Valley Forge National Historical Park, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Today we headed to Valley Forge National Historical Park which preserves the site and interprets the history of the Valley Forge encampment.

General George Washington led the main body of the Continental Army of approximately 12,000 which encamped here at Valley Forge from December 1777 to June 1778.

Cabins have been constructed to demonstrate the conditions under which the soldiers endured the winter at Valley Forge.

Interpreters are dressed in the garb of the day and display items used by the troops to survive the winter.

The National Memorial Arch is inscribed with Washington's tribute to his army:

"Naked and Starving as they are

We cannot enough admire

the Incomparable Patience and Fidelity

of the Soldiery."

General Knox' Quarters during the encampment is in the process of rehabilitation in preparation for future use.

The Knox Covered Bridge was built over Valley Creek in 1865. It is still used by over 2,000 vehicles per day and has a height clearance of only 10 feet.

General George Washington's headquarters during the encampment is open to the public. George's wife, Martha, lived with him here during the later months of the encampment.

Incredibly, George Washington's Headquarters wasn't declared a National Historic Landmark until 1972.

The house's interior contains many actual and recreated artifacts of the revolutionary period.

Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben served as inspector general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

He is credited with teaching the army the essentials of military drills and discipline and wrote the standard United States drill manual which was used until the War of 1812.

The Washington Memorial Chapel was completed in 1917 and serves as a National Memorial to General Washington, as well as being an active Episcopal Parish.

The church features The National Patriots Bell Tower with its carillon of 58 tuned bronze bells, representing all states and U.S. territories.

Listen to the music of The National Patriots Bell Tower in the first portion of this video.

The entry hall to the church.

The interior of the church.

The ceiling of the church.

The church is surrounded by gardens and statues and also features its own thrift store.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/june/philadelphia/ pictures 1-62.

To be continued...

Views of Atlantic City and Square Dancing

Today we took a drive to the city that is "always turned on"...Atlantic City.

The visitor center located right in the median of the Atlantic City Expressway will provide you information on many things to do in the city. First thing to know...there is NO free parking at Atlantic City casinos unless you have gambled enough to become a Gold Card holder.

Atlantic City is surrounded by water. This is a view from the Atlantic City Expressway.

Atlantic City has several casinos surrounded by a lot of shopping with run-down areas of the city right next door.

The walkways of Atlantic City connect casinos to each other and parking garages.

Big casino names of Atlantic City include Trump Plaza, Caesars, Showboat, Tropicana...

who can forget the Trump Taj Mahal?

And, of course, Bally's, not to be confused with Bally's Total Fitness. Ain't much exercise going on inside these walls.

After driving through Atlantic City, we headed back to Holly Acres RV Park.

When we arrived, we found some Square Dancers in the activity hall.

Take a look.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/june/drive-to-atlantic-c/ .

To be continued...

Holly Acres RV Park, Egg Harbor City, New Jersey

Next we headed to New Jersey which welcomed us with lighted signs...

and painted signs...

and lots of toll. New Jersey would stand out in our minds as the state with the highest tolls at more than $50. Instead of The Garden State, New Jersey will be known to us as The Toll State.

We were headed to Egg Harbor City and Holly Acres RV Park.

Coming in the entrance...

A little shade and just enough satellite access...

Wanna play a few holes?

The park features a nice swimming pool and its own spring-fed fresh water pond.

There is a cultivated blueberry field and an activity hall where you may find a bunch of square dancers.

There is a very nice self-contained bathroom.

A fax/scanner/printer is conveniently located at your feet.

But where is the water fountain? We don't like drinking out of no stinking old-fashioned bowl...

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/june/holly-acres-rv-park/ .

To be continued...