Valley Forge Park
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Valley Forge National Historical Park
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| Location | Montgomery County and Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Nearest city | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°05′49″N 75°26′20″W / 40.09694°N 75.43889°WCoordinates: 40°05′49″N 75°26′20″W / 40.09694°N 75.43889°W |
| Area | 3,466 acres (1,403 ha) |
| Visitation | 1,303,047 (2011) |
| Website | Valley Forge National Historical Park |
| NRHP reference # | 66000657 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | January 20, 1961 |
| Designated NHP | State Park: 1893 National Historical Park: July 4, 1976 |
Valley Forge National Historical Park is the site of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, taking place from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. The National Historical Park preserves the site and interprets the history of the Valley Forge encampment. Originally Valley Forge State Park, it became a national historical park in 1976. The Park contains historical buildings, recreated encampment structures, memorials, museums, and recreation facilities.
The park encompasses 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) and is visited by over 1.2 million people each year. Visitors can see restored historic structures, reconstructed structures such as the iconic log huts, and monuments erected by the states from which the Continental soldiers came. Visitor facilities include a visitor center and museum featuring original artifacts, providing a concise introduction to the American Revolution and the Valley Forge encampment. Ranger programs, tours (walking and trolley), and activities are available seasonally. The park also provides 26 miles (42 km) of hiking and biking trails, which are connected to a robust regional trails system. Wildlife watching, fishing, and boating on the nearby Schuylkill River also are popular.
From December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778, the main body of the Continental Army (approximately 12,000 troops) was encamped at Valley Forge. The site was chosen because it was between the seat of the Second Continental Congress in York, supply depots in Reading, and British forces in Philadelphia 18 miles (29 km) away, which fell after the Battle of Brandywine. This was a time of great suffering for the army, but it was also a time of retraining and rejuvenation. The shared hardship of the officers and soldiers of the army, combined with Baron Friedrich von Steuben's professional military training program are considered key to the subsequent success of the Continental Army and marks a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
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