Last updated: May 19, 2026
Place
Wayside: National Memorial Arch
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
On the paved access path in front of Gulph Road.
Designation:
Valley Forge Then and Now wayside exhibit
Amenities
2 listed
Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
The Valley Forge Park Commission considered many ideas to memorialize what happened at Valley Forge including a bronze soldier and various arches. In October 1910, Congress finally passed funding for the National Memorial Arch honoring George Washington and the Continental Army. Its location along Gulph Road indicates where troops marched in on December 19, 1777.
Over the years, traffic flowed around and through the arch. Valley Forge State Park maintained lawns and landscapes, and added and removed trees and shrubbery. In 1996, the arch underwent a major restoration by the National Park Service.
Today, the monument continues to serve as a gathering place for many. Weddings, protests, remembrances, and even prom pictures happen under the arch. Tourists from all over the world drive by in awe while local runners set personal records as they jog past. These activities may seem small compared to what Washington and his army faced, yet the right to have these types of activities is ultimately part of what they were fighting for.
Work crews completed construction in 1914. The monument stands 60 feet tall, 49 feet wide, and 18 feet deep. It was dedicated on the 150th anniversary of the encampment.