Valley Forge in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington

June 2, 1731 - May 22, 1802

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

1. Martha Dandridge Custis Washington Marker

Inscription.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. June 2, 1731 - May 22, 1802. , Martha Washington, first First Lady of the nation, merited personal distinction over and above the honors bestowed upon her as the wife of our first president. Her love of mankind and belief in the dignity of the individual found frequent expression in her daily life., The gracious hostess of beautiful Mount Vernon left the comforts of her Potomac home to be with her husband, the father of our country, George Washington, at Valley Forge. She arrived by carriage at this hallowed place February 10, 1778 (old calendar), the day before his birthday, after evading British patrols and fording dangerous winter streams on her trip from Virginia to Pennsylvania., During her stay at Valley Forge, she ministered to the troops during the cold, discouraging winter of 1777-1778. Throughout those direful days, she nursed the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, cheered the homesick, and soothed the malcontent. She was sympathetic to, and understanding of her husband's aspirations to establish a nation of free men., Martha Washington loved her country and her husband. Her compassion for the soldiery and steadfast faith in the cause of independence sustained George Washington during the dark hours of despair, as he labored to insure personal liberty for all Americans. Every examination of her life confirms she served her compatriots to the ultimate of her graceful talents and womanly wisdom., May the life of this heroic, self-sacrificing, practical American woman of dignity be the guide for all women of every age in every phase of life who would daringly and graciously share in the propagation of human freedom for all mankind, for which this republic under God, with its democratic methods, is an exemplar to the world. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Martha Washington Building , Cornerstone , Laid by , General of the Army , Dwight D. Eisenhower , Thirty-fourth President of the United States , December 11, 1961.

Martha Washington, first First Lady of the nation, merited personal distinction over and above the honors bestowed upon her as the wife of our first president. Her love of mankind and belief in the dignity of the individual found frequent expression in her daily life.

The gracious hostess of beautiful Mount Vernon left the comforts of her Potomac home to be with her husband, the father of our country, George Washington, at Valley Forge. She arrived by carriage at this hallowed place February 10, 1778 (old calendar), the day before his birthday, after evading British patrols and fording dangerous winter streams on her trip from Virginia to Pennsylvania.

During her stay at Valley Forge, she ministered to the troops during the cold, discouraging winter of 1777-1778. Throughout those direful days, she nursed the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, cheered the homesick, and soothed the malcontent. She was sympathetic to, and understanding of her husband's aspirations to establish a nation of free men.

Martha Washington loved her country and her husband. Her compassion for the soldiery and steadfast faith in the cause of independence sustained George Washington during the dark hours of despair, as he labored to insure personal liberty for all Americans. Every examination of her life confirms she served

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her compatriots to the ultimate of her graceful talents and womanly wisdom.

May the life of this heroic, self-sacrificing, practical American woman of dignity be the guide for all women of every age in every phase of life who would daringly and graciously share in the propagation of human freedom for all mankind, for which this republic under God, with its democratic methods, is an exemplar to the world.
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Martha Washington Building
Cornerstone
Laid by
General of the Army
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Thirty-fourth President of the United States
December 11, 1961

Erected by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is February 10, 1778.

Location. 40° 6.215′ N, 75° 28.446′ W. Marker is in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It can be reached from Valley Forge Road. Marker is on the Martha Washington Building on the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1601 Valley Forge Road, Phoenixville PA 19460, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Martha Washington Building Cornerstone Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 20, 2023

2. Martha Washington Building Cornerstone Marker

walking distance of this marker: Independence Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); US Marine Circle of Trees (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Marine Circle of Trees (within shouting distance of this marker); First Armored Division (within shouting distance of this marker); The James E. Staudinger Coast Guard League Memorial Fountain (within shouting distance of this marker); Benjamin Franklin Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The 3rd Armored "Spearhead" Division (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Not Only By Arms Can Peace Be Attained (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valley Forge.

Also see . . . Martha Washington. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 15, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.