Culture
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VISTA Book Review: Five Things You Don’t Know About Valley Forge
From December 1777 to June of 1778, the main body of the Continental Army (approximately 12,000 troops) encamped on the edge of what is now Tredyffrin Township. Washington and his generals choose the Chester County village of Valley Forge because it was a midpoint between the seat of the Second Continental Congress in York, supply…
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Chester County Orchestras Prepare for Unforgettable Concert Season
Symphony orchestras throughout Chester County are ready for a stellar concert season with top-tier musical performances, writes Shannon Montgomery for County Lines Magazine. Residents can catch performances by local music groups and enjoy an evening out at the theatre. From university orchestras to professional ensembles, here are upcoming performances throughout Chester County this concert season.…
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Ken Burns’ Delaware Valley Roots: How His Mother’s Battle with Cancer Forged a Passion for Storytelling
Before Ken Burns became the United States’ most admired documentary filmmaker, he was a quiet boy growing up in Newark, Delaware, the son of a University of Delaware professor and a mother whose long struggle with breast cancer defined his childhood. Long before The Civil War, Brooklyn Bridge, Vietnam War, or Mark Twain cemented his…
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Longwood Gardens Set to Reopen Popular Holiday Display with Gemstone Theme
A Longwood Christmas, Longwood Gardens’ beloved holiday display, will return on Nov. 21, featuring glittering trees, glowing lights, and enchanting festive gardens, according to a staff report from the PhillyVoice. This year’s theme, A Gem of a Holiday Season, will transform the conservatories at the historic Kennett Square estate with jewel-toned colors and sparkling details.…
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The Tent General Washington Slept in at Valley Forge a Symbol of His Wartime Leadership
George Washington’s war tent, created in Reading during the Valley Forge encampment in 1778, is an iconic part of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, writes Richard Grant for the Smithsonian Magazine. The tent was part of a replacement set for the general’s initial campaign tents, all of which had worn out. By…
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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 history since the birth of Christ,” even seasoned historians blink. It’s a breathtaking claim, but look around the Delaware Valley, and suddenly it doesn’t feel far-fetched. From Philadelphia’s Independence Hall,…
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Untangling a Revolution: How Ken Burns and His Team Brought America’s Revolution to Life
Everyone thinks they know the story of the American Revolution including the midnight rides, the musket smoke, George Washington at Valley Forge. But filmmaker Ken Burns saw something deeper waiting beneath the marble myths. In his new documentary series The American Revolution, premiering this month on WHYY, Burns and longtime collaborators Sarah Botstein and David…
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Cross Street Park in Pottstown: From Industrial Site to Community Gathering Point
A once-polluted industrial site in Pottstown has been reborn as Cross Street Park, turning what was once a brownfield into a community hub, writes Justin Heinze for the Patch. The park occupies a 0.86-acre site once home to Chem-Rex, later known as Degussa Construction Chemicals. Years of chemical production left behind heavy metal contamination that…
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Decade-Long Research Reveals Details Inside Historic Battle of Brandywine
A 12-year study has shed new light on the historic Battle of Brandywine, writes Mike Rellahan for The Daily Local News. The battle was a key Revolutionary War clash on Sept. 11, 1777, spanning approximately 35,000 acres in Chester County and the surrounding region. Led by the Chester County Planning Commission and Delaware County Planning…
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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. But Ross wasn’t the only woman whose work helped define the Revolutionary War and the American cause. Across Philadelphia, American women, including writers, fundraisers, spies, poets, and even soldiers, played…
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This Couple Has Biked Through 49 States but Always Returns to Greater Philadelphia’s Circuit Trails Network
Fresh off a 622-mile cycling trip through Portugal, Manny and Marsha Menendez are already back riding on the trails — this time, their route is much closer to home. Having pedaled through 49 of the 50 states, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, they have logged thousands of miles, yet they remain loyal riders of our…
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Across All 6 Episodes, Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Take Center Stage in Ken Burns’ The American Revolution
The Revolution that changed the world was born right here in the Delaware Valley, in the muddy crossroads of Chester County, the meeting houses of Germantown, and the narrow streets of Philadelphia. This month, PBS premieres The American Revolution, a sweeping six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, and written…
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Revolutionary November: PBS Docuseries Brings The Revolution Home to Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Before the world called it the American Revolution, the fight for independence began right here, in the fields, taverns, meeting houses, and muddy crossroads of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. The ideas that lit the world on fire were born on our streets, debated in our pubs, and signed in our halls. This month, as…
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New Exhibit Traces History of Declaration of Independence from 1776 to Present Day
The new multimedia exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution, The Declaration’s Journey, traces the history and legacy of the Declaration of Independence from 1776 to the present day, according to a staff report from Visit Philadelphia. The exhibition, which has more than 120 historic objects, documents, and artworks on display, will be open…
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How Secret Meetings at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia Helped Secure America’s Independence
A secret meeting between Benjamin Franklin and French spy Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir at Carpenters’ Hall in 1775 helped bolster America’s fight for independence, writes Michaela Althouse for PhillyVoice. At the time, American colonists wanting to break away from Great Britain were gathering resources and preparing to fight for freedom. A pressing question was whether…
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Take In Scenic Fall Foliage at These Chester County Hiking Trails
Chester County residents can make the most of the fall season by enjoying a scenic fall foliage hike, write Anne E. Hill and Ben Silver for Main Line Today. Here are three local hiking trails where you can enjoy a walk, hike, or picnic and take in the stunning fall leaves. Marsh Creek State Park—Downingtown.…
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Fall Bird Migration Is On, Making Wissahickon Valley Park Prime Bird-Spotting Destination
Many bird species are moving across Pennsylvania during their fall migration south, making Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia a prime spot for bird watching, writes Kalena Thomhave for The Keystone. Birds of prey are among the most well-known fall migrants, including falcons, eagles, vultures, and hawks. They draw a large number of birdwatchers as they…
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Find the Perfect Pumpkin at These Chester County Pumpkin Patches
Chester County residents can find no shortage of pumpkin picking and autumnal fun at local farms and pumpkin patches, write Clair Chmiel, Samantha Geiger and Anne E. Hill for Main Line Today. Here are five spots where you can find the perfect pumpkin this fall. Colonial Gardens—Phoenixville. Open every day from 10 AM to 4:30…
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