Valley Forge National Park

Also on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Valley Forge National Park is 20 miles northwest of the city, via I-76 west. For those interested in the War of Independence, this visit is one not to miss. It was in Valley Forge that George Washington’s army of 12,000 troops camped in the winter of 1777. The British occupied Philadelphia at that time and the Continental forces were ill, badly trained, and in need of provisions. With assistance from Congress, the army began to rally and by the spring of 1778 had been transformed into a disciplined, spirited, and self-confident force, which went on to defeat the British at Yorktown. The visitors’ center is the place to begin this visit and to understand the dynamics of the history of this time. Plan to drive into the surrounding areas of the park, where at significant points the National Park Service provides interpreters of the events and the battles. A visit here for the tourist, contrasted with the student, will take two to three hours.