Founders In PA GEORGE WASHINGTON
Wendy Royal Winter 2017 updated 2/2020
You’d be hard-pressed to find any place in America with historical significance like that of Pennsylvania. In fact, the Commonwealth’s rich history is among the top reasons that people visit from other states and countries. In the Founders in Pennsylvania series, you will be able to trace the steps of the founding fathers. Part one will feature George Washington. Though he was a Virginia native, it was Washington’s time in Pennsylvania that changed the course of history and shaped America.
From Congress Hall, where the second inauguration of President George Washington was held, to a dozen other locations in and around Philadelphia, we are indeed blessed to be able to experience the man who is the gold standard in leadership and service.
In this Presidential election year, I cannot help but consider this man, who was unanimously elected twice as the president yet never sought the office, but rather felt it was his duty to his country.
Though his last official visit to Pennsylvania was in 1798, you can experience him today at these locations…
FRENCH & INDIAN WAR
December 1753 – Waterford
Maj. George Washington, age 21, arrived at Fort LeBoeuf to deliver an ultimatum to the French to vacate the fort and retreat from the territory.
VISIT:
Fort LeBoeuf Museum
Route 19, Waterford, PA 16441
814-796-4014
www.fortleboeufhistory.com
Days/Hours of Operation:
Thursdays, 10am – 3pm
Saturdays, 10am – 4pm
Sundays, 1pm – 4pm
Open May 1 through October 31.
Admission by Donation
December 29, 1753
On his way back to Virginia to deliver the news of the French refusal to leave the fort, Washington and his guide built a makeshift raft to cross the Allegheny River. Halfway across, Washington’s pole hit a large ice flow, and he fell into the icy water. He was able to grab the raft before being swept away by the turbulent waters. The incident occurred near the 40th Street Bridge. They were able to reach Wainright’s Island, which is now part of the shore.
July 1754 – Farmington
After a skirmish that resulted in an act of war, Washington, and his troops retreated to Great Meadows to await French retaliation. Fort Necessity was a makeshift structure that withstood the constant volley of gunfire, and Washington was forced to surrender.
VISIT:
Fort Necessity Battlefield
1 Washington Parkway, Farmington, PA 15437
724-329-5512
www.nps.gov/fone/index.htm
Days/Hours of Operation:
Sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week
Admission: free
Fort Necessity Interpretive and Education Center: Open 7 days, 9 am to 5 pm. Closed on select holidays.
September 1758 – Ligonier
Gen. John Forbes ordered a road be built across Pennsylvania along with a series of forts to serve as supply depots and staging area for 5,000 British-American troops charged with the task of capturing the mighty Fort Duquesne.
Fort Ligonier
200 S. Market St., Ligonier, PA 15658
724-238-9701
www.fortligonier.org
Admission: $10/adults, $8/ students 17-21 and seniors 62+, $6/children 6-16 Children under 6, veterans and active military, free
November 1758 – Pittsburgh
Washington accompanied Forbes on a second attempt to capture Fort Duquesne from the French. This time the well-supplied force found it burned to the ground. The British would later rebuild the fort and name it Fort Pitt.
VISIT:
Fort Pitt Museum
Point State Park
601 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-281-9284
www.heinzhistorycenter.org/fort-pitt
Days/Hours of Operation:
Daily, 10am – 5pm
Open year-round, except major holidays
Admission: $8/adults, $7/seniors, $2 off adm./retired and active military, $4.50/students and children 6-16
Children 5 and under, free
REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Philadelphia
George Washington made many trips to Philadelphia during his military and political careers. Even after he retired to Mount Vernon, it is said that he made approximately 60 trips to the city. As the first President of the United States, Washington resided in the President’s House in Philadelphia from 1790-97.
VISIT:
Independence National Historic Park
143 S. Third St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-965-2305
www.phila.gov/presidentshouse/index.html
Days/Hours of Operation:
Open year-round, 7am – 10pm. Hours for certain buildings change seasonally. Begin your visit at the Visitors Center.
Admission: Free, but tickets are required at some of the sites. Tickets are available at the Independence Visitors Center.
VISIT:
Christ Church
20 N. American St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-922-1695
Days/Hours of Operation:
Mondays-Saturdays, 9am – 5pm, Sundays, 1pm – 5pm
Suggested Donation: $5/adults, $2/students.
Christmas, 1776 – Washington Crossing
The months after adopting the Declaration of Independence did not go well for George Washington’s ragtag Continental Army. The year was somewhat salvaged when Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Day and surprised the enemy at Trenton.
VISIT:
Washington Crossing Historic Park
1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA 18977
215-493-4076
www.washingtoncrossingpark.org
Days/Hours of Operation:
Park: open year-round, dawn to dusk.
Guided tours of the Historic Village, Thompson-Neely House & Farmstead and Bowman’s Hill Tower,
April – December, 10am – 4pm.
Admission: Park is free; guided tours are $7/person/location.
August 1777 – Hartsville
On Aug. 10, 1777, on his way to New Hope with 11,000 troops, Washington received a dispatch from John Hancock saying that a 260-vessel British fleet carrying more than 17,000 soldiers was headed eastward toward the Delaware Bay. At the same time, a large British force from Canada was advancing from New York. Washington halted his army and made camp at Hartsville. He made Moland House his headquarters until receiving intelligence that the fleet was headed south.
VISIT:
The Moland House
1641 Old York Road, Hartsville, PA 18974
215-918-1754
Days/Hours of Operation:
Open second and fourth Sunday of the month from April through October from 1pm – 4pm.
Suggested Donation: Adults, $5, Seniors and students, $4, children under 6, free.
September 1777 – Brandywine
To prevent the British from capturing the American capital in Philadelphia, Washington’s Continental Army faced the British Army 25 miles southwest of the city at the Brandywine Creek. The battle became know as the Battle of Brandywine.
VISIT:
Brandywine Battlefield Park
1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
610-459-3342
Days/Hours of Operation: Check website
Admission: Battlefield is free
House tour, museum and film: $8/adults, $7/seniors and veterans, $5/children 6-17
Children 5 and under and active military, free
October 1777 – Germantown
Washington’s nighttime campaign against the British forced Gen. William Howe’s troops to retreat. But the dense fog had the Continental Army firing on its own positions, so it had to retreat as well. The battles of Brandywine and Germantown had resulted in the loss of 20-percent of Washington’s army.
VISIT:
Cliveden
6401 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-848-1777
Days/Hours of Operation:
April through August, Thursday – Sunday from noon – 4pm. September – November, Friday – Sunday. Tours begin on the hour. Last tour at 3pm.
Admission: $10/adults, $8/students. Children under 6/free
October 1777 – Norristown
After the Battle of Germantown, Peter Wentz Farmstead became the temporary headquarters of Washington before moving on to Valley Forge.
VISIT:
Peter Wentz Farmstead Historic Site
2030 Shearer Road, Lansdale, PA 19446
610-584-5104
Days/Hours of Operation:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10am – 4pm, Sunday, 1pm – 4pm
Suggested Donation: $2/person
November 2 – December 11, 1777 – Whitemarsh
Gen. Washington and the Continental Army encamped at Whitemarsh Hills for a six week period following in the Battle of Germantown. George Washington’s Surgeon General used Whitemarsh Estate (now known as Hope Lodge) as his headquarters.
VISIT:
Hope Lodge Historic Site
553 S. Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA 19034
215-646-1595
Days/Hours of Operation:
Open every Sunday from April 7 through October 27. Visit from 12:30pm to 4pm, with guided tours at 1pm and 2:30pm.
Admission: $8/adults, $5/seniors and youths 6-17. Children under 6 and active military and their families, free
Winter 1777-78 – Valley Forge
Washington’s time at Valley Forge proved to be one of the most challenging of his storied military career. His men were not adequately fed or clothed. Of the 12,000 troops that marched into Valley Forge, the force was reduced to 6,000 due to death, disease and desertion. His many pleas for provisions seemed to fall on deaf ears.
VISIT:
Valley Forge National Historical Park
1400 N. Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-783-1000
Days/Hours of Operation:
Park: open year-round, 7 am to dark. Check website for days/hours of Visitor Center, Washington’s Headquarters, Washington Memorial Chapel and other park attractions.
Admission to the park is free.
WHISKEY REBELLION
October 1794 – Bedford
President George Washington became the only sitting president to lead his troops into battle when he did so during the Whiskey Rebellion. The Espy House in Bedford served as his headquarters.
VISIT:
Fort Bedford Museum
110 Fort Bedford Drive
Bedford , PA 15522
814-623-8891
Days/Hours of Operation:
Wednesdays – Saturdays, 10am – 5pm, Sundays, 10am – 4pm
Closed Tuesdays
Open May through October
Admission: $7/adults, $6/seniors, $5/students. Children under 6 and active military, free
SHARE
PRINT