The Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment is the oldest annual

scouting Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...

event in the world. It was first held on February 22, 1913 (

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

's 181st birthday), and has been held every year since. The event is hosted by the

Cradle of Liberty Council The Cradle of Liberty Council (#525) is a Boy Scouts of America council created in 1996 with the merger of the former Philadelphia Council (covering the city and county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia) and the former Valley Forge Coun ...

and commemorates the soldiers of the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...

who braved the winter of 1777-78 at

Valley Forge Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army's main body, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the B ...

. Each year more than 2,000 brave the winter chill of the

Delaware Valley The Delaware Valley is a metropolitan region on the East Coast of the United States that comprises and surrounds Philadelphia, the sixth most populous city in the nation and 68th largest city in the world as of 2020. The toponym Delaware Val ...

to participate.

History

Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded i ...

(BSA) was only three years old, and was sweeping the country when approximately 300 Scouts from

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

and suburban

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

and Montgomery Counties took part in the first pilgrimage. Valley Forge cabin

Typical attendance ranged from 125 to 275 Scouts and leaders until the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

. The event has been held every year, even during the Depression and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, though the event was then held at a reduced scale. In the early years, Scouts traveled to Valley Forge by train and foot, arriving at the Valley Forge Train Station. The event was organized by an

Episcopal Episcopal may refer to: *Of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church *Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese *Episcopal Church (disambiguation), any church with "Episcopal" in its name ** Episcopal Church (United State ...

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

, Rev. Dr.

W. Herbert Burk W. Herbert Burk (1867-1933) was an Episcopal priest and founding vicar of the Washington Memorial Chapel in the Valley Forge National Historical Park. He is known for assembling, over the course of many years, the collection of Revolutionary War ar ...

Norristown Norristown may mean: * Norristown, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Norristown, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Norristown, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Norristown, Pennsylvania Norristown is a municipality with home ...

. Burk had also been instrumental in building the

Washington Memorial Chapel Washington Memorial Chapel — located on Pennsylvania Route 23 in Valley Forge National Historical Park — is both a national memorial dedicated to General George Washington and an active Episcopal parish in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania ...

at Valley Forge. Burk continued to be involved in the planning for the annual pilgrimage for the next two decades. The term "pilgrimage" was chosen because every participating troop lined up in formation with their flags and paraded to the chapel for the

memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or works of a ...

service for George Washington. The first ''official'' overnight Valley Forge Encampment in connection with a pilgrimage was in 1948. Prior to that there were many unofficial campouts on the site, as the area was relatively rural and unpopulated.

General John Pershing General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was a senior United States Army officer. He served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the We ...

and

Daniel Carter Beard Daniel Carter "Uncle Dan" Beard (June 21, 1850 – June 11, 1941) was an American illustrator, author, youth leader, Georgist and social reformer who founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905, which Beard later merged with the Boy Scouts of Ameri ...

have both been featured guests. The biggest crowd was at the 1932 pilgrimage, which marked Washington's 200th birthday. An estimated 9,000 Boy Scouts from Pennsylvania and neighboring states, plus 10,000 adults and children, were on hand.

Events

Valley forge revolutionary war memorial bs

The event itself is divided into two parts: the Encampment, in which Scouts camp from Friday through Sunday on the

Presidents' Day Presidents' Day, also called Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor all persons who served as presidents of the United States and, since 1879 ...

weekend, and the Pilgrimage which is all day Saturday. During the Pilgrimage, participants move around the Valley Forge NHP to hear volunteer interpreters from the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...

tell how the Continentals lived. Replicas of the original huts provide a glimpse of daily life. Conditions during the winter were poor, so the stories are also told how more than 2,000 soldiers died from

typhus Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposure. ...

dysentery Dysentery (UK pronunciation: , US: ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications ...

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

and

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

Themes

* 1950- log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1951- Log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1952- Log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1953- Log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1954- * 1955- Log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1956- Log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1957- Log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1958- Washington memorial appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1959- Lincoln and Washington heads on pilgrimage patch * 1960- Washington on horseback appeared on pilgrimage/encampment silk patch * 1961- Washington memorial appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier on watch on encampment patch. * 1962- Sillouette of Washington appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier by cook fire on encampment patch. * 1963- Wake & Midway bells from chapel's carillon appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier by fire on encampment patch. * 1964- Canon and pickets appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier cutting wood with axe on encampment patch. * 1965- Star Redoubt appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier using shovel appeared on encampment patch. * 1966- Washington on horseback appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier playing drum appeared on encampment patch. * 1967- Soldier in snow with cabins in background appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier working as blacksmith appeared on encampment patch. * 1968- Duportail Designer of the Encampment appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier next to cannon appeared on encampment patch. * 1969- Valley Forge Memorial Arch appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier walking with bucket appeared on encampment patch. * 1970- House - Washington's HQ appeared on pilgrimage patch; soldier carrying firewood next to fire appeared on encampment patch. * 1971- Soldier in snow with cabins in background appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1972- Cabin in snow appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1973- Statue of Mad

Anthony Wayne Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his mil ...

appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1974- Von Steuben appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1975- Washington's tent appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1976- Soldiers huddling around fire appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1977- Washington kneeling in prayer appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1978- Washington memorial appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1979- Valley Forge Arch Memorial appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1980- Watch tower appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1981- Cabin in snow appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1982- Continental soldier in the snow appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1983- Soldiers' hut in snow appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1984- Canon appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1985- Major General Duportail appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1986- Major General Greene appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1987- Jubilee Pilgrimage Washington appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1988- General Anthony Wayne appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1989- General

Henry Knox Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806), a Founding Father of the United States, was a senior general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, serving as chief of artillery in most of Washington's campaigns. Following the ...

appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1990- General Sullivan appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1991- Brigadier General Varnum appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1992- Colonel Daniel Morgan appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1993- Centennial of Valley Forge Park - log cabin appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1994- rum Corps?rum appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1995- The common soldier * 1996- Harry Lee - Light Horse appeared on pilgrimage patch * 1997- Brigadier General Mulhenberg appeared on encampment patch * 1998-

Martha Washington Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (June 21, 1731 — May 22, 1802) was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington served as the inaugural ...

appeared on Pilgrimage Patch, A Private in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment appeared on Encampment Patch * 1999- Nathanial Green appeared on pilgrimage patch, * 2000- Louis Le Beque Duportail - surveyors & engineers - appeared on pilgrimage patch * 2001-

- artillery - appeared on pilgrimage patch * 2002- Christopher Ludwig - baker general - appeared on Pilgrimage Patch, Supply Wagon appears on Encampment Patch * 2003- 225th anniversary of the American Revolution * 2004- General William Alexander appeared on pilgrimage patch, encampment patch featured cannons. * 2005-

Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first United States secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795. Born out of wedlock in Charlest ...

''Aide-De-Camp''appeared on pilgrimage patch * 2006 -

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

appeared on the pilgrimage patch, Continental Artillery on the encampment patch * 2007— Allan Mclane, Washington's right-hand man, who also played a large role in the Revolution's spies. McLane, known as the unknown hero, appeared on the Pilgrimage patch. Oneida Nation - Native American appeared on encampment patch. * 2008— Lt. Col.

John Laurens John Laurens (October 28, 1754 – August 27, 1782) was an American soldier and statesman from Province of South Carolina, South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War, best known for his criticism of slavery and his efforts to help recr ...

, aide-de-camp to General Washington and wounded three times, appeared on the Pilgrimage patch. He later died. * 2009— Baron

Johann de Kalb Johann von Robais, Baron de Kalb (June 19, 1721 – August 19, 1780), born Johann Kalb, was a Franconian-born French military officer who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was mortally ...

, major general in the Continental Army. Much beloved hero - many counties, towns and streets named for de Kalb. He appeared on the Pilgrimage patch. * 2010- Captain Robert Kirkwood of the Delaware Militia is honored. The militia's flag appears on the encampment patch. * 2011- The

Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemason and military officer who fought in the American Revoluti ...

is honored. He appears on the Pilgrimage patch. * 2012-

to be honored. The 2012 event was the 100th anniversary of the Valley Forge Pilgrimage & Encampment. The Pilgrimage patch was a 100 featuring General George Washington and Dr. W Herbert Burk, a founder of the Encampment. The Encampment patch featured Polly Cooper. * 2013- Camp-followers are honored. A "shadowed" image of the followers appears on the Encampment patch, and the Pilgrimage patch features a "shadowed" image of a woman. (

, Abigail Adams, or "

Molly Pitcher Molly Pitcher is a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the American Revolutionary War. She is most often identified as Mary Hays (American Revolutionary War), Mary Ludwig Hays, who fought in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. Ano ...

") * 2014- The theme was

Henry Lee III Henry Lee III (January 29, 1756 – March 25, 1818) was an early American Patriot (American Revolution), Patriot and U.S. politician who served as the ninth Governor of Virginia and as the Virginia United States House of Representatives, Repres ...

(Light Horse Harry) and the US Light Dragoons. The Encampment patch features a flag for the Light Dragoons and the Pilgrimage patch features a horse and Light Horse Harry. * 2015 - Theme honored the common soldier. Image of Benjamin Franklin appears on both pilgrimage and encampment patches. * 2016 - General Casimir Polanksi appears on the pilgrimage patch. The encampment was shut down on Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather.

Valley Forge Historical Trail

The Valley Forge Historical Trail is a 9-mile hiking trail through the

Valley Forge National Park Valley Forge National Historical Park is the site of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, taking place from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. The National Park Service preserves the site a ...

, the

elevation gain In running, cycling, and mountaineering, cumulative elevation gain refers to the sum of every gain in elevation throughout an entire trip. It is sometimes also known as cumulative gain or elevation gain, or often in the context of mountain travel, ...

of this trail is 833 feet. The hike starts and ends at the Valley Forge Visitor's Center. Hiking this trail as needed requires the use of a map, compass, along with the skills and abilities to use them,

orienteering Orienteering is a group of sports that require navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a s ...

is also required. There is little access to water on the trail, although water can be retrieved about halfway through at the train station restrooms. It is normally advised that you bring your own water along as well.

References

{{coord, 40.09691, -75.44139, type:event_globe:earth_region:US-PA, display=title 1913 establishments in Pennsylvania Boy Scouts of America Recurring events established in 1913 Scouting events

Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...

Valley Forge National Historical Park Tourist attractions in Chester County, Pennsylvania

History

Events

Themes

Valley Forge Historical Trail

See also

References