Weekend Tour - Battlefields

Any tour of Montgomery County's Revolutionary War sites has to begin at Valley Forge National Historical Park. During its six-month encampment, the Continental Army was transformed from rag-tag militiamen into a well-trained military.

To truly understand the American Revolution, you need to understand Valley Forge, and a guided tour of the park is the best way to learn.

Learn about the soldiers who once walked the grounds of Valley Forge as your follow in their footsteps for one-quarter mile on a 40-minute, ranger-led walking tour.

A 90-minute trolley tour is a great way to experience the park in the short amount of time. Run by the Encampment Store, these guided tours take you from the Visitor Center to all points of the park, with extended stops at the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts and Washington's Headquarters.

If you have a little more time and a little more energy, a guided bicycle tour is a great way to explore the park. The tours follow a five-mile loop that offers a chance to see some of the most important points in the park. Valley Forge Bike Rental provides the tours so be sure to check their website for seasonal hours. 

About 25 miles from Valley Forge, along the northern border of Montgomery County, is Graeme Park. Though no battles were fought here, the house played a key role in the fighting. Henry Fergusson, a British loyalist, was married to Elizabeth Graeme, whom he used to pass messages to the Continental Army, including one to George Washington asking for his surrender. 

Graeme Park closes daily at 4 p.m., but there are plenty of options for evening entertainment in nearby Ambler. Butler Avenue is lined with shops and restaurants and is one of Montgomery County's many vibrant downtowns. 

For a relaxing evening, enjoy a show at the Act II Playhouse.The theater's season, a mix of comedy and drama, plays and musicals, runs from September through June with special events sprinkled throughout.  

Before Valley Forge, the Continental Army encamped at Whitemarsh, now known as Fort Washington. Much of the area that served as the encampment is now a part of Fort Washington State Park. Fort Hill, now site of the park office, is where the namesake fort once stood, though no trace remains today. Militia Hill to the west was the site where the Pennsylvania Militia was stationed. Also on the property is the Clifton House, a museum and library run by the Fort Washington Historical Society. The park is also features 3.5 miles of trails to explore the forest and fields.

Located next door to Fort Washington State Park is Hope Lodge, a historic estate that witnessed the Continental Army's encampment. The home, open for public tours on select Sundays in summer and fall, is home to the annual Whitemarsh Encampment Re-enactment, held annually the first weekend in November to commemorate Washington's encampment that began November 2, 1777.

If travelling home requires heading west, be sure to make a stop at the Paoli Battlefield Historical Park in Malvern, along Route 30 just outside Montgomery County. The park was site of the Paoli Massacre, where British forces ambushed General Wayne's troops, with the Americans suffering significant casualties during the fighting. The battlefield is now preserved as a historical park and open daily from sunrise to sunset.