NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?Site of George Washington’s Continental Army’s encampment during the winter of 1777-78.
BEAUTY (2/10)
Ugly cleared land. Highways and various industry often in the background. The creek side setting of Washington’s Headquarters (HQ) is nice. Strange looking Visitor Center.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (8/10)
Legendary place and essential to any understanding of what it is to be an American. Arguably the turning point of the American Revolution. At the same time, nothing that exciting happened here.
CROWDS (5/10)
Moderate crowd. Too many for the one Park Ranger to handle. Cars often tailgate and speed on the Driving Tour causing undue stress.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (2/5)
We got lost exiting I-76. No brown Department of Interior signs pointing us in the right direction. The sign off I-76 even misidentified the site as Valley Forge National Park.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (2/5)
No food. Only vending machines. Above-average selection of books.
COSTS (4/5)
No charges.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (1/5)
Rangers only available at Washington’s HQ. And even then, during the hour we spent at Washington’s HQ a Ranger was only available half of the time.
TOURS/CLASSES (5/10)
Average museum. Revolutionary Timeline in museum identified all eight sites where the Continental Army wintered. 5 Google searches couldn’t come up with that same info. The film was dated and boring. The volunteer at Washington’s HQ was very informative.
FUN (4/10)
Not very fun at all except for Washington’s HQ, which is great.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (4/10)Although not particularly exciting, Valley Forge is such an important historical place and deserves a visit. Just do not be surprised if your trip is both a little boring and lacking Ranger attention.
TOTAL 37/80
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