Valley Forge

https://www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Forge_National_Historical_Park Valley Forge National Historical Park is the site of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, taking place from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. The National Historical Park preserves the site and interprets the history of the Valley Forge encampment. The Park contains historical buildings, recreated encampment structures, memorials, museums, and recreation facilities. Valley Forge is the encampment site of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-1778. The park features 3,500 acres of monuments, meadows, and woodlands commemorating the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation and honoring the power of people to pull together and overcome adversity during extraordinary times. The park is conveniently located off of U.S. Route 422. The main entrance to the park is at the intersection of State Route 23 and North Gulph Road. From the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take Exit 326. From Interstate I-76, take Route 422 West to Route 23 West/Valley Forge. From State Route 252, take State Route 23 East. Visitor Center at Valley Forge The Visitor Center at Valley Forge is open daily, 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days. First opened in 1978, the Visitor Center at Valley Forge is a multi-use building designed by Walter Ogg of the Philadelphia firm of Eshbach, Glass, Kale, and Associates, and includes visitor information services, The Encampment Store, and a museum exhibit that tells the story of the Valley Forge encampment of the Continental Army. The park is conveniently located off of U.S. Route 422. The main entrance to the park is at the intersection of State Route 23 and North Gulph Road. Immediately after entering the park, proceed straight through the stop sign and continue down the hill to access the parking area. From the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take Exit 326. From Interstate I-76, take Route 422 West to Route 23 West/Valley Forge. From State Route 252, take State Route 23 East. s s Muhlenberg's Brigade at Sunset outdoors, log huts, gravel path, sunset, clouds The sun sets at Muhlenberg's Brigade. Visitor Center at Valley Forge a building that extends into a hillside with a flagpole and landscaping out front The front entrance to the Visitor Center at Valley Forge. Wayne Statue outdoors, monument, statue, man on horse, grass, trees, clouds. The Anthony Wayne Statue at Valley Forge. Washington's Headquarters outdoors, grass, trees, stone house, blue sky Washington's Headquarters in spring. National Memorial Arch outdoors, arch, monument, snow, trees The National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge. NPS Structural Fire Program Highlights 2014 Intern Accomplishments Schuylkill River Sojourn Connects Paddlers New and Old to "Our Working River" Over 200 paddlers of all experience levels took to the water in colorful kayaks as part of the 21st Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn in the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania. To go along with the 2019 theme “Our Working River,” paddlers stopped along their journey to learn about the industrial heritage of the river—and of course to have lots of fun! Colorful kayaks on the Schuylkill River Sojourn against the green Pennsylvania landscape The Schuylkill River Sojourn: Fostering Environmental Stewardship and Community Kayaks gathered at a stop on the Schuylkill River Sojourn / Image courtesy of Schuylkill River National Heritage Area Kayaks gathered at a stop on the Schuylkill River Sojourn 2011 Recipients: George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Meet the six winner of the 2011 Hartzog Awards, which celebrates the amazing contributions of volunteers to our national parks. Youth volunteer Welcoming Visitors to the Park and Communities Collaboration at the visitor center unites Valley Forge National Historic Park and the Valley Forge Convention and Tourism Board in providing high quality visitor services to all that visit the park. Tourists and locals alike are connected to the legacy of Valley Forge through event promotion and historical interpretation. racers leave start line at valley forge revolutionary 5 mile run Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail e-Newsletter Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, WARO quarterly e-newsletter Meeting at Headquarters: Public Archeology at Valley Forge One of the primary destinations for visitors to Valley Forge National Historical Park is the modest stone house that served as General George Washington’s Headquarters during the Revolutionary War winter encampment of 1777-1778. In 2009, Washington’s Headquarters was re-opened following a series of repairs and renovations that provided the perfect opportunity to gather significant archeological data in a manner that was highly visible to park visitors. Stone house. 2020 Weather In Review: Valley Forge National Historical Park Valley Forge National Historical Park experienced an unusually warm and wet 2019. The year ended as the 3rd warmest and 23rd wettest year since 1895. A cabin with sunrays shining down on it Did You Know: The Justice Bell and the Fight for Women's Access to the Vote The bell is called the Justice Bell, but has also been known as the Women’s Liberty Bell and the Suffrage Bell. It was commissioned by Katharine Wentworth Ruschenberger in 1915. She was one of the 70,000 members of the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, and a leader of the organization in Chester County. A close replica of the Liberty Bell, the bronze Justice Bell was cast without a crack. Casting the Justice Bell, Troy, NY. Courtesy LoC Valley Forge Film HFC has contracted with Argentine Productions to produce a new film and four video shorts for Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania. Their original film has played in the Park for 46 years and was due for an update. Half a dozen park staff, upwards of 2 dozen crew members (film & sound crews, grip & lighting crews, wardrobe, makeup, craft services…), and approximately 60 re-enactors participated. Days ran long – 11-12 hours/day on set and came with weather and The Oneida Nation in the American Revolution The Oneida were one of the individual Nations of the powerful Six Nations Confederacy. The "Oneida Carry," where Ft. Stanwix was built, was located in traditional Oneida lands. Man in traditional Oneida clothing; flowing red cape, feathers on his head, & leather leggings. Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Cenozoic Era The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths. fossils on display at a visitor center Series: The People of Fort Stanwix Many different people and people groups have traversed the Oneida Carry throughout its history; from natives of the Six Nations Confederacy, to armies, to families and politicians. Learn more about many of these noted individuals and groups in the following series. A statue of a man in Continental Soldier uniform. His hand on his hip hold a sword hilt. Series: National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geoheritage-conservation.htm">geoheritage</a> and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geodiversity.htm">geodiversity</a> resources and values all across the National Park System to support science-based management and education. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1088/index.htm">NPS Geologic Resources Division</a> and many parks work with National and International <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/park-geology.htm">geoconservation</a> communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available. park scene mountains Series: Tourism Stories The National Park Service (NPS) has a long history of working in collaboration with the travel and tourism sector to manage responsible tourism that supports conservation and facilitates enjoyment of public lands. These stories are one of a series profiling success stories and case studies of NPS-tourism sector collaboration stacked logs, revealing ring circles The 1st New York Regiment of the Continental Line 1776-1783 The regiment that came to be known as the 1st New York was actually authorized as the 2nd NY Regiment of the Continental Line on May 25, 1775. They were assigned to the Northern Department in Albany, NY with 10 companies from Albany, Tryon, Charlotte, and Cumberland Counties. After a year, Colonel Goose Van Schaick was designated as commander. Continental soldiers with packs on their backs that say NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. [Site Under Development] reconstructed log cabin Quaternary Period—2.58 MYA to Today Massive ice sheets advanced and retreated across North America during much of the Quaternary, carving landscapes in many parks. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve contains geologic evidence of lower sea level during glacial periods, facilitating the prehistoric peopling of the Americas. The youngest rocks in the NPS include the lava of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the travertine at Yellowstone National Park, which can be just a few hours old. fossil bone bed and murals of mammoths Cenozoic Era The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths. fossils on display in a visitor center Gaining Traction Special attachments for shoes allowed for greater stability when walking in mud, ice, and snow. archival photo, object, wood, leather, metal Supply Challenges Supplying the soldiery with adequate shoes was difficult, even with help from France. legs and feet with worn leather shoes Tracked by Their Blood Upon the Rough Frozen Ground Did soldiers really leave behind streaks of blood when they marched into Valley Forge? painting, soldiers, horse, snow, marching Series: Valley Forge Underfoot - Shoes of the Encampment What kind of shoes did people wear in the 18th century? Did soldiers really leave bloody marks on the frozen ground as they marched into Valley Forge in 1777? All your burning Revolutionary War-era shoe questions will be answered in this five-part series about the footwear worn by soldiers and camp followers during the Valley Forge winter encampment of the Continental Army. closeup of legs and feet with worn leather shoes. Strong Symptoms of Discontent How did soldiers endure long marches on frozen ground with sub-standard footwear? archival photo, black leather shoe with metal buckle Happily Suppressed What amount of misery and privation might lead a Continental Army soldier to mutiny? outdoors, mud, wagon, two men pushing Pleistocene Life and Landscapes—Valley Forge One of the richest fossil sites ever discovered in eastern North America was Port Kennedy Bone Cave in Valley Forge National Historical Park. The cave was found in the 1870s and explored through the 1890s. fossil skull of a short-faced bear French Alliance Day The Continental Army's alliance with France was formalized and celebrated during the Valley Forge encampment. outdoors, soldiers, cheers, hats Brood X Periodical Cicadas FAQ Learn about the Brood X periodical cicadas that emerged in 2021 throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S. A perched periodical cicada with red eyes and orange wings Breeding bird monitoring at Valley Forge National Historical Park: 2019 status and trends To help inform natural resource management at Valley Forge National Historical Park, National Park Service scientists collect data about breeding bird populations. See what they learned from this data in 2019. A small yellow bird on a branch. The Commissary Department The Commissary Department’s main task was to purchase, pack, and distribute rations of food and supplies to the Continental Army under General George Washington. graphic, illustration, soldiers unload goods from a conestoga wagon On Guard! An Online Sentry Activity A revolution does not always involve fighting, and sometimes the hardest part about a war is what happens in between the battles. In this activity you will take on the role of a sentry during the Valley Forge encampment. You will decide who can enter camp and who cannot. photograph, outdoors, soldier standing with a musket in a muddy field. March-In of the Continental Army The ill-supplied Continental Army marches in to Valley Forge on December 19, 1777. They will camp here for the next six months. outdoors, photograph, walking, shoe, mud, rain, evening Maker Tutorial - The Market Wallet Learn step-by-step how to make a market wallet! Civilian men and women (including those following the Continental Army) used market wallets to carry their personal items. It is likely that people would have carried them as they marched into Valley Forge on December 19, 1777. photograph, outdoors, smiling woman, bonnet, 18th century clothing, market wallet, log huts '78 Mile Challenge Annual Logo Design Contest The ’78 Mile Challenge Annual Logo Design Contest invites the public to submit logo designs for the '78 Mile Challenge. The deadline for submissions is March 19, 2022. graphic, blank square measuring 5 inches by 5 inches, Your Design Here! 300 dpi resolution. The '78 Mile Challenge The ’78 Mile Challenge is a Healthy Parks Healthy People program that encourages and rewards outdoor recreation at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Participants must complete 78 miles of walking, running, hiking, biking, and/or paddling within the park during a given time period, typically from late April through October. A logo, log huts and trail, Valley Forge National Historical Park 78 Mile Challenge 2023 2021 Weather In Review: Valley Forge National Historical Park Valley Forge National Historical Park experienced an extremely warm 2021 though total precipitation was near normal. The year ended as the 4th warmest and 59th wettest year since 1895. Sunset at Valley Forge A Revolutionary Life: Washington's Birthday Through the Years Nine short videos chronicle American history through the lens of George Washington's birthday and how it was (or wasn't) celebrated during critical points during his life. graphic, illustration, bust of washington wearing a birthday hat 18th Century Great Cake When George Washington turned 46 years old at Valley Forge in 1778, he most likely didn't have a birthday cake like we think of them today, but he probably did have cake at Valley Forge. photograph, handwritten document, faded parchment Youth Conservation Corps at Valley Forge Program details and application instructions for the Youth Conservation Corps program (YCC) at Valley Forge National Historical Park. The YCC promotes natural resource conservation by America’s youth and prepare participants for the ultimate responsibility of managing resources for the American people. Crew members work to build a trail in the forest. Art in the Park BINGO Art in the Park prompts for Valley Forge National Historical Park in the form of a fun BINGO activity! Man crouches with a paintbrush in his mouth. Cannons are in the background. Art in the Park Bingo The Monument to Patriots of African Descent: Black Americans’ Revolutionary Histories This program examines the process of creating the Monument to Patriots of African Descent, the history of sites that commemorate or exclude Black Americans from public culture, and the National Park Service’s role in foregrounding racially diverse histories of the American Revolution. A marble monument with a bronze plaque is surrounded by green grass amid blue sky. Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Deer Impacts A healthy forest needs to have enough tree seedlings and saplings to regenerate the forest canopy after a disturbance. Analysis of NPS I&M and other long-term datasets makes it clear that many eastern national parks lack adequate tree regeneration due to decades of over browsing by white-tailed deer. Deer impacts Ajena Cason Rogers: Amplifying Voices of African American Women While Ajena Rogers has had a variety of roles with the NPS, she became recognized for her expertise as a living history interpreter, portraying the lives of African American women at historic sites. In a 2020 oral history interview with the Park History Program, Rogers speaks of the privilege and burden of this first-person technique, experiencing racial dynamics of both past and present, and the family history that she carries forward. Ajena Rogers in character, in bonnet and apron with a mixing bowl and gazing out a kitchen window. Natural Resource Management Spring/Summer Internship Volunteer Student Intern (non-paid) in Natural Resource Management at Valley Forge National Historical Park with up to 2 positions available each year. two people stand in the woods smiling and holding turtles I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring Regina P. Jones Underwood Brake Regina Jones-Brake's career with the National Park Service (NPS) began in 1976 with the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. Over the next 33 years, her love of American history compelled her to share untold stories as she advanced from park ranger to management assistant. Regina Jones-Underwood pictured outdoors in her NPS uniform. The General von Steuben Statue: Interpreting LGBTQ+ Histories of the Revolution This program considers the changing audiences of the General von Steuben Statue, how contemporary communities’ desire for identification should be reflected in interpretation, and LGBTQ+ history in the Early Republic. As park visitors increasingly inquire about Steuben’s sexuality, it raises the question: how should the National Park Service incorporate LGBTQ+ history into the stories it tells about the founding of our nation? General Steuben Statue at Valley Forge, 1915. Bronze sculpture by J. Otto Schweizer. Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. Digitizing Artifacts from the Museum Collections at Valley Forge National Historical Park Lexi Coburn, a Revolutionary War and Iron Industry Museum Collections Intern at Valley Forge, spent the summer of 2021 working among the artifacts of the George C. Neumann collection, photographing historic objects one by one, and adding them to the digital records in the Interior Collections Management System (ICMS). a person holds a camera in front of an historic object and name plate with white backdrop. All About Trees - Activities for Kids Park rangers lead tree-themed educational activities for kids in these fun videos. Activities include How a Tree Grows, Why Leaves Change Colors, and Adopt a Tree. two park rangers kneel side by side with arms raised in the air. a large tree is in between them. Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration Series: Native History of the Oneida Carry Many Native Americans lived and died in the vicinity of the Oneida Carry. Tribes, families, and individuals were often pulled in different directions as the European world invaded theirs. Learn more of this history here. Overhead of an old map with a large fence, shaped like a hexagon with little buildings inside. Valley Forge Cell Phone Guide Transcript The written transcript of the recorded audio of the Valley Forge Cell Phone Guide. Dial 484-396-1018 to access the guide. graphic depicting a hand holding a cell phone and speaker with three arcing lines representing sound Valley Forge Bird List Over 227 species of birds have been observed within Valley Forge National Historical Park, and the Valley Forge Bird List is intended to reflect their present status. a small yellow and black bird sits on a spiky plant with purple blossoms with a seed in its beak. Natural Resource Management Fall/Winter Internship Natural Resource Individual Placement (1 internship), paid, full-time, temporary, 900 hour AmeriCorps national service position. Crayfish Corps Resource Brief 2021 Crayfish Corps is a management action led by Natural Resource staff and supported by volunteers, which aims to limit the effects of invasive non-native crayfish in Valley Creek within Valley Forge National Historical Park. a group of people stand in a shallow creek wearing rubber boots and dipping nets into the water Self-Guided Homeschool Activities Several self-guided, in-park activities geared towards homeschool families. a trail goes through a meadow near a small log structure National Public Lands Day at Valley Forge National Public Lands Day in 2022 is on Saturday, September 24. Register for positions on one of four different volunteer work projects at Valley Forge. volunteers wearing gloves hold large plastic bags and stand in a meadow 245th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Campaign 2022 marks the 245th anniversary of the Philadelphia Campaign during the American Revolutionary War, and many local parks historic sites will be hosting commemorative events. The following list details some of the major engagements that occurred during the Philadelphia Campaign, and the places you can visit pay homage to this era in history. Fall Homeschool Day 2022 Fall Homeschool Day at Valley Forge (Oct. 11, 2022) is geared towards homeschool families with kids between the ages of 5 and 15, although it is open to the general public. It is a free event with no registration required. a ranger in 18th century clothing speaks to kids and adults who are standing and seated in front Valley Forge Write Out 2022 Much of what we know today about the Valley Forge encampment comes from the writings that people made in their journals and notebooks while they were in camp. Watch the video and check out the Valley Forge writing prompt! a toy log hut in a meadow and text reading Valley Forge Write Out 2022 Trees of Valley Forge During the encampment of George Washington and the Continental Army, almost every tree in what is now the park—and for miles beyond—was cut down for firewood, shelter, and defensive structures. Today, forest communities cover 34% of the park and contain 110 different kinds of trees. silhouettes of trees on the horizon. a person extends an arm to the trunk of a large tree. Become a Hopewell Furnace B.A.R.K. Ranger The best way to be a B.A.R.K. Ranger is to demonstrate to other visitors that you know how to explore the park safely and help protect special places like Hopewell Furnace National Historic Area. Pick up your official B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge card at the outside visitor table or from a ranger in the village. You will be asked to complete a few simple activities, learn the B.A.R.K. Ranger Rules and sign your pledge. You can then earn the official B.A.R.K. Ranger badge. B.A.R.K. Ranger badge in front of Hopewell Village. March-In Commemoration 2022 Visit Valley Forge National Historical Park on Saturday, December 17, 2022 to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the arrival of the Continental Army to Valley Forge. Hands-on activities and programming are scheduled from 11 AM to 6 PM. men dressed in 18th century clothing stand around a campfire in the snow Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Case Studies in Deer Management White-tailed deer populations have grown out of control in eastern parks. Inventory & Monitoring Program scientists studying forest health have found that forests in a majority of these parks are facing probable or imminent regeneration failure linked to deer overpopulation. Through this StoryMap, learn how deer management has improved forest health at three national parks: Gettysburg, Catoctin, and Valley Forge. Antlered deer standing among green foliage 2022 Weather in Review: Valley Forge National Historical Park It was a very warm year at Valley Forge National Historical Park in 2022 though total precipitation was near normal. The year ended as the 15th warmest and 59th wettest since 1895. The National Memorial Arch with pink trees blooming in foreground The 4th NY Regiment of the Continental Line, 1777-1780 The 4th New York Regiment that served to the end of 1780 was organized in January of 1777 from the remnants of various regiments raised for the 1775 Canadian invasion and short lived 1776 regiments. By the end of the war these men had the distinction of being present at the surrender of two British Armies: Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777 and Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. 3 Continental Soldiers stand at ease with their muskets resting on in their hands in front of them.