If you want to imagine yourself in the thick of the Revolutionary War, there is no better place than the Valley Forge National Historical Park. And if you really want to get the most out of your visit, make sure you take the guided trolley tour, which is quite popular by the way, so call ahead and make sure you reserve your spots for the time and day you want. We weren't quite sure what to expect when we arrived, but we were blown away by what we saw, learned, and experienced during our visit.
statue of Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge
Valley Forge is where General George Washington encamped his battered troops to regroup, resupply and wait out the horrific winter. The troops spent 6 months here transforming from a rag tag group of rebel militias, to a unified and well trained fighting army under the guidance of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, onetime member of the elite General Staff of Frederick the Great, king of Prussia (whose services were no longer needed back at home and was sympathetic to the American's cause). Von Steuben, endorsed by Benjamin Franklin arrived at the encampment and George Washington was encouraged by his military knowledge and skill and immediately gave him the task of training the troops.
The first stop takes you to see and step inside the small cabin like quarters which housed 12 soldiers each. Looking around, it's not hard to imagine the 2000 "hutts" that at one time covered the area. Besides soldiers there were approximately 500 women and children who encamped here and did what they could to help the cause. The kids and I took a moment to imagine these spartan living conditions back in the day and how soldiers, women and children had to stay warm to survive.
Our guide was excellent filling in lots of details as we continued on toward various monuments, bunkers, training areas and best of all, General George Washington's military office on the site. George Washington is one of my personal hero's and to peer inside where he made his decisions that would ultimately shape the outcome of the Revolutionary War was simply amazing.
GW's command post and office
Inside GW's office
If you have an opportunity to visit Valley Forge, it is an absolute gem and not to be missed. Had it not been for the bravery and enduring spirit of the soldiers and the brilliant strategy of General Washington, America as we know it today would very well not have existed at all. It's hard not to look at this place as an American without offering a prayer of gratitude to all of those whose suffered and served with honor and glory.
