Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park Refuge. Resolve. Renewal. Where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778.

A park with 3,500 acres of meadows and woodlands honoring the resolve and power of people to find renewal through transformation. Valley Forge National Historical Park is nationally significant as the location of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington.

Attention, Crawlers! 🐢 Who is THIS veteran crawler moving across the forest floor?It's the Eastern Box Turtle! 📦 These t...
08/26/2026

Attention, Crawlers! 🐢 Who is THIS veteran crawler moving across the forest floor?

It's the Eastern Box Turtle! 📦 These terrestrial reptiles are late blooming homebodies that live only on land and inhabit forests, meadows, and the edges between. They rarely move more than 1200 meters from home and they mature slowly.

🧐 At Valley Forge National Historical Park we study Eastern Box Turtles in order to learn how many live in the park, where they live, and how we might be able to help protect these ecologically important critters.

👀 Park scientists search the same areas every year for turtles. They walk slowly on foot and take notes and measurements on each turtle they find. After gathering data, turtles are placed right back where they were found.

✅ You can help protect Eastern Box Turtles by leaving turtles in their natural habitats. NEVER take them home as pets. 🛣️ Help turtles cross busy roadways by carrying them to the other side facing the direction they were going but make sure you stay safe yourself when crossing. 🗣️ Tell a ranger when and where you saw a turtle if you encounter one in the park.

Learn more about nature & science at Valley Forge National Historical Park on the park website at https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/nature/index.htm

📸 NPS Images / E. Kirsch, M. Lefevre-Levy, G. Purifoy

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EDIT: Junior Ranger Field Day at Valley Forge has been moved to the rain date, Sunday, August 23, 2026. Find details at ...
08/18/2026

EDIT: Junior Ranger Field Day at Valley Forge has been moved to the rain date, Sunday, August 23, 2026. Find details at go.nps.gov/vafo-jrd

Join us this Saturday for some family fun at Valley Forge National Historical Park! 👟🐦🦴🚣🐢🎣🎲

We are excited to kick off with the second annual Junior Ranger Field Day at Valley Forge from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

Head to the Visitor Center at Valley Forge to pick up a Junior Ranger Field Day activity worksheet, then explore different recreation-themed activities set up around the Mini Grand Parade behind the visitor center. Find the answers for at least five activities to earn a special Valley Forge Junior Ranger Day badge!

🦴 Learn about the fossils of Valley Forge with a scientist from The Academy of Natural Sciences

🎣 Learn how to cast a fly fishing rod with Valley Forge Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

🚣 Learn how to explore rivers and lakes safely by kayak, canoe, or paddle board with our friends at Pennsylvania State Parks!

🐢 Be an Eastern Box Turtle and learn how to protect them with a fun group game.

🎲 Play games that were played by kids 250 years ago in the 1700s.

🐦 Discover birds and their nests and build your own bird.

Plan your visit and learn more about Junior Ranger Field Day at Valley Forge by visiting the park website at go.nps.gov/vafo-jrd (🔗link in bio)

📸 NPS Images

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“From the curiosity of a little boy picnicking and imagining the soldiers in their huts so long in the past, to a 30 som...
08/03/2026

“From the curiosity of a little boy picnicking and imagining the soldiers in their huts so long in the past, to a 30 something single National Park Ranger, Valley Forge literally gave me the gift of a fantastic career, the ability to retire when relatively young enough to seek new adventures along with the amazing wife that park introduced me to, which lead to the gift of six more children that I ever expected to have.” ~ excerpt from Kenneth Block’s Valley Forge Story.

Kenneth’s memory of the park is woven through many aspects of his life. He visited Valley Forge on family trips as a child and began his career with the National Park Service at the park in 1981. He later met his wife Jean during her seasonal park training in 1986 and had a 32-year career in federal service.

You can read Kenneth’s full story at go.nps.gov/mvfs-kenneth-block or browse the full collection of My Valley Forge Stories at go.nps.gov/MyValleyForgeStory (🔗 link in bio)

🥳 Valley Forge is celebrating 50 years as a national park in 2026. To help mark the occasion, we asked “What’s your Valley Forge Story?” and many people responded with their treasured memories and recollections of time spent in the park.

Want to submit your own story? Use the tags and to share on social media!

(1) Picnic at Valley Forge, 1962. Kenneth is standing on the table bench between Mary Ellen Failor and mother, Loretta Block. 📸 NPS / Kenneth Block
(2) Kenneth Block dressed as a Continental Army soldier speaks to two children at Muhlenberg’s Brigade in 1983. A cloth tent is in the background. Food is spread on a low table in front of them. 📸 NPS / Valley Forge NHP Archives
(3) The words “My Valley Forge Story” in stylized text is superimposed on top of a photo of the bronze statue of Baron von Steuben overlooking the Grand Parade. 📸 NPS Photo

🎨 Stop by the 3rd annual Pop-Up Art Show at Muhlenberg's Brigade on Saturday, August 15! Rangers and art-makers from the...
08/01/2026

🎨 Stop by the 3rd annual Pop-Up Art Show at Muhlenberg's Brigade on Saturday, August 15! Rangers and art-makers from the Valley Forge Art in the Park program will be on site to answer questions and show off artworks inspired by Valley Forge.

🖼️ Bring your original photographs, drawings, sketches, paintings, and prints of Valley Forge and Hopewell Furnace to put in the show! Get inspired and meet other artists, photographers, creators, and Valley Forge lovers.

🖍️ Bring the whole fam! Some limited supplies like crayons and markers will be available for making art on the spot.

You can find the full 2026 Art in the Park outings schedule at go.nps.gov/vafo-art

📸 NPS Photos

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“When I adopted my dog Birdy we began exploring the main parts of the park. Some of our favorite areas were Mount Joy, M...
07/29/2026

“When I adopted my dog Birdy we began exploring the main parts of the park. Some of our favorite areas were Mount Joy, Mount Misery, the Grand Parade trail, Washington's Headquarters and the Chapel…Birdy was my soulmate and best friend. We bonded a great deal at Valley Forge. When she passed at the age of 18 years old I found myself back at the park, on my own, grieving but finding solace there.

I now have a new companion, Mr. Wags. We too, frequent the park and explore those places and keep adding more to our list. We take photos, sit on the hill at the top of the Grand Parade trail and watch the sunset, explore the ruins of the bottling company on Mount Misery and take in the history and beauty of Washington's Headquarters and the train station. We love sitting at the Maurice Stevens house and feeling the breeze across our faces as we listen to the red winged blackbirds in the spring.” ~excerpt from Jen Arnst’s Valley Forge Story.

You can read Jen’s full story at go.nps.gov/mvfs-jen-arnst or browse the full collection of My Valley Forge Stories at go.nps.gov/MyValleyForgeStory (🔗 link in bio)

🥳 Valley Forge is celebrating 50 years as a national park in 2026. To help mark the occasion, we asked “What’s your Valley Forge Story?” and many people responded with their recollections and treasured memories of time spent in the park.

Want to submit your own story? Use the tags and to share on social media!

(1) Mr. Wags, a Valley Forge B.A.R.K. Ranger, sits near a cannon. 📸 NPS / Jen Arnst
(2) Birdy the dog. A small white and beige dog sits on mowed grass in the sun. 📸 NPS / Jen Arnst
(3) The words “My Valley Forge Story” in stylized text is superimposed on top of a photo showing visitors exploring the log soldier huts at Muhlenberg’s Brigade. 📸 NPS Photo

Updated to begin Thursday, July 23 due to weather concerns. (7/20/2026)------------------------------------------------...
07/17/2026

Updated to begin Thursday, July 23 due to weather concerns. (7/20/2026)
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⚠️Partial Grand Parade Trail Closure. July 21-23, 2026 (weather dependent)

Hikers and walkers through the Grand Parade trail system be advised, there will be a closure of the east side of the Grand Parade Trail from Von Steuben Lot to the middle of the meadow and back to the Baptist Trace Road. Trails are anticipated to be closed July 21-23, but this may change due to weather.

The National Park Service is working to rebuild native grasslands in more than 30 parks across the eastern United States. This work helps preserve the beauty and history of cultural landscapes just like the Grand Parade.

To give native plants a chance to return, existing plants usually need to be removed. Our site preparations include short-term use herbicides. While these steps can look dramatic, they are temporary and help create a healthy foundation for native grass and flowers to germinate.

Nearly 40 grasses and flowers were chosen for Valley Forge! But grasslands take time to grow. New seeds are planted after herbicide treatments are complete. This officially starts the clock as we wait for the grasslands to Sleep, Creep, and Leap!

During SLEEP💤, these new plants spend their first year developing strong root systems underground. It may look like nothing is happening at first, but they are building a solid foundation. In the next year, plants start to CREEP🪴 upwards, becoming noticeable that things are starting to change. By the third year, grasses and flowers 🌻LEAP🌾 up and out, helping to restore the natural grassland landscape.

Rebuilding grasslands is a long-term process, and grasslands need ongoing care to stay healthy. Over the next few years take a look around and see the changing meadow and ask yourself, " do you think this grassland is in a Sleep, Creep, or Leap stage?"

🚩Flagging and signage will be posted adjacent to treated areas to warn visitors.
⛔Do not enter when flagging is posted.

Learn more about grassland management and the projects by visiting: go.nps.gov/easterngrasslands
Keep up to date with all things meadow management by visiting our website: go.nps.gov/meadow-vafo

📸 NPS Map Graphic

This Sunday, July 19th, bring your camera, paints, or sketch pad to explore the Iron Bridge and Valley Creek with park r...
07/15/2026

This Sunday, July 19th, bring your camera, paints, or sketch pad to explore the Iron Bridge and Valley Creek with park rangers and the Art in the Park program from 8-10AM. Discover new ways to see the landscape and express your creativity!

This program is free and open to all ages and abilities. Program is weather and staffing dependent.

Meet the Rangers at the Wilson Road parking lot located just off Yellow Springs Rd.

Reminder: We are just about a month away from our 3rd Annual Pop Up Art Show being held on Saturday August 15th from 11AM-3PM! For more information about how to share your work check out https://ow.ly/Ez1550ZmWyY

Library Lane is closed to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic starting today, July 13, and continuing until July 31.The...
07/13/2026

Library Lane is closed to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic starting today, July 13, and continuing until July 31.

The pedestrian trail detour follows the Knox Connector Trail to Wilson Road and connects with the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail. See map below.

Find all active park alerts and current conditions at go.nps.gov/vfsafe

“In the end, all of our plans were executed to perfection. You came, you made memories, nobody died from the heat. We di...
07/05/2026

“In the end, all of our plans were executed to perfection. You came, you made memories, nobody died from the heat. We didn’t even have any medical emergencies because we took care of each other. That’s what we do.

Two days ago, I welcomed folks to help us celebrate Valley Forge’s 50th Birthday. The only national park to share a birthdate with the Nation. Two days ago, I recognized we are not just putting on a program, we are making memories. And those memories are going to be shaped fifty years from now by some of you folks in this audience.

Just as I have spent the last few years having people recall the Bicentennial and the arrival of the Conestoga wagon train, I can look around knowing some of you will be here to celebrate the Tricentennial and the parks’ 100th birthday.

Before I conclude and you depart for home or other adventures, I want to make sure you know you are invited back for the 250th anniversary of the arrival of George Washington’s Continental Army in December of 2027. I’m thinking, this heat’s not going to seem so bad then.

Thank you for joining us. Thank you for your perseverance. With that I can announce that with the commencement of the musket firing, we will consider the outdoor programs celebrating retreat to Valley Forge 50/250 officially closed.”

~Superintendent Rose Fennell, closing remarks, July 5, 2026.

📸 NPS Photos / A. Rich

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⚠️ UPDATE 9:30 AM: South Outer Line Drive is reopened. Huge thanks to the hardworking park maintenance crew for clearing...
07/05/2026

⚠️ UPDATE 9:30 AM: South Outer Line Drive is reopened. Huge thanks to the hardworking park maintenance crew for clearing the road so quickly and safely. 👏

UPDATE 9 AM: South Outer Line Drive is open to the National Memorial Arch parking lot only. The road remains closed to Wayne's Woods and beyond.

PARK ALERT: South Outer Line Drive between Gulph Road and Route 252 is temporarily closed due to downed trees and storm debris after thunderstorms and heavy winds passed through the area on the evening of Saturday, July 4. The roadway will reopen as soon as the debris have been cleared.

Find all active park alerts and current conditions at go.nps.gov/vfsafe

50/250 celebration events will continue as scheduled today. Visit go.nps.gov/vafo-50-250 for details.

NPS Images

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Address

1400 N Outer Line Drive
King Of Prussia, PA
19406

Telephone

+16107831099

Website

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