Valley Forge National Historical Park
add photosJOIN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
Appropriate for boys and girls, ages 6-12
Participants will be mustered-in to the Continental Army by receiving enlistment papers and copies of Continental currency. How to stand and march like a soldier will then be covered.
Programs start at 11:00 am. Meet at the Welcome Center on the following dates:
October 4, 2008
November 1, 2008
December 6, 2008
January 3, 2009
February 7, 2009
March 7, 2009
April 4, 2009
3 Reviews for Valley Forge National Historical Park
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60 families found this helpful
"valley forge nat'l historic park"
Kids might be a little bored, driving around looking at fields. But there are things to see at Valley Forge. Special shows are always neat to see, there's lot of nature to look at, and great places to get out and look around. Bring your bikes - there are amazing bike trails in Valley Forge!!!
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"Fun with the Family"
After viewing the eighteen-minute introductory film and exhibits at the visitor center, you can get information about touring the park. The visitor center also displays various exhibits and artifacts that help you get more out of your visit.
In the summer of 2004, Valley Forge National Historical Park introduced bus tours three times per day from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To reserve a seat, call (610) 783–7503.
From June to October tour buses take a regular route, allowing visitors to get off when a particular site sparks their interest and then catch the next bus. A map allows families to take a self-guided driving tour accompanied by a narrated audiotape, if desired.
Trails are available for visitors who prefer to see the park by bike, on foot, or on horseback. Pick up a brochure at the visitor center for more information about the trails. There are fields perfect for kite flying and three different picnic areas.
Your kids will not want to miss the re-created encampment where Washington’s troops spent the winter of 1777–78. Boys are especially interested in the Artillery Park, reconstructed fortifications, and the Grand Parade Grounds, where the troops trained for battle. General Washington set up his temporary headquarters in Isaac Potts’s House (also known as Washington’s Headquarters), now restored to look as it did during that famous winter. Costumed interpreters appear at the Muhlenberg Brigade daily from June through August, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.; weekends year-round in good weather.
If the kids rebel at the thought of a forced march, offer them a bike ride instead. The park’s paved bike trails, on 3,600 rolling acres, are ideal for pedaling. Bike rentals are available from the lower Welcome Center parking lot daily in summer and weekends from Labor Day to Halloween. Rates for two-hour rentals, $$; family rates for two adults and two children are also offered, along with buggies and tagalongs. For a short and easy expedition for school-age kids, try the ranger-led walking tours. The free forty-minute tours depart twice daily, at 11:50 A.M. and 1:50 P.M.
The American Revolution Center at Valley Forge is planned as a joint venture between the National Park Service and its private partner, the American Revolution Center. This partnership has already produced the new Encampment Gift Shop in the visitor center. The new center will be the first and only museum devoted to educating and inspiring people about the period of the American Revolution. It will be built into the quarry bluff at the far end of the main visitor parking lot adjacent to the current visitor center.
ALSO IN THE AREA
For another kind of family adventure in the Valley Forge area, contact United States Hot Air Balloon Team, Hopewell Road, P.O. Box 490, St. Peters 10470; (610) 469–0782 or (800) 763–5987; www.ushotairballoon.com The nation’s second largest shopping mall, the Plaza and Court of King of Prussia, is only minutes from Valley Forge Park, on Route 202.
'10, '11
1 family found this helpful
"Not a lot to do for kids"
This is another historic site that's all right for those old enough to understand some history, but it's not a hey-let's-go-there-again that-was-fun place for kids. The visitor center has plain old exhibits and a gift shop, and then there's the drive through the historical park, where you see the old buildings. Since we didn't want to buckle and unbuckle carseats a hundred times, we just drove through slowly (and for some reason the audio tour CD we bought didn't work in our car CD player so we didn't even have that for information). Go see it, say you've been there, but don't expect little kids to have a lot of fun.
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