Valley Forge NHP - American Revolutionary War Site

Valley Forge National Historic Park is a 3,500 acre park created to tell the story of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-78.  Valley Forge had a battle but it wasn’t against the British.  It was a battle for survival (about 2,000 soldiers died during that winter from cold and disease).   It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and was established as a National Historic Park on July 4, 1976. 

BACKGROUND:  “On December 19, 1777, the Continental Army consisting of 12,000 troops marched into Valley Forge.  For the next six months, the divided groups of militiamen would band together to form a true army, one capable of taking the fight to the British.”  

The 10 mile self-guided driving tour features 9 main stops.  Click on the link at the bottom of this post to print a map of the park/driving tour (Plan Your Visit).  An 8.7-mile paved multi-use trail parallels most of the driving tour route.  

NPS Park Map/Driving Tour

Our visit to Valley Forge NHP begins in mid-afternoon.  The first thing we do is go to the Visitor Center’s theater (in a separate building) and watch the 18-minute movie about Valley Forge. The main building of the Visitor Center includes exhibits and a large gift shop. 

The Visitor Center is Stop 1 on the 10-mile Encampment Tour Route.  It’s about 4:15 p.m. when we begin our driving tour of the park.  The skies are gray and a light rain is falling ... at least it isn't snowing or freezing cold like it was when George Washington was here.