While being a proud American, you should appreciate the history of this relatively young country. As an American who loves to learn about our history, one of the must-see historical sites is Valley Forge, in York Pennsylvania. This was the winter encampment from 1776 to 1777, where the fledging American army hunkered down for the winter. It can also be argued this was a turning point for our independence and ultimate separation from the British empire of the day.
The newly formed country was struggling to support the army which was fighting the British all across the colonies. It is fair to say, we were holding our own, but not winning. The Americans were suffering from poor logistics, untrained troops and a plethora of communications issues. Thinking about how many different nationalities were involved in the American Revolution just boggles my mind.
Valley Forge:
Why Valley Forge?
Washington decided on this location because it was a days march from Philadelphia where the early government was being housed. It gave then General Washington a place to winter, train and recoup from the year’s fighting. Thus allowing the general some time to address short coming he saw in the army.
Why did I visit?
This was a historic moment in our history. I always like learning about the past. It can answer questions about the present. Knowing the past can also prevent someone from repeating mistakes that may have been made, thus improving the future.
What did I learn on my visit.
The two lessons I learned on this particular trip were that General Washington knew our army needed better logistics and the ability to work as a cohesive unit. To address these two potentially devastating shortcomings, General Washington recruited senior officers (from other countries) to train and worked with the Continental Congress to improve logistics.
Where is Valley Forge?
Valley Forge National Historic Oark
1400 Norther Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia PA 19406
What to do at the park?
Picnic: You can picnic in designated areas
Bike: If you stay on the mark trails. We drove around the park.
Hiking: There are 35 miles of trials.
Drive: There is a 5 mile road loop, with designated pull offs
Trolley Tours are available