Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War (1775–1783) had its heartbeat in Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley.
Here, the colonies debated independence, and in the halls of the Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence was crafted and signed.
The region’s landscape became a proving ground for the fight: the Battle of Paoli and Brandywine, the struggle at Germantown, and the brutal winter encampment at Valley Forge tested the resolve of Washington’s army.
One of the war’s most iconic moments unfolded in Bucks County, where Washington’s army crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, launching a daring surprise attack that revived the cause.
In our farms, taverns, meeting houses, and city streets, the idea of American independence and freedom took root and a new nation began to form.
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9 Must-Visit Revolutionary War Attractions Near Valley Forge National Historical Park
If you’ve explored the hallowed grounds of Valley Forge National Historical Park and are eager to delve deeper into the Revolutionary War’s rich history, the…
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Why Jon Bon Jovi’s Admiration for Philadelphia Native Benjamin Franklin is ‘So Deep’
Jon Bon Jovi, a world-famous rock star, recently revealed his strong admiration for Philadelphia native Benjamin Franklin, writes Lane Florsheim for The Wall Street Journal.…
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Philadelphia’s Smallest National Park Honors a Revolutionary War Hero Most Americans Can’t Name
The Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Philadelphia carries the often mispronounced name of the Polish-born Revolutionary War hero and military engineer and is also the…
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Inside Philadelphia Man’s Quest to Commemorate Ben Franklin’s Early Home in Old City
Richard Armandi, a devoted Benjamin Franklin aficionado, is on a quest to turn the site of Benjamin Franklin’s early home into a memorial to the…
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Montgomery County Is America’s Next Great Tourism Destination — And the 250th Is Just the Beginning
Montgomery County has long been one of the Mid-Atlantic’s best-kept secrets. But as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the region is stepping…
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The Revolution Happened Here: 10 Philadelphia Area Battles That Shaped the Fight for Independence
Before the world called it the American Revolution, it began right here along the Delaware River, across the rolling farms of Chester County, and in…
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Believed to Be First Sculpture of Benjamin Franklin, Rare Piece Heads to Auction
A bust of Benjamin Franklin, crafted by Flemish artist John Michael Rysbrack and believed to be the earliest sculpture of the Founding Father, is set…
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The Global Fight for American Freedom: 7 Immigrants Who Aided the Revolution
When we picture the American Revolution, names like George Washington or Benjamin Franklin often dominate the narrative. But the fight for independence depended on global…
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The Founding City: Why Philadelphia Was the Heart of the American Revolution
Why Philadelphia? When most people picture the American Revolution, they see muskets flashing in Boston, redcoats marching through New York, or Washington’s army crossing the…
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5 Places Where Washington Slept: A County-by-County Journey Across the Delaware Valley
You can’t have driven anywhere around the Delaware Valley without passing a place where George Washington is reported to have spent the night. From riverbank…
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Secret Cave That Used to Serve as Hideout for Revolutionary War Outlaws Discovered in Bucks County
A secret cave that used to house Revolutionary War outlaws – British spies and armed thieves also known as the Doan gang – was recently…
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The Philadelphia Fort That Bought Washington’s Army Precious Time: The Heroic Stand at Fort Mifflin
If you’ve ever flown into Philadelphia from the New Jersey side, you’ve passed right over one of the most dramatic and least-known battles of the…
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Hidden Historic Homes of Chester County: Looking Through Windows of the Past
Chester County is steeped in history, and the perfect way to look into the window of the past is through architecture. Over the decades, dozens…
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“Remember the Ladies”: 12 Philadelphia Women Who Shaped a Revolution
Everyone knows the story of Betsy Ross and the first American flag, sewn in a small upholstery shop on Arch Street in Old City Philadelphia.…
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Was The Revolutionary War America’s First Civil War? You Decide
When Ken Burns sat down with Joe Rogan last month and called the American Revolution “our first civil war,” it caught a lot of people…
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The Greatest Event Since the Birth of Christ? Ken Burns Says It Began in the Delaware Valley
When Ken Burns, the celebrated documentary filmmaker behind The Civil War and The Vietnam War, calls the American Revolution “the most important event in world…
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When Washington’s Army Ran Out of Food at Valley Forge, Polly Cooper of Oneida Indian Nation Fed Them
When General George Washington’s army ran out of food while taking refuge in Valley Forge during the winter of 1777, Polly Cooper of Oneida Indian…
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1834 Benjamin Franklin Portrait Painted By Philadelphia Artist, Other Memorabilia Put Up For Auction By Founding Father’s Descendants
Benjamin Franklin’s portrait painted by Philadelphia portrait artist Thomas Sully and his daughter Jane Cooper Sully in 1834 has been put up for auction by…
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