Valley Forge National Historical Park – King of Prussia, PA - September 12

Valley Forge National Historical Park – King of Prussia, PA - September 12 


Today we drove a bit over an hour to visit Valley Forge which is located on the north-western outskirts of Philadelphia in King of Prussia.


We started at the Visitor’s Center which is in a temporary structure until they finish upgrading the old one. We watched the movie, “Valley Forge: A Winter Encampment” last night on YouTube since we were uncertain if it was being shown in the temporary VC. We grabbed a map for the self-guided driving tour of the Encampment route.

A history lesson from their website:


“Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington. Here the Continental Army, a collection of disparate colonial militias, emerged under Washington’s leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force. In late 1777 while the British occupied the patriot capital of Philadelphia, Washington decided to have his troops winter at Valley Forge. 


On December 19th, 1777, 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what was essentially the fourth largest city in the United States, with 1,500 log huts and two miles of fortifications. 


Concentrating the soldiers in one vast camp allowed the army to protect the countryside and be better able to resist a British attack, but it became costly when lack of supplies and hunger afflicted the inhabitants, and diseases like influenza and typhoid spread through the camp. While there was never a battle at Valley Forge, disease killed nearly 2,000 people during the encampment.


Through the duration the encampment, Washington inspired the soldiers through his own resilience and sense of duty. He persuaded Congress to reform the supply system and end the crippling shortages, and attracted experienced officers to the cause, including former Prussian officer Baron von Steuben, who was assigned the task of training the troops. Von Steuben taught the soldiers new military skills and to fight as a unified army. These reforms in supply systems and fighting tactics, along with reforms in military hygiene and army organization, became the foundation of the modern United States Army.


Word came in May to General Washington that the long-sought alliance with France was secured. The British soon evacuated Philadelphia and headed north to defend their stronghold in New York City, and on June 19, 1778, Washington’s troops marched out of Valley Forge in pursuit. The Continental Army’s transformative experiences at Valley Forge reshaped it into a more unified force capable of defeating the British and winning American independence during the remaining five years of the war.”


Our first stop was General Peter Muhlenberg's Virginia Brigade.

 Spotted Lanternfly - an invasive insect to the area

the Grand Parade

The National Memorial Arch was our next stop.

 Pennsylvania Columns

 General Anthony Wayne Pennsylvania Brigade

We stopped to go grab some lunch before continuing. I was having a Five Guys craving. Then we resumed where we left off. Greg talked with a couple that has been road-tripping for 3 months in their car staying in hotels. So, I guess we aren’t the only crazy retired people doing this. 

 unknown soldiers

 Washington's Headquarters had a few buildings to tour

 the train station

 Washington's Headquarters and living quarters

 Washington's office

 Aides-de-Camp room

 Washington's Bedroom

 Aides-de-Camp Bedroom

 guest bedroom

 the Garret

 kitchen

 steel making house

 Commander-in-chief's Guards

 spring house

 the New Jersey Brigade

Our next stop was to see Redoubt 3 and then the Artillery Park

 Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben

 redoubt

General James Varnum's Quarters

 Washington’s Memorial Chapel

 The Justice Bell

 ceiling

 this plaque above the statue is the actual metal from Washington's casket

This concluded the Encampment driving tour. Just as an aside, this is also a park with lots of trails and recreational space for visitors to enjoy. There were probably more locals there walking their dogs, jogging, riding their bikes and one parked her stroller under the arch while she went off and played with her children. There are plenty of benches where she could have put it not in everyone's photo. Locals cut through the streets that cross through there and were impatient with the tourists there to enjoy the historical nature of the park. It detracted from the experience a bit. Perhaps in high season there are so many tourists that the locals don't use the place so much.   




We grabbed some ice cream at Bruster’s before driving back to the hotel.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/sxDqGYqaSGFTDRTn9

Tomorrow we are off to visit the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.