The Village of Valley Forge.

After living here for five years we finally made it out to Valley Forge National Park and toured it via trolley in its entirety! 

The 3500 acres of land was amazing to see! The trolley guide taught us so much history as we drove and stopped at some of the most important spots where memories of the encampment took place. It was interesting, and sad at the same time to hear about how the soldiers lived their lives for that one year during their encampment.

We had a bonafide park ranger tell us the story of the encampment and how it is one of the most renowned aspects of the American Revolution. 

Noah was excited to have his picture taken with a "soldier" holding a musket, and bayonet. Not that he loves guns, but I think the fact that this man was dressed holding a musket got him a little interested. 

The log cabins were unreal. I can't even imagine sleeping where they slept without any kind of ventilation or decent mattress for that matter. I'm sure they had straw as a substitute, but still, that would feel a bit poky to me, and very uncomfortable. I guess back then it didn't matter. Their living conditions were brutal. They slept, and ate when they could and I'll tell you those rations were not enough to feed all those men at this camp. Many were undernourished, and suffered diseases. Women, and children would come later to help launder their clothing, and provide nursing care to these soldiers. 

I'm telling you...I learned a lot on this day of what happened here at Valley Forge!

One interesting thing I learned is that during the winter of this encampment it was not bitter cold at all. As a matter of fact it was a mild winter. Kind of like the ones we've been having here in Jersey for the past few years (watch this year be brutal!) 

Oh...and the paintings we see of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge...never happened. I always thought that it did. Apparently it's an artist's perspective of what George Washington represented. After all...he was a religious man. 

Apparently a man named Isaac Potts bears witness that he did see him kneeling in prayer...it's more than likely to be true! 

We had many a history lessons and I'm so glad we toured Valley Forge instead of always "going for a drive" through it. The kids were excited because they finally got their national park passports stamped from here. 

The village of Valley Forge is a peaceful green place, and we really enjoyed ourselves. If you ever get a chance to visit Philly I highly recommend driving the extra 40 minutes to tour 3500 acres of land & take in all of Valley Forge's picturesque beauty! 

It is filled with so much history, and it feels good to know that you were present at a place where George Washington once lived in. 

 I really like that blue hope chest. 

National Memorial Arch

"Naked and starving as they are 

we cannot enough admire 

the incomparable patience and fidelity

of the soldiery."

~George Washington

It leaves you feeling with so much love, and appreciation for our forefathers, and all that they did to ensure our freedom, and for us to live with liberty in striving to be happy in this wonderful country that we live in with our family. 

"To see the man without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes...without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled." 

George Washington at Valley Forge, April 21, 1778