|
-SPONSORED LINKS-
Philadelphia LodgingPhiladelphia Hotels Philadelphia Maps Philadelphia Camping Philadelphia Weather Philadelphia Vacation Rentals |
|
Sponsored National Park Search |
|
|
|
Valley Forge was the location of the Continental Army's winter encampment from December 1777 to June 1778. At the time, British forces were occupying Philadelphia, 18 miles away, and the site was chosen both for its proximity to Philadelphia, and its natural defenses. The winter spent in the valley was bitterly cold, and the suffering of General Washington's men was extraordinary. But this winter was also a time of transformation, as the Prussian drillmaster Baron von Steuben instilled in the army standard marching procedures and a newfound confidence in their capabilities.
In 1893, the independent Valley Forge Park Commission was created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "to preserve, improve, and maintain as a public park the site on which General George Washington's army encamped at Valley Forge". That same year, Valley Forge became Pennsylvania's first state park. In the bicentennial year of 1976 Pennsylvania gave the park as a gift to the nation. National Park Service officially assumed control of the park on the 4th of July, 1976.
Valley Forge National historical Park is 3,500 acres in size.
Valley Forge National Historical Park rests on three primary types of bedrock. Red sandstone and shale is found along the river and is associated with low, rolling topography and fertile soils that support grasslands, shrublands, croplands, tree plantations and young successional forests. The carbonate dolostone is found mostly in the southern half of the park and causes gently rolling terrain and sinkholes. The western portion of the park (Mt. Joy and Mr. Misery) is composed of the hard and eorision resistant quartzite. This mineral results in well-drained soils and supports the drought resistant plant types on the upper slopes. Running through the park are the Schuylkill River and Valley Creek. The Schuylkill River floodplain has deep soils that support a great variety of floodplain forests.
Valley Forge National Historical Park is an oasis of natural space surrounded by the development of greater Philadelphia. The park is a haven for wildlife; to date, over 315 species of animals have been reported within the park, of which 225 species are birds. Such biological diversity may be attributed to the variety and spatial arrangements of habitat types, including deciduous forests, tall grass meadows, wetlands, and riparian zones.
Groundhogs, chipmunks, skunks and foxes thrive in the park. The variety of habitats in the park make it a premier place for birdwatching. Songbirds, birds of prey, and waterfowl are all found in their appropriate habitats in the park. Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River are home to smallmouth bass, carp, catfish, suckers and chubs. Valley Forge National Historical Park is also rich in butterfly species.
The variable topography and diversity of soil types make Valley Forge National Historical Park a very rich environment for botanical diversity. Dry Oak hardwood forests consisting of chestnut oak, black oark, white oak, and scarlet oak are found on the slopes of Mt. Misery, while the Riverine Floodplain forests is composed largely of silver maple, green ash, sycamore, box elder, spicebush, false nettle, and stiltgrass. The wetlands of the park support a variety of shrubs and grass species.
