Valley Forge National Historic Park: Washington's Headquarters

Washington's Headquarters at Stop 5 are really impressive and worth seeing. The sign posted says that it used to be even more impressive with an industrial village and wooden huts and fortifications like the ones I discussed in the Muhlenberg Brigade post. But a Valley Forge Centennial Association was formed in after the nation centennial in 1876 to hold celebrations on June 19, 1878. Much of the proceeds went toward purchasing Washington's Headquarters and preserving it.

The headquarters are right on the south side of the Schuykill River, though you can't see it from here because of the trees. The railroad tracks run parallel to the river. The parking lot is at the top, and it is possible to drive down and drop people off, but you can't leave the car there. Instead, you park at the top (near the bathrooms, in case anyone needs them) and then walk down the long, switch-back ramp to the train station.

On the green, as we walked past, we could see people in period costumes, complete with bonnets, sitting on blankets and picnicking here.

The farm belonged to Isaac Potts and the house had been built in the late 1760s, so was pretty new when Washington was there in 1777. Interestingly, Washington paid Potts 100 pounds to let them use the house during the encampment. The American military, unlike the British and other Europeans, generally didn't forcibly seize people's property.

I think some of the buildings here are usually open, but due to Covid, nothing was. It was still nice to walk around.

There's a really nice statue of George Washington if you want a photo with him.

There's also another grouping of a few huts.

I think they might run train tours sometimes, but nothing was happening when we were there.