The Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge was incorporated in

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Montgomery County, colloquially referred to as Montco, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population of the county was 856,553, making it the third-most populous county in Pennsylvania after Philadel ...

in 1878, with the objective of saving, acquiring, restoring, and preserving General Washington's Valley Forge Headquarters and surrounding acreage as parcels of it became available.

History

Led by founding Regent

Anna Morris Holstein Anna Morris Holstein (, Ellis; pen name, Mrs. H.; April 9, 1824 – December 31, 1900) was an American organizational leader, American Civil War, civil war nurse, and author. From 1862 until the close of the war, Holstein was engaged in the hosp ...

and her team, the initial awareness and fundraising campaigns began with a large celebration on June 19, 1878, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of departure of the Army of the Revolution from their winter quarters. Stock certificates were sold and other events planned to raise funds. Initial funds were used to acquire General Washington's headquarters from owner Hannah Ogden in 1878. More acreage was subsequently purchased, original artifacts acquired, and necessary repairs and renovations done to restore the home to the time of the 1777–1778 encampment. Due to Anna's relationship with the

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union (MVLA) is a non-profit organization that preserves and maintains the Mount Vernon estate originally owned by the family of George Washington. The association was founded in 1853 by Ann Pamela Cu ...

, they were able to bring a tree from General Washington's home back to his Valley Forge Headquarters and plant it in his memory. These and other sustained efforts led to the State of Pennsylvania making Valley Forge the first State Park in Pennsylvania in 1893; tens of millions have enjoyed it since. On July 4, 1976, the United States Bicentennial,

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...

visited

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

, where he addressed the crowd and the nation on live television, and signed H.R. 5621, making Valley Forge an historical site and national park.

References

{{Reflist Military history of the United States National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Valley Forge National Historical Park National Register of Historic Places in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania