Photo Galleries

Best of Valley Forge

23 Images

A selection of photographs representing a visual overview of the landscape, wildlife, recreational opportunities, and public programming at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Nature and Wildlife

20 Images

Photos of nature and wildlife in Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Maintenance and Preservation

6 Images

Rangers at Valley Forge National Historical Park work hard to maintain and preserve statues, monuments, historic structures, and park grounds.

Signers: In Their Own Words

23 Images

Many of the delegates continue to serve their country after the Declaration of Independence was signed. In these letters you can see how and why these men continued to serve their new nation.

French Alliance Day

7 Images

Photos of the events in Valley Forge National Historical Park on French Alliance Day. French Alliance was first celebrated in Valley Forge May 6, 1778.

They Chose Valley Forge: Boy S...

41 Images

Valley Forge served as the site of three Boy Scout National Jamborees, in 1950, 1957, and 1964.

Washington's Headquarters at V...

6 Images

Washington's Headquarters, also known as the Isaac Potts house, is the structure used by General George Washington and his household during the 1777-1778 encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Today the house is open to public for self-guided tours. Park rangers and volunteers are on site to help answer questions and tell the stories of the building.

18th Century Currency

31 Images

Before the American Revolution, paper money was looked down on by the English Parliament. They passed multiple acts to suspend and eliminate the circulation of paper money throughout the colonies. These attempts were thwarted as the hostilities broke out on April 19, 1775. Once the colonies cut their legal ties to Great Britain, they began to print their own paper money. On May 10, 1775, Congress passed a resolution to print a uniform currency that would be used to pay war debts and was distributed between the colonies. During the American Revolution $241,552,780 in Continental Currency was printed. At the time, most currency was printed on thick, coarse, handmade rag paper. This paper was strong enough to withstand constant circulation and easily produced. To help combat counterfeiting some of the bills contained watermarks or details in the printed design. As soon as it began to circulate the British began printing counterfeit Continentals in an attempt of inflation and economic warfare. By 1780 the value depreciated to 1/40th of its face value. In an attempt the stop the inflation $111,143,503 was turned in and destroyed. In 1785, the Congress of the Confederation of the United States adopted the dollar as the national currency. This paved the way for the Congress to emplace a National Bank. Today the U.S. dollar is one of the most used currencies in the world.

 

Flickr
Are you looking for a picture of Valley Forge for your publication, news article, school project, or simply inspiration? Go to our Flickr page and download public domain pictures for free. Please, however, credit the appropriate photographer and the National Park Service. We add images on a continual basis, so check often and feel free to leave comments there as well.