Why is Valley Forge important?

Although the area did have some regional significance as a center of industry in the colonial era, any Valley Forge tour is going to focus almost entirely on the six months that General George Washington spent there with the Continental Army in 1777–78. The encampment at Valley Forge was one of the turning points of the American Revolution and today’s park features tons of exhibits and attractions showcasing the history of this key moment.

When the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge in December 1777, spirits were low. The year had seen General Washington’s forces lose control of key cities like New York and Philadelphia, culminating in the disastrous Battle of Brandywine. Most embarrassingly, the loss of Philadelphia meant that the Continental Congress had been forced to flee the city, and many representatives were starting to lose patience with Washington’s leadership. It had become clear that the Continental Army was incapable of facing British troops head-on, causing many to question if the war was even winnable.

Along with a tenuous supply chain, these were the concerns that Washington sought to address during his winter at Valley Forge. Working with Nathaniel Greene, one of his top generals, he implemented reforms to the army’s supply division, making sure the encampment stayed fed through the harsh winter. Politically, he battled the Conway Cabal, a concentrated effort to replace him with General Horatio Gates as head of the Continental Army. The cabal was thwarted after a series of canny maneuvers by Washington and his allies in Congress, ending after Thomas Conway was injured in a duel with a Washington loyalist. In the duel, Conway was shot through the mouth by General John Cadwalader, who stated simply: “I have stopped the damned rascal’s lying tongue at any rate.”

Most importantly, Washington used the six months at Valley Forge to completely retrain and organize the Continental Army. For this, he turned to the Prussian military hero, Baron Friedrich von Steuben. Baron von Steuben, an openly gay man, had a difficult time finding steady employment in Europe, but Americans who were in need of experienced officers welcomed him with open arms. Von Steuben’s efforts were immediately successful, as he transformed the Continental Army into a properly trained force capable of taking on British regulars and winning.

Thanks to the efforts of Washington, Greene, von Steuben, and others, not only did the Continental Army survive the nadir of Valley Forge, but it emerged more capable than ever, setting the stage for a pivotal victory at Saratoga and earning the respect of European allies like the French.

To learn more, check out our Valley Forge Self-Guided Driving Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 160+ tours for a single yearly price.