Editing Valley Forge (section)

== Commemoration ==

Valley Forge was recognized as sacred ground almost immediately after the war. Washington returned to visit in 1787, and the site attracted visitors throughout the 19th century. The movement to preserve Valley Forge as a public park began in the 1870s and culminated in the creation of Valley Forge State Park in 1893, which was transferred to the National Park Service in 1976. Valley Forge National Historical Park encompasses over 3,500 acres and includes reconstructed soldiers' huts, Washington's headquarters (the Isaac Potts House), the Memorial Arch dedicated in 1917, and monuments erected by states whose troops encamped there. The park receives approximately 1.2 million visitors annually.<ref name="treese">{{cite book |last=Treese |first=Lorett |title=Valley Forge: Making and Remaking a National Symbol |year=1995 |publisher=Penn State University Press |location=University Park, PA}}</ref>

The park offers multiple ways to explore the encampment site, including driving tours, walking trails, and ranger-led programs. The visitor center provides orientation and exhibits on the encampment and its significance. Special events commemorate the army's arrival in December and departure in June, and living history programs throughout the year bring the experiences of Continental soldiers to life. Valley Forge remains a powerful symbol of the sacrifices required to establish American independence, a place where visitors can reflect on the perseverance that carried a struggling nation through its darkest winter to the promise of freedom.<ref name="nps">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm |title=Valley Forge |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 29, 2025}}</ref>