Valley Forge NHP Landscape: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Eyring S, Gee J, Uschold D. 2024. Valley Forge NHP Landscape: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Valley Forge National Historical Park. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 300015. National Park Service. NPS Northeast Regional Office, Boston, Massachusetts / CRIS-CL Database
Valley Forge National Historical Park (NHP) preserves and commemorates the site of the 1777–1778 winter encampment of the main body of the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington. The park is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It straddles the Schuylkill River and contains land in two counties (Chester and Montgomery) and five municipalities (Lower Providence, Schuylkill, Tredyffrin, Upper Merion, and West Norriton). Originally established as Pennsylvania’s first state park in 1893, the park has been managed by the National Park Service since 1976 and now encompasses approximately 3,452 acres. The land to the north of the Schuylkill River is generally referred to as the North Side and that to the south, as the South Side. Seventy-five percent of the park lies on the South Side, which is composed of three distinct landforms: the dolomite limestone valley, quartzite hills, and red sandstone and shale river terraces. The twin peaks known as Mounts Joy and Misery visually and physically anchor the west-central portion of the South Side. These two prominent landforms were important defensive elements of the Revolutionary War encampment, providing opportunities for long views across open areas and presenting challenging terrain to intruders. The North Side covers much of the southern half of the Perkiomen Peninsula formed by the confluence of Perkiomen Creek with the Schuylkill River, and its landform is characterized by a series of fertile river terraces formed on red sandstone and shale. The pastoral landscape of this area, with open fields surrounded by forest, encompasses several former multi-generational farms. One overall “parent” landscape and five “component” landscapes have been identified for Valley Forge NHP. The overall Valley Forge NHP Landscape is coterminous with the park boundary and includes all natural and cultural features related to the encampment, agriculture, industrial, commemoration, and recreation uses that are contributing to the National Register. Due to the large and complex nature of the NHP Landscape, analysis and evaluation of these resources are addressed in five component landscapes: Other Encampment Areas, Port Kennedy, Valley Forge Farms, Village of Valley Forge, and Walnut Hill.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Eyring, Shaun; Gee, Jodi; Uschold, David
- Date of Issue
- 2024
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NER , VAFO
- Keywords
- Agriculture, American Revolution, Architecture, Commemoration, Conservation, continental army, Declaration of Independence, Encampment, Entertainment, Fortification, General van Steuban, George Washington, Historic Designed Landscape, Historic Preservation, historic site, Historic Vernacular Landscape, Industrial Village, Industry, Leisure, Military, Mining, Parade Ground, Pennsylvania, Recreation, Revolutionary War
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 300015: Valley Forge Landscape