Valley Forge became famous as the Continental Army’s 1777–1778 winter encampment during the Revolution commemorated by America250.
George Washington’s army camped at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania from December 1777 until June 1778. The army had withdrawn there after British forces captured Philadelphia. Valley Forge was close enough to monitor British activity while offering a defensible position near the Schuylkill River.
The encampment is remembered for shortages of food, clothing, shelter, and supplies. Soldiers endured illness and harsh winter conditions, although the popular image of universal starvation and freezing has sometimes simplified a more complicated historical record. Thousands of soldiers became sick, and many died during the winter.
Valley Forge also became a place of military reorganization. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben helped train troops in standardized drills and camp discipline. When the army left in June 1778, it was more organized and prepared for continued campaigning. The site is now preserved as Valley Forge National Historical Park.