National Parks Gallery - Park News

Statue Of General Washington Relocated - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:00:58 -0600

Valley Forge NHP has hanged General Washington. Well, just by the arms, but the park’s life-sized statue of General Washington was rigged and swung through the air in a carefully choreographed move to its new location near Washington’s Headquarters. The statue is one of a seven bronze copies cast from the original marble that stands in the rotunda of the Virginia capitol building. The original was sculpted by French artist Jean-Antoine Houdon, who traveled to America and sta...

Art Exhibit Opens In Park - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:00:32 -0600

On Saturday, June 19th, an art exhibit entitled “Valley Forge as Inspiration” opened in the park’s visitor center. This juried exhibition contains both two- and three-dimensional works of art created by members of the regional Artists’ Cultural Exchange (ACX) who have been inspired by the beauty and history of Valley Forge. National parks have long provided places of inspiration – this exhibit offers visitors an opportunity to see Valley Forge National Historical Park ...

Pre-School Opens In Park Under Leasing Agreement - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:00:27 -0600

A colorful ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month capped a four-year leasing process that brings major benefits to the park and its community. Dangerously derelict historic buildings were rehabilitated through a multi-million dollar investment of private funds and now have a vital new use as a pre-school. This investment serves the park’s dual mission of preservation and education, and serves the community by providing a vibrant home for a long-time community institution. The Nat...

Public Archeology Returns To Park This Summer - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Tue, 25 May 2010 12:01:13 -0600

During the summer of 2009, over 60 volunteers joined archeologists at the park, excavating behind Washington’s Headquarters and looking for evidence of the log dining structure that was erected during the encampment adjacent to the building. These excavations provided exciting information on the use of the site from pre-contact times until the present. Of particular interest was the discovery of two refuse pits that date to the last quarter of the 18th century, at least one of which...

Home School Day Continues To Grow - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:37 -0600

Over 900 visitors enjoyed the beautiful weather on Thursday, May 13th, while participating in Valley Forge National Historical Park's biannual "Home School Day." About 600 home-schooled students and family members, as well as students and teachers from traditional schools, interacted with park rangers and volunteers who facilitated numerous living history activities at historic sites in the park. Students and families learned hands-on about what it was like to be a Contine...

Ultralight Aircraft Crashes Into Tree - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:00:17 -0600

On the afternoon of April 2nd, rangers received a report of a parachute that was “stuck in a tree” near the Washington’s Headquarters area of the park. When they arrived at the location, they saw an ultralight aircraft stuck in the tree, with 39-year-old pilot Lance Altemose still onboard. The ultralight’s parachute was entangled in the upper portion of the tree, and Altemose sat in his machine about 75 feet above the ground. Local fire departments responded. With the assistance...

Sentencing Completed In Car Clout, Credit Card Fraud Case - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:19 -0600

On March 24th, the final defendant was sentenced following a lengthy investigation and trial process stemming from a car clout and credit card fraud operation in the park dating back to the summer of 2006. A total of five coconspirators were found guilty and three were sentenced to confinement – Daniel Duncan, 30 months; Devin Williams, 51 months; Karen Battle, 36 months – with each to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered payment of a total of $27...

Suicide Victim Found On Park Trail - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:00:06 -0700

The park received a report of a body with gunshot wounds along a park trail on the morning of January 26th. Protection rangers Bruce Eash and Duane Buck investigated and found the body of a man with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. A suicide note was discovered not far from the scene. The rangers were assisted by Schuylkill Township police officer in the investigation.

Valley Forge National Historical Park Adds New Free Shuttle Service - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Thu, 21 May 2009 18:00:09 -0600

As traffic congestion, pollution, and driver frustration continue to grow on roads all around Valley Forge National Historical Park, the park is trying out a new way to keep the park quiet, safe, and green. This summe...

Park Receives Donation Of Historic Oath of Allegiance - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:00:06 -0700

Descendents of a Continental Army officer have donated to the park a United States oath of Allegiance that was issued at the Valley Forge encampment. The oath was issued to First Lieutenant Lawrence Allman, a Pennsylvania native and member of the Continental 4th Artillery. On it is hand-written âSworn before me at the Artillery Park, Valley Forge this 15th day of May 1778,â and is signed âHKnox B.G. Artillery.â On...

Park Receives Donation of an Oath of Allegiance - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:00:29 -0700

Descendents of a Continental Army officer have donated to the park a United States Oath of Allegiance that was issued from the Valley Forge encampment. The oath was issued to First Lieutenant Lawrence Allman, a Pennsylvania native and member of the Continental 4^th Artillery. On it is hand-written âSworn before me at the Artillery Park, Valley Forge this 15^th day of May 1778,â and is signed âHKnox B.G. Artillery.â ...

Man Sentenced For Armed Assault On Rangers - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:00:31 -0700

Daniel McColgan was sentenced on February 5th for an attack on two rangers that occurred in the park in the summer of 2007. A federal magistrate sentenced him to 72 months in prison without parole for the armed assault on rangers Duane Buck and John Waterman. McColgan will also serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his six year sentence. McColgan was contacted on June 23, 2007 for being in a closed area. Further checks on him revealed an outstanding warrant for a previous...

Five Indicted For Credit Card Theft - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:01:25 -0600

The U.S. Attorney's Office has announced the indictment of five alleged identity thieves who targeting visitors to the park. Charged were Daniel Duncan, 28, Devin Williams, 29, Ulonda Lewis, 28, and Sakisa Shelton, 32, all of Philadelphia, and Karen Battle, 34, of Wyncote. The indictment, issued last Thursday, alleges that from July to November 2006, the defendants stole credit cards from park visitors by breaking into cars and stealing wallets. They then immediately used the cards at nearby ...

Valley Forge Revolutionary Run Sets Participation, Proceeds Records - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:00:21 -0600

A record was set at this yearâs Valley Forge Revolutionary Five-mile Run - but not by a runner. Thanks to a 20 percent increase in the number of participants and sponsors, the event raised $31,000; the most in its three-year history.

Translating History. Park Cell Phone Tour Offered in Spanish - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:00:12 -0600

Valley Forge National Historical Parkâs popular cell phone tour has a new twist. Itâs now available in Spanish. âWeâre striving to make certain every visitor has an enjoyable and meaningful experience here. And each enhancement to services, like our cell phone tour, moves us closer to best meeting our visitorsâ needs,â said Park Superintendent Mike Caldwell. Park visitation by Spanish-speaking guests has increased as nearby communities expe...

Record Turn-out for Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-mile Run - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:00:11 -0600

Nearly 1,500 Run, Walk in Third Annual Event Runners from as far away as Omaha, Neb. and Arlington, Va. helped make Sundayâs Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run, at Valley Forge National Historical Park, a record-breaking success. A total of 1,270 runners registered for the five-mile race, an increase of 20 percent over last year. Another 159 people trekked the three-mile walk and 66 kids ran the one-mile youth fun run. âThe run w...

Join the Army Junior Ranger Program - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:00:12 -0700

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - Valley Forge Parkâs Join the Continental Army program for kids continues to grow in popularity. The program was started in 2006 as a way to get local children to visit Valley Forge and become interested in the American Revolution. Recruits ages 6 through 12 are mustered-in to the Continental Army by receiving enlistment papers and copies of Continental currency. They then go through some âbasic trainingâ to learn how to stand and march ...

Art Exhibit Opens at Park: Valley Forge: Traditional Land, Contemporary Vision - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:00:14 -0700

A new exhibit of landscape and historical portrait photography opens at the Valley Forge NHP Welcome Center on November 15. Park visitors will recognize the scenes but will be struck by the way the images lead us to understand familiar landscapes in new ways. The images are the work of Audubon artist and graphic designer Mike Ticcino, who comes to the park almost every day to run and renew himself. Early on, he was frequently stopped in his tracks by a stunning scene, and began to ca...

Valley Forge Partners with Community on National Public Lands Day - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:00:15 -0600

Valley Forge Partners with Community on National Public Lands Day Volunteers from nearby corporations, neighborhoods, schools and partner organizations joined hands on Saturday, September 29 to complete a variety of projects for their nearby public land--Valley Forge National Historical Park. Over 300 volunteers started arriving at the EXPO tent as early as 8 am to sign on to pitch in. REI was primary sponsor of the event for the third year; they provided breakfast along with Star...

Follow-up On Shooting Incident - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:00:29 -0600

The park rangers involved in the shooting at the park last Saturday have been identified as Duane Buck and John Waterman. Buck fired three shots at Daniel McColgan, 43, after he threatened Buck, pointed a handgun at him, and refused to respond to verbal requests to put down the weapon. Neither ranger was hurt in the incident. McColgan is being treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and will be charged upon release from the hospital. The incident is being investigated by the...

Ranger Shoots Assailant - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:00:28 -0600

On the evening of Saturday, June 23rd, a park ranger shot and wounded a 43-year-old man in response to threats he was making with a large caliber revolver. No rangers were injured in the incident, which took place near the Anthony Wayne statue on Outer Line Drive within the park. The manâs vehicle, a Chevrolet Blazer, was first noticed at the Wayne statue parking area around 3:30 p.m. When the vehicle was still parked at the area at 7:25 p.m., the ranger stopped in the parking area to ch...

Rangers Shoot Assailant - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:00:27 -0600

Sentencing In Arson Case - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 06:00:10 -0600

On August 9, 2005, rangers responded to a structure fire at one of the parkâs reproduction soldier huts. The fire was subsequently ruled an arson. Within hours of the fire, protection rangers identified Carl M. Milito, Jr. as a suspect. A major investigation was begun that involved rangers, local police, local fire marshals, and ATF agents. Milito was arrested in October, 2005, on an outstanding local warrant after being spotted in the park by rangers. He was interviewed about his possib...

Valley Forge National Historical Park Proposes to Rehabilitate Park Routes and Parking Lots - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 06:00:10 -0600

Superintendent Mike Caldwell announced today the availability of an Environmental Assessment/Assessment of Effect (EA/AoE) for public review. The EA/AoE presents and analyzes the impacts of two alternative plans, including a No-Action Alternative, for rehabilitating park tour roads and parking lots to improve circulation and for rehabilitating the commemorative landscape of the park. The action alternative includes the following elements: ? Replacing a former connector road for p...

Park Now Offering Guided Cell Phone Tours - Valley Forge National Historical Park

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 06:00:16 -0600

Valley Forge National Historical Park is now using cell phone technology to bring the stories of this special place to life for all users.

âWeâre using this technology to get our message out in a new way thatâs convenient and easy to use for almost everyone,â said park superintendent, Mike Caldwell. âSince visitors use their own cell phones, there are no rental fees, no equipment to store, nothing to check in or out, so itâs that much easier.âÂ
...