Last weekend Mike and I stopped at Valley Forge on our way back to Columbus on a road trip. I didn’t realize we’d be driving right past it and so on the way home I begged him to stop and he (of course) obliged. We only stayed about an hour, and someday I’ll go back and explore the rest of the park, but what I did get to see was beautiful! Since it’s Memorial Day, I thought I’d share my pics!
Here was the welcome center! I’m not sure how well you can see it but up in those panels that look like windows was Howard Pyle’s Baron Von Steuben Drilling his Troops at Valley Forge painting. Which, if you’re not familiar with it, is stunning. I kept saying stupid things to Mike while we were parking lot like, “Should we eat where our ancestors ate not?” when he offered me a cheese stick or, “Should we wear shoes where they wore none?” Ultimately, I accepted the string cheese and wore my shoes into the book store…
Here was one of the reenactment camps. Of course, the whole “Winter at Valley Forge” effect was diminished by the lack of snow and ice. I didn’t mind too much because the entire park was so beautiful!
No, that is not a redcoat soldier who has invaded the camp! The fife and drum units in armies in the 18th century wore reverse color coats so that the other side wouldn’t aim at the poor innocent kids. This guy, however, looks way too old to be a drummer, lol. Though that kid behind him would’ve been allowed to fight as a soldier so long as he was as tall as his musket, and had at least one tooth on the top and bottom to tear open the paper cartridges that loaded said gun.
I walked into the above hut and my eyes took awhile to adjust to the darkness. I was in there a minute or two before I noticed a gentleman was sleeping on the bottom bunk! ”I didn’t see you there!” I exclaimed and then, since he was dressed as a reenactor, I asked him how many men would sleep in each building. He answered eight to ten, then paused and added, “Though there’s only been one today!” and closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
Here I am giving Mike a history lesson about Nathaniel Green, whose camp we had just visited.
When we were leaving we saw this memorial arch that was dedicated to all the soldiers who had spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. It was majestic and solemn and I loved it.
Happy Memorial Day everyone!!
The first work I did related to exhibit design was for the Valley Forge Historical Society, working for my college roommate a few years after graduation. He was an illustrator hired by Dave Ellis Design to do paintings and drawings for the “George Washington: The Man and The Myth”, but he had only worked in airbrush and they wanted oil paintings, AND they had a tight turn-around time, so he sub-contracted me.
I don’t know if the material is still on display (it was 25 years ago, after all, and though museums update slowly, that’s long enough for things to have changed), I did the pen-and-ink of the cabins being cleared, the four Queen’s Rangers figures and the gathering of rebel riflemen while he did the massive Washington-leading-troops-out-of-the-Valley scene.
I’ve never actually seen the installation, but I still have my paintings bundled up in the attic…
Sorry to hijack the comments. Love your work, and I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day.
That’s awesome! I’m a Canadian and didn’t even know it was memorial day, but I love history in any form, and I’m glad you got to see this stuff. (You lucky person!)
Ooh, looks so nice there!! Yet another place I’ll have to add to my list of places I want to visit whenever we go back to the northeastern areas…
Hm…I keep thinking that it might be fun to try to be a reenactor! I’m gonna have to see if Texas has any around here… even though I’m not that into Texas history to be honest, but oh well, haha XD
Happy Memorial Day!
I’ve been to Valley Forge many times. It’s a wonderful park! Too bad you didn’t have the entire day to explore it, since it’s pretty big.
TTFN–Donna
Wow, that must have been amazing!
I talked the hubby into going to Williamsburg a few years back.
We nearly got rained out, but it was worth it.
When he grumbled about the fee, I reminded him that it was going towards keeping this sort of thing for future generations.
Of course, the grumbling stopped when we got to the weapons-house (not sure of the proper term at the moment) and my artillery husband saw all of the cannons! ;-)
P.S.- I’ve written you before in re re-enacting (the husband and I do a pirate show where he is a redcoat.)
I’d love to show you pics. I need to add your myspace and I’ll leave you a note when I do.
P.P.S.- As a descendant of Francis “the Swamp Fox” Marion, I’ve loved this comic.
He may not be covered, but getting to read about what went on during that time is always enjoyable.
Man, that looks like it was so much fun! The Valley Forge camp they have set up reminds me of Fort Vancouver and other trade forts we have scattered around in the northwest. We tend to get fewer soldiers and more furry beaver-trappers, though :P I’d love to visit some of the sites like Valley Forge while I’m on the east coast for college… Thanks for sharing your pictures!
Wow, this looks like quite an awesome trip! I can’t believe you walked into that sleeping guy’s hut! LOL, Lora, you silly thing! I wonder if that was his job…to lay there and sleep?? How cute!
Man, this seems like it was an awesome stop to take! :D
Man, why wasn’t there some guy asleep in the bunks when I visited Valley Forge? Lora, you have all the luck.
That’s funny that there was a guy sleeping there in the bunks! :p
OMG!I so want to go there now. If only the parental units would let me..*grumble* Anyway, I just got issue #6 today in the mail. It was abslutely stunning. :)
The town I grew up in had a Nathaniel Green Park. I’m wondering if it’s named after the same man …
@Dadman: You don’t know how cool that just made you in my eyes!! I didn’t have a chance to go through the museum exhibit at the welcome center. We walked past it but didn’t really look through. It would be so cool though if your work was still featured there, though!!
@Mary: Yeah, I agree with you. I never feel bad paying admissions fees for historical sites because it costs a lot to maintain them. Also, I, uh, well, I get to write it all off as “research” on my taxes! ;)
@Michelle: I actually thought of you when I was there! Because didn’t we almost go to Valley Forge but the website was so lame we couldn’t figure out what to do there? Ha ha, it was actually soooo wonderful! I could’ve stayed for much longer!
@Diana: It’s half luck and half an ability to spin anything into an entertaining story. ;)
@Emily: Tell your parents there are far worse things you could want to do with your time than visit old historic sites. ;) You’ll just grow up to be nerdy like me. There are worse fates. :)
@Rei: I’d put all my chips on “yes! it’s named after him!” You should look him and learn about him. He was way cool and very important to the American Revolution.
lucky! we’ve been briefly discussing valley forge in history class. i’d give a leg to go see all these amazing placeslike valley forge.
(on a completely different topic, what font do you use for the title of The Dreamer? i’m doing my final project on the historical accuracies of your comic and i wanted to use the same or a similar font for my title page.)
You’re- you’re doing a final on the Dreamer????? *glomp*
*ahem*
The font is called Allegheny. Good luck! Let me know if you need anything. I, uh, I wrote that paper first. ;) I can also tell you where it isn’t accurate, lol!
I work almost right next to Valley Forge, and now that the weather is more pleasant, I spend my lunch break there every day. It is a fantastic park. If you come back again, be sure to check out Washington’s Headquarters, they recently re did the entire area and renovated the old train station into a history centre.
Lucky, lucky gal! Your husband I hope appreciates these fascinating historical sites. A thrilling expedition, hmm?
Shall look forward to visiting Valley Forge someday. Mainly to see about information and images of de Kalb.
~Lady B
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