Valley Forge Park Alliance

08/29/2026

Start planning your fall visit to Valley Forge 🍂

The first signs of autumn are still ahead, but now is a good time to start thinking about a visit.

Come walk through the historic landscape, watch for birds and wildlife along the trails, and see the Park change as the leaves begin to turn.

And there’s plenty happening before the colors arrive, too, with guided history walks, Bird Walks, and other programs throughout September.

Start planning your visit.

https://vfparkalliance.org/events

Photo: Maury Newman

08/28/2026

Sometimes we come to the Park because we want someone else to discover it, too.

The child seeing Valley Forge for the first time.

The family discovering a trail together.

The future birder, historian, photographer, or volunteer.

We don’t only preserve places for the people who know them today. We preserve them for the people who haven’t discovered them yet. 💚

08/28/2026

Remembering the Soldiers of Valley Forge

Who was here during the winter of 1777-78? The Valley Forge Muster Roll helps us find out.

This volunteer-led project brings together records of the soldiers who encamped at Valley Forge, helping preserve their names and stories and making that history accessible to everyone.

At Valley Forge, history is not only about the events that happened here; it is also about the thousands of individual people who experienced them. The Muster Roll helps us remember those individuals and continue discovering their stories.

Valley Forge Park Alliance is proud to support the Muster Roll project and grateful to the donors and volunteers who make this work possible.

You can help keep the Muster Roll available as a free resource for generations to come. A tax-deductible contribution of $20 or more also adds your name to the project’s Honorary Muster Roll.

Learn more and support the Muster Roll: https://valleyforgemusterroll.org/honorary-muster-roll-2/

Photo: Myrna Malkin

08/26/2026

The changing season feels near.

When you look at our landscape through the fog, it’s easy to feel the weight of history. What did these hills actually look like in 1777? What would the soldiers have noticed as summer gave way to autumn?

To the arriving Continental Army, the fog was a warning. The damp, cooling air meant survival depended on building shelter, and fast. To build a temporary city of log huts, thousands of trees were cut down, stripping the hillsides and transforming a forested landscape into a barren, muddy encampment.

The next time you catch a misty morning on the trails, imagine looking out over wide-open, cleared defensive lines under that same gray sky.

📸 Laura Kepner

08/26/2026

We’re so grateful for the generosity of the Schuylkill Highlands, allowing us this opportunity to expand our stewardship program.

Had a lovely time yesterday celebrating Valley Forge Park Alliance and their Schuylkill Highlands Mini-Grant award to expand their volunteer stewardship and training program. With the funding they will recruit and launch a volunteer cohort trained in meadow ecology, invasive species awareness, cultural landscape interpretation, and visitor engagement to expand visitor interpretation within the Grand Parade Meadow at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Congratulations, partner! We can't wait to see your impact!

08/25/2026

What a beautiful day for a bird walk!

We had perfect weather conditions today, with sunny skies, a mild breeze, and temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s. Our group of 22 birders had a fantastic time and identified 28 different species by sight and sound!

Even though the birds are on the quieter side this time of year, we had an incredible group highlight: a Northern Parula! This small, colorful warbler is a rare sight for us. It perched right in a shrub, giving everyone a great view.

📸 See the Photos:

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🗓️ Mark your Calendar: Our next walk is scheduled for September 8th at 8:00 AM. Please note the new time! The days are getting shorter, so we are starting a little later than usual.

💚 Support the Park: Please help keep these walks going by keeping your Valley Forge Park Alliance membership up to date! Your support means the world to our community.

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Photo: Tony Nastase

08/21/2026

The stories of our national parks aren’t finished.

Everyone experiences them differently. Every person who walks through the landscape becomes part of its ongoing story.

Out There: A National Parks Story follows two childhood friends on a 10,000-mile journey through America’s national parks, discovering that the story of these places is about more than breathtaking landscapes; it’s about the people who experience them, the connections they make, and the reasons these places matter.

National Parks Week begins tomorrow, and we’re kicking it off by sharing the teaser for a film we’re proud to co-present with The Colonial Theatre.

September 3.

🎟️ Tickets and registration are through The Colonial Theatre : https://thecolonialtheatre.com/films/guest-presentations/out-there-a-national-parks-story-2023/

The parks have stories to tell. And the story isn’t over yet.

08/19/2026

What brings you to Valley Forge?

Maybe it’s the history.

It could be the trails and the chance to get outside.

Maybe it’s the birds and other wildlife.

Maybe it’s your camera.

There are so many ways to experience Valley Forge.

Tell us: What brings you to the Park?

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Photo: Maury Newman

08/19/2026

What kind of legacy will you leave behind?

August is National Make A Will Month—a powerful reminder to plan for the future and protect the people and causes closest to your heart. It is a time to reflect on the values you want to pass down to future generations.

For 50 years, the Valley Forge Park Alliance has stood alongside Valley Forge National Historical Park as its nonprofit philanthropic partner. Our work, which includes public educational programs, the restoration of the Maurice Stephens historic farmhouse, and community trail and bird walks, is made possible by citizen stewards who believe this hallowed ground must be treasured forever.

You can join this proud tradition of stewardship. By including the Valley Forge Park Alliance in your will or estate plans, you ensure that the history and natural beauty of Valley Forge remain vibrant and accessible for generations to come.

Want to learn more? Visit us at https://vfparkalliance.planned.gifts/

Photo: Siravo Photography LLC