We were back at it with the history today! Valley Forge National Historical Park. Here is an excellent summary, from the National Park Service, of why Valley Forge was so important:
“In late 1777…the British occupied the patriot capital of Philadelphia, [so] Washington decided to have his troops winter at Valley Forge, only a day’s march from the city. Valley Forge was a naturally defensible plateau where they could train and recoup from the year’s battles while winter weather, impassable roads, and scant supplies stopped the fighting.
Here, the Continental Army, a collection of disparate colonial militias supported by hundreds of camp followers and allies, emerged under Washington’s leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force.” (From: https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/valley-forge-history-and-significance.htm)
We began our time at Valley Forge by walking through the Visitor Center and then watching the film that gives some of the history of the place.
After watching the film, I walked away feeling like it was an absolute miracle that the colonists defeated Great Britain. They were absolutely “🎶 outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, out-planned 🎶” (a little Hamilton reference for ya there) but also “out-moneyed,” “out-trained,” “out-equipped,” and totally not unified.
Valley Forge was to be a crucible for those who wintered there that year. Many didn’t have enough food or clothing. The makeshift huts that they constructed were crowded and dirty. And disease was rampant.
We walked about 1/4 of a mile to Muhlenberg’s Brigade which has 9 replica huts with a couple more exhibits inside.
I wa very interested to learn about the Prussian military officer, Baron von Steuben, who was integral in turning the ragtag army into a disciplined fighting force.
When he arrived in Valley Forge, he was appalled by the state of the army and their lack of discipline. So, throughout the winter of ’77-’78 he taught them the essentials of military drills, tactics, and discipline. He later wrote ‘The Blue Book’ which continues, to this day, to influence U.S. army protocol.
The exhibits in this room were quite interesting. They showed what the area looked like before and after the encampment. The land was decimated for several years afterward because of the encampment. Hundreds of trees were cut down, sewage wasn’t properly dealt with, the building of defenses etc. It took many years for the land to recover. 
12 men per hut (at least). Itty bitty living space. 
Then it was snack time. And since it was such a beautiful day, we found a bench to sit on where we could enjoy our snacks.
After our snack, we wandered over and checked out the replica fortifications that were built on the hills to protect the army against the British, after all, they were only a 1-day march away.
We then started walking back toward the car. I have to say, I really enjoyed the history aspects of what we saw today. But it was also REALLY nice to be out in nature. We haven’t had much nature time lately and so I really appreciated the natural beauty of the area (there are even some trees that are starting to change!). There are tons of walking, biking, hiking trails in the Park.
We got back in the car and started doing the Encampment Tour route which is a 10-mile driving loop with multiple stops, Including the National Memorial Arch which commemorates the time spent by General Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the American Revolution.
Unfortunately, a couple of the stops (including George Washington’s Headquarters) were closed. And so we just drove through the rest of the route.
It was such a lovely drive. The entire area is incredibly beautiful. At one point, we took a quick detour so that we could drive on the most adorable covered bridge in all the land.
This was a lovely day. It was a nice pace, we got to be in nature, and the historical part of the day was super interesting too. Wins all around.
