Welcoming Visitors to the Park and Communities

The National Park Service (NPS) has a long history of working in collaboration with the travel and tourism sector to manage responsible tourism that supports conservation and facilitates enjoyment of public lands. This story is one of a series profiling successes and case studies of NPS-tourism sector collaboration.

By Donald Leadbetter and Jennifer Leslie

General George Washington’s leadership and legacy are conserved at Valley Forge National Historic Park, commemorating the winter encampment of the Continental Army. Sharing responsibility for promoting the park and for providing high-quality visitor experiences is one of the park’s formal partners, the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board (Board). The collaboration between the National Park Service and the Board focuses on protecting and expressing the historic character of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania through collaborative fundraising, shared visitor services, technological innovation, and special events.

Staff from the Board provide visitor information and interpretation at the park’s visitor center—a shared space for information on Montgomery County as well as park tours and talks, lodging, retail, and other services. Visitors are greeted and assisted with a heighted spirit of hospitality due to the presence of the Board’s staff.

Prior to sharing a physical space and coordinating visitor services, the relationship began with occasional organizational meetings, updates, and event coordination. Now, the partners even share interns who are hired, trained by, and report to staff from both organizations, an example of how the relationship has evolved to increase efficiency.

Besides delivering high-quality visitor experiences, there are other benefits of a co-managed space. During busy times, park staff can step away from the visitor center to focus on activities on park grounds. Additionally, Board staff have easier access to visitors for the purposes of providing destination information and for collecting valuable information about the visitors themselves.

The Board and park staff also coordinate a series of special events during the year, including the popular Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run. Complete with Revolutionary War soldiers and a historic setting, the Rev Run traces a route through the park, promoting recreation and community appreciation of local heritage, and even serves as a fundraising event for the park! In the 14 years since the first run, over $400,000 has been raised and donated to the Valley Forge Park Alliance to support park projects.

Partnership with the Board has helped park staff stay on top of technological change as well. As mobile technology became more important for visitor experiences, the Board stepped up and developed the park’s first mobile phone tour. In the early 2000s when social media emerged, the Board managed a social media presence for the park before park staff were prepared to take the reins. The collaborative relationship helps park staff stay responsive to visitor expectations.

Similarly, the Board helped park staff make decisions about language translations for exhibits, waysides, and digital information. Not only did they have reliable data about the most common languages spoken by visitors, they were also advocates for making the investment.

Shared physical space and close collaboration does not mean both organizations are always on the same page. Restrictions on private events on park property or difficulties with tour operators have caused friction, illustrating that the park and the Board sometimes have different preferences. Working through these issues builds mutual trust and enhances understanding, strengthening the foundations of a creative and productive relationship. Always aiming for common ground, the relationship moves forward with exciting projects such as a newly redesigned, and shared, visitor center currently under construction.

Ultimately, collaboration between Valley Forge National Historic Park and the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board is motivated by the compatibility of their mission statements. The visitor experience is a priority for both organizations as the park exists “for the enjoyment” of the people, and the board strives to inspire “the world to fall in love with Montgomery County”. Ongoing collaboration and shared visions help both organizations accomplish the mission.