On August 25, 2016 the National Parks Service celebrates it’s 100 year anniversary, but Valley Forge National Historical Park has only been part of the NPS for 40 years.
Valley Forge was established as the first state park of Pennsylvania in 1893 by the Valley Forge Park Commission “to preserve, improve, and maintain as a public park the site on which General George Washington’s army encamped at Valley Forge” during the 1777-78 winter. Approximately 2,050 acres around Washington’s Headquarters was chosen as the park site. The park received its name from a forge located at Valley Creek. Three-quarters of the park is within Upper Merion Township.
The cornerstone for the Washington Memorial Chapel was laid in 1903 at the 125th anniversary of the evacuation of Washington’s army from Valley Forge.
The National Memorial Arch, authorized by Congress on June 25, 1910, is one of many sights and symbols dedicated to General George Washington and the soldiers of his Continental Army. Situated in one focal point are Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge Museum and the Bell Tower. Housed in the Bell Tower is the Washington Memorial National Carillon of 56 bells.
By 1919, Port Kennedy residents were threatening to leave Upper Merion Township because of conflicts resulting from the threat of condemnation of most of the village with the expansion of Valley Forge State Park.
In 1923, the Valley Forge Park Commission was brought under the Department of Forests and Waters and later incorporated into the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1971. In 1976, Pennsylvania gave the park as a gift to the nation for the Bicentennial.
The park now encompasses 3,500 acres and is visited by over 1.2 million people each year.
The National Park Service will hold a 100th Anniversary Celebration on August 27th at Valley Forge National Historical Park with a full day of activities for all ages.