The Isaac Potts House in Valley Forge National Historical Park will temporarily close for a restoration project starting May 4. The house and its surrounding area will close to visitors until restoration is complete in 2027, in time to mark the 250th anniversary of Washington’s 1777 arrival at Valley Forge.
In September 2021, floodwater from Hurricane Ida damaged the basement, foundation and multiple modern systems in the house. This project will repair damage from the flood, install updated systems crucial to the house’s protection and address long-term preservation needs. Work includes structural stabilization, installation of new fire and intrusion alarms and masonry repointing.
“In 1776 the Isaac Potts house was just a humble Pennsylvania home,” said Adam Gresek, director of Visitor and Community Engagement at the park. “But, in December 1777, General Washington selected this structure for his headquarters and cemented its place in history. The renovations ensure Washington’s Headquarters is prepared to welcome visitors for the 250th anniversary and long into the future.”
The Isaac Potts House predates the American Revolution. Washington rented the structure for his residence and military headquarters during the Continental Army’s winter encampment at Valley Forge. Alexander Hamilton, Baron von Steuben and the Marquis de Lafayette are among notable Revolutionary War figures who met with Washington in the house.
After the Revolutionary War, the house returned to its role as a private residence for another century. In 1879, the Valley Forge Centennial and Memorial Commission purchased the house to preserve it as a museum. This action inspired the effort to preserve the full site of the Valley Forge encampment, which culminated in the creation of Valley Forge State Park in 1893. On July 4, 1976, federal law established the area as Valley Forge National Historical Park.
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