Valley Forge

Today we went to Valley Forge, a National Historic Site run by the Park Service system. We went on a brief walking tour with a ranger. At the end, we met a re-enactor who told us about the gear of a soldier. He also demonstrated how to load and shoot a musket. (I downloaded a large file. Be sure and click on the picture of him so that you can see all the details in the photo.)

We drove around with the top down on a beautiful day and listened to an audio CD we bought at the visitor's center. It guided us through the very large park. We visited Washington's headquarters which has a lot of the original elements still intact. Washington's headquarters are behind Michael and to the left in the picture. Behind him is a railroad station they're restoring to use as an interpretative building in the same area.

It's a wonderful place to visit. We even got to participate in a silly game show type story at one of the Once Upon a Nation storytelling benches. People were taking full advantage of the walking trails, picnic areas and green spaces.

This place doesn't have the emotional impact of a battlefield but it's a great learning environment. But thousands died there although not from battle but from disease or hunger. And any time you stand in the same spot that Washington stood, it's a thrill. Just another great site in Pennsylvania to remind you how historic this state really is.