Last updated: May 29, 2026
Article
50/250 Celebration: Retreat to Valley Forge
NPS Image
Retreat to Valley Forge over the 4th of July weekend in 2026 and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Valley Forge National Historical Park and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Special commemorative programs and events will take place at Valley Forge National Historical Park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 3, 4, and 5, 2026.
All 4th of July events hosted by Valley Forge are free to attend. No vendor space is being offered by Valley Forge National Historical Park, and the Valley Forge Park Alliance and Washington Memorial Heritage are not seeking vendors for their events on July 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
NPS Photo (VAFO Archives)
Born on the 4th of July
Fifty years ago the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gifted Valley Forge State Park to the American people in honor of the United States Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the United States of America.
On July 4, 1976, President Gerald Ford came to Valley Forge and signed a law passed by Congress establishing Valley Forge National Historical Park as the 283rd unit of the National Park System. The park’s non-profit partner The Friends of Valley Forge, now the Valley Forge Park Alliance, was also created on this day.
Getting Around
Celebrations are taking place over a busy holiday weekend and public parking lots across the park may be near capacity or full.
Parking attendants will assist you in finding a parking space for your vehicle. A special event shuttle is available to provide transportation to all of the commemorative events and program venues.
NPS Graphic
Ride the Shuttle!
Ride the free hop-on/hop-off shuttle to five locations around the park on July 3, 4, and 5 2026.
Shuttle service begins at 9:20 am each day. The last shuttle leaves the visitor center (stop 1) at 4 pm and returns to the visitor center to complete its final circuit at 4:40 pm.
Shuttles run every 10 minutes on Saturday, July 4.
Shuttles run every 20 minutes on Friday, July 3 and Sunday, July 5.
STOP 1 - The Visitor Center at Valley Forge
Shuttle stop located in the main visitor center parking lot near the restrooms and bicycle rental. Exit the parking lot and follow the paved path to the visitor center building and Visitor Gateway programming.
STOP 2 - Muhlenberg's Brigade
Shuttle stop located in the Muhlenberg's Brigade parking lot along North Outer Line Drive. Cross North Outer Line Drive at the pedestrian crosswalk to access the log huts, living history demonstrations, and the storytelling firepit.
STOP 3 - National Memorial Arch
Shuttle stop located in the bus parking lot along South Outer Line Drive. Follow the paved path up to the arch.
STOP 4 - Washington's Headquarters
Shuttle stop located along River Road near the restroom building. Walk down the serpentine path to the Valley Forge Train Station, the Commander-in-Chief's Guard Huts, and the Isaac Potts House (closed for restoration).
STOP 5 - Maurice Stephens House
Shuttle stop located in the Maurice Stephens parking lot along Route 23.
Ride-Hailing Services
Popular ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft provide an excellent alternative to driving a personal vehicle to the 50/250 Celebration at Valley Forge. All special event shuttle stops and public parking lots have established pick-up/drop-off locations for rideshares.
Learn more about using ride-hailing services at Valley Forge
Bike Rentals
Bike rentals are available in the main visitor center parking lot (shuttle stop 1) and at Artillery Park on July 3, 4, and 5.
NPS Photo / G. Purifoy
Friday, July 3 Events Schedule
Shuttles run every 20 minutesVisitor Gateway
Where: Visitor Center at Valley Forge (shuttle stop 1)
When: 9 am to 5 pm
Begin your retreat to Valley Forge at the visitor center. Visitor Gateway programs are ongoing throughout the day.
-
Celebrate the people's park with the My Valley Forge Story exhibit located on the second floor of the visitor center. Take a trip down memory lane and share your story!
-
Hear fascinating Revolutionary War stories told by engaging storytellers from Historic Philadelpha Inc, located at the circular bench outside the visitor center.
-
Plan your trip to Valley Forge with a park ranger.
-
Watch the park orientation film in the Theater at Valley Forge.
-
Pick up your Junior Ranger activity book.
Opening Ceremony and Living History
Where: Muhlenberg's Brigade (shuttle stop 2)
When: 10 am to 4 pm
10 am - Opening Remarks and Ribbon Cutting
Join park staff and officials at Muhlenberg's Brigade for opening remarks commemorating the 50th anniversary of Valley Forge National Historical Park, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and a ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of a new storytelling firepit.
11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm - Musket Firing Demonstrations
Musket firing demonstrations take place at the firing range behind the log soldier huts at Muhlenberg's Brigade.
10am to 4pm - Camp Life
Join living historians from Spencer's Additional Regiment reenactor group at Redoubt 2. Learn about civilian markets, Revolutionary War soldier gear, and how fortifications were constructed during the Valley Forge Encampment.
10am to 4pm - Surveying and Mapmaking
Join reenactors from the Department of Geographers to learn about surveying and mapmaking during the American Revolution.
Food Tent
Where: Maurice Stephens House (shuttle stop 5)
When: 10 am to 2 pm
Grab-and-go food items provided by ANEU Kitchens and dining zone.
Saturday, July 4 Events Schedule
Shuttles run every 10 mintues
Visitor Gateway
Where: Visitor Center at Valley Forge (shuttle stop 1)
When: 9 am to 5 pm
Begin your retreat to Valley Forge at the visitor center. Visitor Gateway programs are ongoing throughout the day.
-
Sign a Happy 50th Birthday Card for Valley Forge National Historical Park.
-
Celebrate the people's park with the My Valley Forge Story exhibit located on the second floor of the visitor center. Take a trip down memory lane and share your story!
-
Hear fascinating Revolutionary War stories told by engaging storytellers from Historic Philadelpha Inc, located at the circular bench outside the visitor center.
-
Leave your own "John Hancock" on a giant reproduction of the Declaration of Independence located at the pavilion next to the Mini Grand Parade outside the visitor center
11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm - Courts Martial Programs
Join reenactors from Spencer's Additional Regiment in the Theater at Valley Forge for dramatic presentations of historical courts martial that occured during the Valley Forge Encampment.
Valley Forge Then and Now (50th Anniversary Celebration)
Where: National Memorial Arch (shuttle stop 3)
When: 10 am to 3 pm
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Valley Forge National Historical Park (the only national park born on the 4th of July) with special family friendly programming highlighting many different eras and chapters from Valley Forge's storied history.
Live music, hut building, a replica cannon and conestoga wagon, reenactors, tables, and activities will give this celebration a fun festival atmosphere.
-
Meet Anna Morris Holstein, Regent of the Valley Forge Centennial and Memorial Association, the woman responsible for first preserving the Isaac Potts house (Washington's Headquarters) as a museum in 1879.
-
Listen to early 20th century popular music performed by live band the Hot Taters from Philadelphia.
-
Sign a birthday card wishing Valley Forge National Historical Park a happy 50th birthday.
-
Learn about the Boy Scouts of America Jamborees held at Valley Forge in the 1950s and 60s
-
Get a close up view of a replica Revolutionary War-era cannon and learn how they were made and how they work.
-
Pose in front of a conestoga wagon.
-
Build your own soldier hut.
-
Try on 18th century clothing and gear.
-
Learn about Architect Paul Cret, the designer of the National Memorial Arch
-
See replica fossils excavated from the Port Kennedy bone cave in the 1870s and 90s and learn about the ancient Ice Age animals of Valley Forge.
Camp Life
Where: Muhlenberg's Brigade (shuttle stop 2)
When: 10 am to 4 pm
-
Join reenactors from the 13th Virginia Regiment to learn about what it was like to live at the Valley Forge Encampment in 1777-1778 — hut life, soldier drills, cooking, and more!
-
Join reenactors from the Department of Geographers to learn about surveying and mapmaking during the American Revolution.
-
Follow the gravel path past the log huts to Redoubt 2 and join reenactors from Spencer's Additional Regiment to learn about civilian markets, Revolutionary War soldier gear, and how fortifications were constructed during the encampment at Valley Forge.
11 am, 1 pm - Artillery Firing Demonstrations
Watch an artillery crew demonstrate how to fire a Revolutionary War-era cannon at the firing range behind the log soldier huts.
House of Declaration
Where: Maurice Stephens house (shuttle stop 5)
When: 9 am to 4 pm
Programming hosted by park partner the Valley Forge Park Alliance
-
Try your hand at colonial-era games and take a commemorative selfie.
-
Hear fascinating Revolutionary War stories told by engaging storytellers from Historic Philadelpha, Inc.
-
Learn about the work of the Valley Forge Muster Roll Project.
10 am, 12:30 pm, 3 pm - Live Readings of the Declaration of Independence
Listen to the powerful words that set the American experiment into motion on the lawn behind the Maurice Stepehens house.
9 am to 4 pm - Food Tent
Grab-and-go food items provided by ANEU Kitchens and dining zone.
Sunday, July 5 Events Schedule
Visitor Gateway
Where: Visitor Center at Valley Forge (shuttle stop 1)
When: 9 am to 5 pm
Begin your retreat to Valley Forge at the visitor center. Visitor Gateway programs are ongoing throughout the day.
-
Celebrate the people's park with the My Valley Forge Story exhibit located on the second floor of the visitor center. Take a trip down memory lane and share your story!
-
Hear fascinating Revolutionary War stories told by engaging storytellers from Historic Philadelpha Inc, located at the circular bench outside the visitor center.
-
Plan your trip to Valley Forge with a park ranger.
-
Watch the park orientation film in the Theater at Valley Forge.
-
Pick up your Junior Ranger activity book.
Living History and Closing Remarks
Where: Muhlenberg's Brigade (shuttle stop 2)
When: 10 am to 4 pm
11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm - Musket Firing Demonstrations
Musket firing demonstrations take place at the firing range behind the log soldier huts at Muhlenberg's Brigade.
2:30 pm - Closing Remarks
Join park staff and officials at Muhlenberg's Brigade for closing remarks to bring the celebrations and commemorative weekend to an end. Followed by the final musket firing demonstration at 3 pm.
10 am to 4 pm - Camp Life
Join living historians from Spencer's Additional Regiment reenactor group at Redoubt 2. Learn about civilian markets, Revolutionary War soldier gear, and how fortifications were constructed during the Valley Forge Encampment.
10 am to 4 pm - Surverying and Mapmaking
Join reenactors from the Department of Geographers to learn about surveying and mapmaking during the American Revolution.
Food Tent
Where: Maurice Stephens House (shuttle stop 5)
When: 10 am to 2 pm
Grab-and-go food items provided by ANEU Kitchens and dining zone.
Safety & Accessibility
We want you to have a safe and fun experience celebrating Valley Forge National Historical Park's 50th birthday! Here are some important safety and accessibility considerations to plan for over the 4th of July weekend.
In Case of Emergency Dial 9-1-1
No matter the emergency, calling 9-1-1 is always the best way to get help quickly.
Hot Weather
Weather at Valley Forge in July is very hot and humid with temperatures regularly reaching 90 degrees or hotter. Most of the celebrations and special programming takes place outside.
-
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and eating salty snacks.
-
Keep your body temperature under control by limiting your physical exertion, taking breaks in the shade, and spending time in an air conditioned building.
-
Rest inside the Visitor Center at Valley Forge, it's air conditioned!
Separated Parties and Missing Children
If you lose a child or become separated from the rest of your group, find a ranger!
-
National park rangers and other event staff will be easy to identify and they will help reunite you with your group or lost child.
-
Bright yellow tents at Muhlenberg's Brigade and the National Memorial will serve as meetup locations and provide general event information and visitor services.
Limited Parking
Parking will be limited. Follow instructions from parking attendants when you enter the park. After you park your vehicle, head to the nearest shuttle stop to ride the free hop-on, hop-off shuttle to the program locations around the park.
Accessible Parking
All public parking lots in the park have spaces reserved for accessible parking.
Visiting With Limited Mobility