Valley Forge is one of the great founding myths of Amercia, where a rag tag Continental Army was foraged into an Army from 1777-1778. The name "Valley Forge" is actually because, at one point, there was a forge here. In 1777-1778, this was the fourth largest city in the American colonies. One surprising thing (to me, at least) was how close it was to Philadelphia.
Period Weapons - Always a point of interest to me:
A redoubt, facing towards the Southeast:
These cabins are representative of those that the Continental Army sheltered in during that Winter:
Arch to commemorate the generals and soldiers of the War;
A statue of Washington:
The Potts house, Washington's headquarters:
Washington really sat here:
This stair and handrail is from the Revolutionary War. I am and Washington touched the same rail:
A statue honoring Baron Von Steuben, the Prussian noble who forged the Continental Army:
The Washington Cathedral. Built to honor Washington, it is an operating church.
Notice that the characters above the choir are military figures, not saints:
Thanks for the continued tour TB, the Washington National Cathedral is quite the edifice.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Nylon12.
DeleteThe Cathedral was amazing. I am not doing justice to the stained glass windows - there is one for each of the original 13 colonies.
Reading books about the Revolutionary War always makes me amazed that we even came close to winning much less actually winning.
ReplyDeleteEd, it is a subject I should read a great deal more (I have an excuse, now - after all, I have been there!), but without the involvement of France and to a lesser extent Spain, I suspect the Continentals would have lost, and lost badly.
DeleteTry Jeff Shaara's two books on the American Revolution, Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause, good reading!
DeleteI also think without the French we would have loss. I am suspect that if he hadn't become our first president, George Washington would be lucky to be a footnote in our history books. Nearly every battle he fought in or led was an incredible disaster, before and during the first two thirds of the Revolutionary War.
DeleteOne of Washington's great gifts was the ability to inspire. To be sure - reading a bit more of history - he was not always served by the best of generals.
DeleteThanks for the recommendations, Nylon12!
DeleteInteresting that statues of military figures adorn the Washington Cathedral. I imagine it's absolutely stunning inside and it's substance would be difficult to capture in photos. Until I was married, I don't think I'd ever visited a history museum, let alone the homes of historical figures. I remember, when we took what we call both our Civil War Trip, and The Great Rain Vacation (because it rained every single day until the day we headed home), the first time I felt a visceral connection to people who'd died generations before me - I was looking at a display of china dishes and imagining the original owners eating off of them, and drinking out of the tea cups. It touched me deeply. While I still feel an appreciation when I look at artifacts from ages ago, that first time changed history for me. As a family we took our sons to lots of history museums, and "living history" places, but I've wondered if they've ever had that special moment like I experienced - since they were pretty much raised on this kind of thing. I need to ask them. That should be an interesting topic for conversation.
ReplyDeleteBecki, it is interesting to me some of the places my parents took me that sparked life long interests in me. Going to Japan in 1978, which I am sure cost them a lot of money, set in place a lifelong interest in all things Japanese.
DeleteGlad to see that all the places you photographed are still there and have not fallen to political correctness.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures, as always, are wonderful, TB. Thank you.
You all be safe and God bless.
Linda, I confess that I was surprised as well. Even where there were national park tours, things were kept very politics free.
DeleteThanks for the photo and mention of Baron Von Steuben.
ReplyDeleteIf you could, do a post about him and his training methods.