Site of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
General Information
Visitor Center: Open daily: 9:00am to 5:00pm
How to Get There
From Philadelphia (21 miles): Get on I-76 W from S Penn Square and John F Kennedy Blvd. Continue on I-76 W to King of Prussia. Take the PA-23 W exit from US-422 W. Follow PA-23/W Valley Forge Rd to N Outer Line Dr.
Overview
Valley Forge National Historical Park marks the third winter encampment of the Continental Army, from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778, when about 12,000 troops endured hardship and were retrained by Baron von Steuben, a turning point of the Revolution. The 3,500-acre park, a national park since 1976 (earlier a state park), draws more than 1.2 million visitors a year and lies about 18 miles from Philadelphia.
Highlights
- Washington's Headquarters: the restored colonial home he used, with the restored Valley Forge train station as an information center
- Reconstructed log huts and earthworks including redoubts and defensive lines
- National Memorial Arch: a 1917 monument to the Continental Army
- Washington Memorial Chapel and National Patriots Bell Tower on the hill in the park's center
- Visitor center: museum with excavated artifacts, an interactive muster roll, and a short film
- Generals' quarters: including Varnum's (open summer weekends), Lafayette's, and Knox's
- Brigade stones and the Anthony Wayne statue along the tour drive
Trails and Activities
The park has 26 miles of hiking and biking trails, including the 8.7-mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail, plus parts of the Schuylkill River Trail and Horse Shoe Trail. Seasonal 90-minute bus tours, bike rentals, ranger programs, horseback riding, and paddling are available, and the Valley Forge 5-Mile Revolutionary Run is held each April.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Valley Forge National Historical Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
