Summer2010

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. - Valley Forge National Historical Park is heating up this summer with several exciting ways to experience the site of General George Washington's 1777-78 winter encampment and its beautiful 3,600-acre landscape.

Stop in at the brand new Valley Forge Train Station and experience a state-of-the-art exhibit on George Washington as Commander-in-Chief. Inside the refurbished halls of the former 1913 Reading Railroad hub, visitors interact with compelling videos showcasing the general and his inner circle. The recently reopened station provides insightful historical background before the procession to the adjacent Washington's Headquarters.

Kids, 6-12, can Join the Continental Army every weekday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Meeting up in the Visitor Center, the young recruits are issued dummy wooden muskets and marched across the hallowed grounds of Valley Forge as they drill according to Baron Friedrich von Steuben's Manual of Arms, just as soldiers of the Continental Army did during the encampment.

And, again this summer, Once Upon a Nation storytellers will passionately share tales of the period at four benches throughout the Park. Their gripping stories, both entertaining and educational, can be heard from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at Washington's Headquarters, the Grand Parade, Varnum's Quarters and the Visitor Center.

Ranger-led walking tours to a mini-encampment at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts leave hourly from the Visitor Center, starting at 10:50 a.m., and illustrate intricate details of Valley Forge's rich history. Guided trolley tours also stop at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts, Washington's Headquarters and the Valley Forge Train Station.

To simply enjoy the Park's lush, seasonal scenery, traverse its more than 26 miles of winding trails on foot or by bicycle. Or fly fish for wild brown trout in its peaceful Valley Creek. Bike rentals are available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the lower parking lot throughout the summer months. Anglers need only a Pennsylvania fishing license and a trout stamp.

For more information about programs and events this summer and throughout the year at Valley Forge National Historical Park, visit www.nps.gov/vafo or call the Visitor Center at 610-783-1099. For information on how to create a summer getaway to Valley Forge, log on to www.valleyforge.org to find affordable hotel packages, restaurants, shopping and a wealth of area attractions.

About Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge National Historical Park educates present and future generations of Americans about one of the most defining events in our nation's history by preserving the natural and cultural resources that commemorate the encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1777-78. To learn more visit www.nps.gov/vafo.

The Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ltd. is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that aggressively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 500-plus member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Bureau's Web site, at www.valleyforge.org, serves visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents.