Valley Forge National Historical Park launches summer season June 14 with the Annual March Out of the Continental Army

News Release Date: June 9, 2014

Contact: Stephanie Loeb, 610-783-1013

Valley Forge, PA – Valley Forge, PA –Valley Forge National Historical Park is ready to launch its summer season which is full of new and returning public programs, guided tours, and special events for both adults and children beginning with the Annual March Out of the Continental Army Commemoration on Saturday, June 14.

Annual March Out of the Continental Army Commemoration
Saturday, June 14 from 11 AM – 1 PM
Visitors have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Continental Army along the historic trace road used by the army as they departed Valley Forge in June of 1778 in pursuit of the British Army. Having endured six months of challenging hardships, the army was larger and more unified than ever before. This experiential program begins at 11 AM at Artillery Park where participants will fall in to a marching formation and walk about a half mile to the Varnum's Picnic Area. Along the way interpreters in continental uniform will explain the events at Valley Forge that allowed the army to turn things around and successfully engage the British. A special soldier life program and musket demonstration concludes the program near Varnum's picnic area. Visitors who choose to pack a lunch have the option to enjoy it at the picnic area following the program. Sturdy footwear should be worn, as the historic road is unpaved and uneven in spots.

Saturday, June 14 at 4 PM in front of the Visitor Center
In honor of Flag Day and to celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner, the park and its partners will participate in the Smithsonian Institute's Anthem for America and add their voices to the largest group sing of the national anthem in history. The public is invited to watch, listen, and sing along around the flag pole in front of the Visitor Center.

Ranger Programs and Guided Tours
Beginning June 14, visitors can enjoy daily guided tours and programs including ranger walks to the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts, trolley tours led by specially trained Encampment Store guides, living history programs, ranger talks at Washington's Headquarters, and children's exploration programs inside the Visitor Center. Bicycle tours are available on Saturdays and guided bird walks continue on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of each month.

Storytellers, Spies, and Special Events
Returning this summer are the popular storytelling benches, powered by Once Upon A Nation, that invite visitors to sit and listen to riveting stories about the American Revolution. On Saturdays throughout the summer Once Upon A Nation presents Secrets and Spies, an interactive tour that teaches 18^th century spy techniques to "enlisted" spies in order to foil a British plot to capture General Washington.

The Friends of Valley Forge Park will host their annual Lunch and Learn series in the park's Education Center on Wednesdays June 18 – July 23. The public is invited to bring a bag lunch and enjoy a variety of hour-long programs that range from Revolutionary War to contemporary park history. On Wednesday evenings in July and August the Washington Memorial Chapel will host their annual carillon concert series. Doug Gefvert, the Chapel's Carillonneur, along with carillonneurs from around the world will perform on the Chapel's nationally recognized 58-bell carillon.

Returning for its second summer is the Voices of Valley Forge series, with a new line-up of interactive performances. The Voices series is a public workshop which uncovers stories not often present in the traditional historical narrative about women, children and diversity through place-based workshops in literature, music, drama and art. Workshop dates include: June 26 & 28, July 12, 17, 26, & 31, & August 2 from 1 pm - 3 pm.

A new archeological excavation will begin on Monday, June 9 and continue through July 18 at the site of the 3^rd Virginia, or General Woodford's Brigade, located at the base of Mount Joy. Archeologists hope to find evidence of the encampment period where it is believed the area contained over 650 men and 40 huts.

Special events will continue throughout the summer with the 4^th of July Community Picnic in the Park and the Summer of Bugs BioBlitz. The community is invited to celebrate our nation's independence on Friday, July 4^th at Valley Forge with artillery demonstrations, readings of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, historical games, an All-American cook-out, music, and more.

Concluding the summer will be the second Summer of Bugs BioBlitz on August 30-31. Visitors can contribute to the ongoing research about bugs in the park and sign up as a "citizen scientist" and help researchers trap and identify bugs in the park.

Program details, tour schedules, fees, and more are available on the park's website: http://bit.ly/things2dovf.