Families who ventured to Valley Forge National Historical Park on Memorial Day were able to immerse themselves in history while being surrounded by nature, writes Matteo Iadonisi for 6ABC.

The park is the site of the six-month hiatus in 1777, when 13 disorganized, separate fighting forces transformed into one army.

“It was a difficult winter; 2,000 men died because of malnutrition, disease,” said Don Naimoli of the Valley Forge Park Alliance.

The site has replicas of the 12-person huts with wooden bunk beds built by soldiers. Visitors can also run into park rangers who are always ready to interpret the park’s history for guests.

“We saw the cannons, which I found pretty cool,” said Anna Pilato from Berwyn. “And then, we saw the huts and we saw how, like, they had to survive the winters here.”

The park also features around 3,500 acres with walkable trails and vehicle routes that let you enjoy the surrounding nature.

Read more about Valley Forge National Historical Park at 6ABC.