Washington’s Headquarters Reopens Saturday, May 23

The small building known as Washington’s Headquarters was the place where General George Washington and his staff lived and worked for the six months of the Valley Forge winter encampment. Beginning on May 23, visitors will be delighted by a fully restored building and completely new facilities surrounding it.

Visitors enter the site on a hilltop with a dramatic view of the Schuylkill River and walk down into the historic landscape surrounding Headquarters. The completely restored 1913 Reading Railroad Station is the place where rangers will meet visitors for guided tours of Headquarters, which take place on the half hour. An exhibit on the archeology of the Valley Forge itself, which was burned during a British raid in 1777, is on display in the adjacent stable.

At Washington’s Headquarters, necessary repairs were made to woodwork, doors, windows, and shutters. Plaster was repaired on the interior, outdated mechanical equipment was removed, and UV screening was replaced on the windows. The exterior and interior were painted with historic colors. Furnishings, artifacts, and exhibit items were thoroughly cleaned and then reinstalled.

Beginning in August, new exhibits on General Washington’s leadership and the resilience of the Continental Army at Valley Forge will be open in the train station. The huts that represent General Washington's guard will be furnished. New exhibits throughout the area will bring the history of the former village of Valley Forge back to life.

The rehabilitation of the site also included removal of an oversized, intrusive parking lot and restoration of the historic terrain in that area. A new, smaller parking lot with handicapped-accessible parking and places for buses is tucked into a less visible place. New handicapped-accessible restrooms were built. A gathering space for large groups is provided. To protect adjacent Valley Creek, storm water runoff is collected and infiltrated in bio-swales and meadows were restored. A number of trees have been planted, with many more to come.

Click here for a listing of things to do and see at the Washington's Headquarters Complex.

Experience Archeology This Summer

Have you ever wanted to experience a dig? Now’s your chance! Archeological excavations are underway this summer at two locations in Valley Forge.

When you’re visiting the newly restored Washington’s Headquarters, stop by to see the archeological dig next to the kitchen, which is now underway Tuesdays through Saturdays.

General Washington located his headquarters (the “Pentagon” of its time) in a small house in the village of Valley Forge. The General and his military staff worked and lived in the house. Mrs. Washington also joined him there for several months of the winter encampment.

With up to 25 people living and working in the house, it was crowded. What to do? Build an addition. We know from letters and other documentary evidence that a log structure was erected adjacent to the building for eating and meeting. Limited excavations in 1973 and 1986 uncovered possible evidence of this structure and associated encampment-era archeological deposits.

This summer’s project is literally digging deeper into this area and these deposits. The purpose of this intensive archaeological testing is to provide additional documentation of previously identified intact deposits, with the goal of assessing and documenting the use of the structure and the changing uses of the headquarters building and surrounding yard area over time. 

The first weeks of excavation have shown how intensively the area has been used over the centuries. The archaeologists have exposed an 18^th-century trash pit bisected by an early 20^th century sewer drain, a well, a buried plow zone that likely predates any of the structures built on the site, and evidence of foundation walls. At this early point everything remains a puzzle. The archaeologists are taking many notes and photos and are painstakingly creating drawings of all the features they uncover. It is slow but very interesting work.

Intriguing artifacts are coming out of the excavation. The archaeologists have recovered a French gunflint, the type commonly used by the American troops, as well as many fragments of glass, bone, metal and ceramic. Some of the most interesting ceramics include pieces of a porcelain teapot, hand-painted in red and black, and a creamware cherub face that probably once decorated a fancy soup tureen or other serving piece. These objects are things that would have belonged to the elite classes; no enlisted soldier in a hut would be using such beautiful pieces. These objects were almost certainly used by General Washington and his officers.

There is a long tradition of public archeology at Valley Forge NHP, and this new project recaptures the excitement and enthusiasm of past “diggers.” Volunteers are active participants in the project. National Park Service archaeologists in conjunction with Temple University Professor David Orr, are conducting this project. Excavation at this site will continue through July 11^th, with lab work ongoing at the site throughout the summer. An exhibit on the archeology of the Valley Forge itself, which was burned by the British, also is open.

For a blog describing what the archeologists are doing, click here.

Coming up on July 13 and continuing through August 14, an excavation will take place on the grounds of the Washington Memorial Chapel. Visitors can stop by between 9:00 and 3:00 Mondays through Fridays to see the excavation of the place where one of the New England brigades was camped during the Winter Encampment of 1777-78. On Wednesday evenings the archeologists will be present from 5:00 to 7:00 (and you also can take a guided tour of the chapel, try a scavenger hunt, pick up dinner at the Chapel Cabin Shop and enjoy a free carillon concert).