The Greater Philadelphia Area
Presented by Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society
Events are free to the public
Wednesday, November 15
To be held at:
Journey’s Way
403 Rector Street
Philadelphia, PA 19128
@ 7 PM
Guest Speaker — Mike Jesberger, Historical Educator – “The Common Soldier of the American Revolution”
Fort Washington State Park is located in Montgomery County, PA. It was camp for George Washington and the Continental Army before marching to Valley Forge.
The park is free to the public and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The exact spot where Washington’s cannons stood has been turned into a State Park. A deck has been erected that overlooks the Wissahickon Valley. From here, you can walk in Washington’s footsteps as you look out toward Germantown. At the end of the deck, a special “wildlife area” is being nurtured. A public log shows sightings of nearly 60 different species of butterflies. The same holds true with birds. The end of the deck reveals a spectrum of song and humming birds numbering near 200. Every year volunteers conduct a raptor census while the hawks are migrating.
In September and October of 1777, Washington’s troops suffered serious losses throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region including the Battle of Brandywine in Chester County and the Battle of Germantown in Philadelphia.
After his loss in Germantown, Washington retreated through Montgomery County to an area now known as Fort Washington and Militia Hill. Fort Washington turned out to be an excellent place for protecting the Colonial position, watching British troop movements, and preparing for the winter in Valley Forge.