This area of Chester County supplied the fight for freedom with iron products,
food, medicines, and textiles. Washington's army at Valley Forge would not have survived
the winter of 1777-1778 without support from the surrounding countryside. Unfortunately,
the area also supplied freedom with the sacrifice of soldiers and the looting of civilian
property during the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. The Supplying Freedom Tour begins
at Historic Yellow Springs where Washington set up headquarters after the Battle of
the Clouds and the first military hospital in the United States was built. It continues
to explore this theme with visits to the Paoli Battlefield and three mills which provided
gun powder, flour and cloth.
Recreation Opportunities
Valley Forge National Historic Site encompasses 3,500 acres. Programs, tours,
and activities are available year round. The park also provides 26 miles of hiking
and biking trails, which are connected to a robust regional trails system. Wildlife
watching, fishing, and boating on the nearby Schuylkill River also are popular. Pine
Creek Park features a 1/3 mile dirt track, trails and a fishing pond with a playground
and soccer goals. Horseshoe Trail Road is a road section of the Horse-Shoe Trail,
a 140-mile hiking and equestrian trail that runs from Valley Forge to the Appalachian
Trail in southeastern Pennsylvania
Heritage Stops to Shop and Eat
Heritage stops include Ludwig's Corner, an important commercial area on the main
route between Philadelphia and Lancaster. The tour also includes the beautiful Kimberton
Historic District, which includes 62 buildings and 18th and 19th century roadways
that helped to make the village a local transportation and commercial center. Sheeder-Hall
and Rapps Dam bridges are two of Chester County's oldest surviving covered bridges