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The 19-minute park orientation film Determined to Persevere: The Valley Forge Encampment is shown daily on the hour and the half-hour in the Theater at Valley Forge. The first screening is at 9:30 AM and the final screening is at 4:30 PM. The movie, narrated by Laura Linney, tells the story of the winter 1777-1778 encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge, and was filmed on location in 2018 and 2019. If you are unable to attend a screening of the orientation film during a visit to the park, you can always watch it online! Watch the park orientation film online

Rent a Bicycle Where: The Visitor Center at Valley Forge When: 9am to 3pm Thursdays thru Mondays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from May 28 to September 7 The Encampment Store offers seasonal bike rentals for those who want to explore Valley Forge on two wheels, weather permitting. Rental hours are 9am to 3pm for rentals, final returns accepted until 5pm. Bike rental includes a helmet and bike lock. Please note that bike rentals are weather dependent. Bike rentals must remain within park boundaries. For more information, please email info@encampmentstore.org or call the rental desk directly at (610) 551-7870 during rental business hours. If you are unable to get through, please contact the gift shop at (610) 624-5010 .

Take a 90-minute guided tour of Valley Forge National Historical Park following the Encampment Tour route . Trolley tours depart from the front of the visitor center and make extended stops at Muhlenberg's Brigade and Washington's Headquarters . Trolley Tours are ADA accessible and administered by The Encampment Store . Accessibility information > Call The Encampment Store at 610-624-5010 for additional tour information and to reserve tickets. Advance reservations are recommended. Tickets must be picked up at The Encampment Store gift shop in the Visitor Center at Valley Forge no later than 30 minutes prior to the tour's departure. Reserved tickets that have not been claimed are released five minutes prior to scheduled tours.

Why did the US and the Confederate armies clash in May of 1863 and why does it matter? Join park staff to learn about the Chancellorsville Campaign and dive into some of the big questions surrounding this contested battle.

Why did the US and the Confederate armies clash in May of 1863 and why does it matter? Join park staff to learn about the Chancellorsville Campaign and dive into some of the big questions surrounding this contested battle.

Why did the Battle of Fredericksburg happen in December 1862? Join a guided tour of the one of the most iconic and recognized battlefield landmarks of the war. This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain.

Why did the Battle of Fredericksburg happen in December 1862? Join a guided tour of the one of the most iconic and recognized battlefield landmarks of the war. This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain.

Become a Junior Ranger on this special kids edition of our Sunken Road Walking Tour! This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain.

For more nearly 100 years the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP has preserved the storys of our battlefields and those who fought and died on them. In this special edition of our Sunken Road Walking tour, join us as we discuss the people, historians, rangers, and more that have dedicated their lives to telling the stories of others. This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain.

Welcome to the Civil War Book Group! After years of conflict over the institution of slavery, the Civil War would be the turning point that set the course of the United States into the 20th century and beyond. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month as we explore the meaning of the Civil War and how the past has shaped who we are today through a diverse selection of narratives, novels, and histories. In partnership with the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. September 2, 2026 Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery: Joe McGill 6pm-7pm Meet at Fredericksburg Library Branch (1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg) Joe McGill founded the Slave Dwelling Project with the intent of visiting, and sleeping in, existing structures dating back to the era of slavery in the United States. The book combines historical commentary and personal reflection as McGill visits sites of enslavement. This book is being read in conjunction with a Slave Dwelling Project event in the city of Fredericksburg on Sept. 11-13, 2026. For more information about the event, see here . For a talk by the author, see here.

Artillery Firing at Valley Forge When: Saturday, September 5, 2026 Where: Muhlenberg's Brigade (tour stop #2) Learn about the cannons and artillery used during the American Revolutionary War and watch park rangers in living history clothing demonstrate a cannon firing. Artillery firing demonstrations take place at the firing range located behind the log huts at Muhlenberg's Brigade. Programs begin at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3PM, and run for about 30 minutes. All demonstrations are weather and staff dependent.

On Saturday, September 5th, the National Park Service and local living historians will host an event entailing various aspects of the Civil War. Reenactors depicting soldiers will convey the stories of what happened before, during, and after the Battle of Fredericksburg. Visitors are encouraged to converse with the reenactors or partake in programs led by park rangers at 10:30 and 2:00. Children may complete a free Junior Ranger activity booklet to earn a special patch. The event will occur from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the Sunken Road and Marye’s Heights, adjacent to the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center at 1013 Lafayette Boulevard. All programs are family friendly, free of charge, and open to the public. For additional information, call (540) 693-3200