Valley Forge National Historical Park
Also known as: See Also:Von Steuben, Gen. Frederick, Headquarters; Washingto
Why it's listed
Valley Forge National Historical Park is a historic district of about 3,465 acres about 12 miles west of Philadelphia, containing the site of the Continental Army's winter encampment of 1777-1778. The army arrived on December 19, 1777, and stayed for six months, during which it built roughly 900 to 2,000 huts, inner and outer lines of earthworks and redoubts designed under Louis Duportail, and a hospital in each brigade. Sullivan's bridge over the Schuylkill was completed by March 1778. The army left in June and went on to fight at Monmouth. The district is regarded as significant because the encampment is where the army overcame severe shortages of food, clothing and tools and developed the discipline and organization that later shaped its success. Surviving earthworks, monuments and sites from the 1777-1778 period and the later 19th-century industrial villages remain within the park boundaries.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the winter encampment was a turning point in which the Continental Army, despite deprivation, gained strength, rebuilt and reorganized, and emerged in June 1778 able to engage the British at Monmouth. The park's surviving earthworks, sites, monuments and industrial remains are described as relating to this history, and the document states that the encampment's overcoming of practical obstacles makes it as significant as any battle.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000657, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Valley Forge State Park, Norristown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000657 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | Mid-18th Century to early 19th century |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 20, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The park's resources have varying levels of integrity; the document notes that many structures have changed over the years and that the inner line entrenchments remained nearly intact. |
| Acreage | 2515 |
| Coordinates | 40.09921, -75.44885 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000657.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12860064
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.