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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

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.

An Entrance to Former Worlds: the Cave, Landscape, and Geologic History of Valley Forge 1 pm in the Meeting Room at Valley Forge John A. Sime, PhD Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania This is a story about how five-hundred- million- year-old rocks, which formed beneath ancient seas, came to entomb five-hundred- thousand- year-old fossils, that recorded the demise of extinct land mammals. In honor of the 17th anniversary of National Fossil Day , Valley Forge National Historical Park is celebrating the amazing Ice Age fossils of Valley Forge with a day of interactive, family-friendly activites and special programs.

Port Kennedy Bone Cave When: October 17, 2026 at 7pm Where: Muhlenberg's Brigade What was life like in this part of the world 750,000 years ago? Fossils found right here in Valley Forge give us clues! Join us for a discussion about the history of this fossil excavation, and about the Ice Age animals that once made this place their home. What to Bring: Flashlight, blanket, jacket, camp chair. Weather: The program will be canceled for rain, call 610-783-1000, option 1 before 5 PM to check on the status of the program. New Location! Campfire programs are moving in 2026 to the new storytelling firepit at Muhlenberg's Brigade. Parking is in the Muhlenberg's Brigade parking lot or along the one-way North Outer Line Drive.

The Bone Wars: A Story of Brutal Competition in Early Paleontology 3:30 pm in the Meeting Room at Valley Forge Liam O'Donnell Science Educator Edward Drinker Cope, who analyzed fossils found at the Port Kennedy Bone Cave, is better known for his role in the "Bone Wars," a period of ruthless competition with Othniel C. Marsh that led to lots of underhanded dealings as well as scientific discovery. In honor of the 17th anniversary of National Fossil Day , Valley Forge National Historical Park is celebrating the amazing Ice Age fossils of Valley Forge with a day of interactive, family-friendly activites and special programs.

The Fossils of Valley Forge's Port Kennedy Bone Cave 2:15 pm in the Meeting Room at Valley Forge Jason Downs, Ph.D. Professor, Delaware Valley University Have a look inside the collections of the Academy of Natural Sciences to see many of the remarkable fossils from Valley's Forge's Port Kennedy Bone Cave and to learn about the diverse species to which they belong. In honor of the 17th anniversary of National Fossil Day , Valley Forge National Historical Park is celebrating the amazing Ice Age fossils of Valley Forge with a day of interactive, family-friendly activites and special programs.

Valley Forge Fossil Day When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 between 12 noon and 4 pm Where: Visitor Center at Valley Forge Learn about mastodons, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, and lots of other incredible critters that walked the ancient landscape of Valley Forge hundreds of thousands of years before George Washington and the Continental Army ever set foot here. See reproduction and actual fossils found at Valley Forge, earn your Junior Paleontologist badge, and hear science talks about the geolgic history of Valley Forge, the Port Kennedy Bone Cave, and the Bone Wars. Join a park ranger at 7 pm at Muhlenberg's Brigade for a fossil-themed campfire talk . The full Valley Forge Fossil Day program schedule will be released in early October.

The Conway Cabal When: October 24, 2026 at 7pm Where: Muhlenberg's Brigade George Washington is well known as the man who led the Continental Army to victory and who became the first president of the United States, but during the Valley Forge encampment there were officers and Congressmen who were not confident in his abilities as a leader. The Conway Cabal presented a challenge to Washington's authority and attempted to remove him from his role as Commander in Chief. What to Bring: Flashlight, blanket, jacket, camp chair. Weather: The program will be canceled for rain, call 610-783-1000, option 1 before 5 PM to check on the status of the program. New Location! Campfire programs are moving in 2026 to the new storytelling firepit at Muhlenberg's Brigade. Parking is in the Muhlenberg's Brigade parking lot or along the one-way North Outer Line Drive.

Art in the Park Outing for Sunrise Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 7am Bring your camera, paints, or sketch pad to explore the park at sunrise with park rangers and the Art in the Park program. Discover new ways to see the landscape and express your creativity! Meet at Stirling's Quarters along Yellow Springs Road. If the parking lot near the house is full, park at the Wilson Rd parking lot and walk .4 miles along Yellow Springs Road to Stirling's Quarters. This program is free and open to all ages and abilities. Program is weather and staffing dependent.