winter, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., with our regular weekend programs.
Visitor Center Hours

Tuesday through Saturday
10 am to 4 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm
 
Wednesday through Saturday
10 am to 4 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm