Explore Valley Forge National Park
Where did 12,000 U.S. soldiers make camp when the British occupied Philadelphia? Valley Forge National Park demonstrates how George Washington’s army was able to transform forests and fields to become a small city in the dead of winter. The best way to explore Valley Forge National Park is to do a self-guided driving tour. You can pick up maps at the visitor’s center.
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Explore Valley Forge
Valley Forge is a great strategic position for General George Washington. He could keep an eye out toward Philadelphia and know when the British would arrive. The good thing is that attack never came.
These log cabins are representative of the army huts that the soldiers stayed in during the winter of 1777-78. These huts are at the site of the General Muhlenberg’s brigade part of the outer line defenses. You can catch a glimpse of how the soldier’s lived and where they worked. There is a redoubt a short walk from the huts. A redoubt is a fortification of earth used to keep an eye out for intruders.
There are plenty more stops along this drive around the encampment that I did not stop at. Most of these were statues and memorials to the soldiers’ perseverance through that harsh winter. Since Kayla and I were on the drive back to Michigan from Philly, we wanted to make this stop a quick one. I did stop at Washington’s Headquarters though. This was my favorite part of the National Park. I spent some time walking around the headquarter’s and the guard huts. These cabins seemed more realistic set up against the trees.
Washington’s Headquarters
George Washington’s Headquarters is a decent size stone house that George and Martha stayed in along with several of his officer’s. You can imagine George’s and his officer’s tables covered with maps showing troop movements and war strategies. Walking through the house, you visualize it filled with soldiers all trying to figure out how to win the war and trying to stay warm by the fireplaces.
Upstairs you can see the rooms where George and Martha slept and the officers’ rooms as well. The canopy beds seem so formal during wartime but, I’m sure it was a nice sense of normality for the Washington’s. And definitely, a far cry from the huts the soldiers stayed in outside.
The kitchen is typical during this period. I can see the cook having to run back and forth from the kitchen to the offices frequently during the day. Good thing the kitchen is directly attached to the house on the same floor. I also love how they try to hide the kitchen fireplace on the side of the house.
Valley Forge National Park is a half hour away from Philadelphia. I would budget a couple of hours here to see everything. If you want to participate in the tours or go on the trails, budget at least a half day. The ranger programs also deliver expert knowledge on the people of the Revolutionary War that suffered the hardships of the winter of 1777-78.
Now if you have plans to visit all the National Parks, Valley Forge is a quick one to check off your list. It is also less than 2 hours to Gettysburg. You can experience over 100 years in one day.
Have you been to Valley Forge National Park? What was your favorite part of the encampment?
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Further Reading
If you would like to see more of my nomad travels, check out my post on my first month of traveling full-time: One Month of Nomad Travel. If you are visiting national parks in the United States, check out these posts:
- Exploring Fort Sumter – Beginning of the American Civil War
- Montezuma Castle – “It’s not a castle and Montezuma was never here.”
- Top 10 Activities To Do in Philadelphia
- Top 7 Family Fun Things at Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Capture Amazing Photos on Pictured Rocks Cruises
- The Solemn Beauty of Arlington, Virginia
- Stepping into the past…afternoon at Mount Vernon
- The Washington D.C. trip that was 18 years in the making!
- 11 Epic US National Parks You Must Visit Before The Kids Grow Up!
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