Valley Forge Entrance

One of the entrance markers to the Valley Forge National Historic Park

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Valley Forge Cannon

One of the many cannons dotting the landscape of the Valley Forge National Historic Park.

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Cannon on Redoubt

One of the many cannons dotting the landscape of the Valley Forge National Historic Park, adjacent to the Muhlenberg Brigade huts.

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Valley Forge Encampment

This is the front line of the Continental Army's Valley Force encampment. These replica cabins represent General Peter Muhlenberg's Virginia Brigade, 1 of the 15 brigades at Valley Forge, held this ground. His troops protected this position by building and then guarding a system of closely spaced huts, defensive entrenchments, and redoubts. These defensive works were called the Outer Line Defense. (NPS)

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Cold Valley Forge

One of the many cabins (huts) dotting the landscape of the Valley Forge National Historic Park. his hut, along Gulph Road sits along the outer line defenses facing the south

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Hut of the Outer Line Defense

One of the many cabins (huts) dotting the landscape of the Valley Forge National Historic Park. This hut, along Gulph Road sits along the outer line defenses facing the south

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National Memorial Arch (South Face)

.Authorized by Congress in 1910, the arch was built as a tribute to George Washington and his army who endured the winter encampment at Valley Forge in 1777-1178. The arch was designed by Paul Phillipe Cret, a prominent Philadelphia architect, and dedicated on June 19, 1917. The north face of the arch is inscribed as..."Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire, the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery."

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National Memorial Arch (North Face)

George Washington, Valley Forge, and Freemasonry represent patriotism, freedom and brotherly love to all Freemoasons. Washington served as Master of Masonic Lodge at the same time he was President of the United States. Through the preservation of the National Memorial Arch in 1996-1997, the Freemasons of Pennsylvania south to honor the memory of George Washington, a national hero, patriot and prominent Freemason, and to honor the brave men who endured the winter encampment at Valley Forge in 1777-1778. The south face of the arch is inscribed as..."To the officers and private soldiers of the Continental Army - December 19, 1777 June 19, 1778"

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General "Mad" Anthony Wayne

Commander of the 1st & 2nd Pennsylvania Brigades. When food ran so low that mutiny seemed imminent, General Wayne led an emergency foraging expedition into New Jersey. Their mission: to round up all cattle they could find, and to Destry what could not bring with them. The owners concealed their herds in pine woods, and there were skirmishes with British foraging parties, but General Wayne was so successful that he became known as "The Drover." The statue faces toward the general's nearby home. (NPS)

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Washington's Headquarters

General George Washington's command post and living quarters during the winter encampment of Valley Forge from 1777-1778. At the time of the encampment, the house was owned by iron master Isaac Potts, but rented by his aunt, Deborah Hewes. The Continental Army paid Isaac Potts 100 pounds in Pennsylvania currency for the use of the house. As many as 25 people, which include Washington, his wife, aides-de-camp and other military staff, as well as the housekeeper, cooks, maids, and servants likely have lived here. (NPS)

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The Father of Our Country

This statue of George Washington stands within the Village of Valley Forge, a short distance from Washington's Headquarters. The Father of our Country wears his military uniform but carries a civilian walking cane rather than his sword, which has been set aside. He stands by a farmer's plowshare, a symbol of his love of peace and agriculture. He rests his hand on a bundle of rods called a fasces, a Roman symbol of civil authority. Here, the thirteen rods represent the joining of the original states and the strength gained from that unity.

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Barracks for Elite Security

Huts such as this, were built and occupied in the area of Washington's Headquarters in the Village of Valley Forge. These huts were occupied by the always present guards for General George Washington. This special detachment was created to protect the Commander in Chief, his official family, and his equipment, supplies, and papers. Washington required that each life guard, as they called themselves, be native born American. It was assumed such men would be loyal, as they have a vested interest in the success of the war. Today this tradition continues in the form of the 3rd United States Infantry (US Army), a unit that stands guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA.

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Valley Forge Cabin.

.One of the many cabins (huts) dotting the landscape of the Valley Forge National Historic Park.

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Artillery Park

Some redoubts and earthwards went unarmed. Most cannons at Valley Forge were kept in the Artillery park near the center of encampment. From here guns could be rushed to the point of attack. The Artillery Park gave the Americans a flexible defense.

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Cannon of Valley Forge

With a gun crew of 14 to 15 men for each field 6-pounder, precise teamwork was essential. (In actual combat the Continentals often made do with smaller crews.). Brigades handled a variety of cannons. Though some were case in America, many guns were acquired from the French or captured from the British. (NPS)

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Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben.

He arrived at the Valley Forge encampment on February 23, 1778. Steuben made a favorable enough impression upon Washington to be appointed temporary Inspector General. Steuben's task was to create one standard method, thus coordinating the entire Continental Army. Steuben wrote drills and fit his drills to the men he was teaching in the quickest possible time, by making them as simple as possible. In this way, uniform maneuvers and discipline was given to the army in a very rapid and orderly fashion. The Baron's willingness and ability to work with the men, as well as his use of profanity (in several different languages), made him popular among the soldiers. (NPS)

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The Grand Parade Field

To celebrate the signing of the French Treaty of Alliance, General Washington reviews the troops of the entire encampment May 6, 1778. The Grand Parade becomes a showplace for the newly trained and disciplined Continental Army – a tribute to Baron von Steuben’s intensive drilling. Baron von Steuben’s was commissioned a Major General in the Continental Army by the Continental Congress on this same day.

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Varnum's Quarters

General James Mitchel Varnum, commander of the 1st Regiment of Rhode Island, used one room as both living quarters and brigade headquarters until the completion of his hut was made, a short distance away, near the Maurice Stephens home. The owners of the house, and their family were allowed to remain on the rest of the house. A large portion of their farmland was used for the Grand Parade field. (NPS)

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Washington Memorial Chapel

Located on private property along Route 23 within Valley Forge National Historic Park, Washington Memorial Chapel serves as both an active Episcopal Parish as well as a tribute to General George Washington. Designed by Milton B. Medary, and resulting from a sermon preached by founder, the Rev. Dr. W. Herbert Burk, the Chapel was completed in 1917--fourteen years after the cornerstone was laid on the 125th anniversary of the evacuation of the continental army from the area.

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Grieving Mothers

Also known as Sacrifice and Devotion, was executed by Bela Lyon Pratt in 1914. The bronze kneeling woman is dedicated to the mothers of the nation and in memory of Henrietta Armitt (brown) Heckscher, who died in child birth on June 11, 1912. The piece, which sits in enclosed garden of the Cloisters of the Colonies, was commissioned by Stevens Heckscher, the husband of Henrietta Heckscher.

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Cloister of the Colonies

The Cloisters of the Colonies, west of Washington Memorial Chapter, features one bay for each of the colonies.

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Sunset on the Grand Parade

The setting sun falls on the Grand Parade Field of Valley Forge National Historic Park. The obelisk seen center right is a 50 foot granite obelisk was erected in 1901 by the Daughters of the Revolution. It marks the site of the only identified grave at Valley Forge, that of Lieutenant John Waterman of Rhode Island, who died on April 23, 1778.

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Maurice Stephens House

Located south of Route 23 on the lands of the Grand Parade at Valley Forge National Historical Park, Maurice is recorded to have purchased this property in 1759. However, records indicate the structure wasn't constructed by Maurice Stephens in 1816> Stephen's owned property until 1825. The property changed hands a number of times until 1919 when the State of Pennsylvania took possession for Valley Forge State Park for use as a "Shepards Quarters". Lastly, the National Park Service acquired the property on July 4, 1976. (NPS)

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