Upper Merion Township near King of Prussia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Valley Creek
Meandering through History
— Valley Forge National Historical Park —
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 20, 2010
1. Valley Creek Marker
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Valley Creek is cleaner than at any time in the last 300 years. Threats to the creek have changed over time. Once polluted by raw sewage and toxic chemicals, today sediment and warm temperatures degrade aquatic habitat, a result of paving and building on lands upstream of the park. With less open land where rainwater can sink in, there are increasingly frequent and intense floods. Floodwaters are warm, contain sediment from collapsing stream banks, and wash in roadway pollutants such as oil. Raging waters also wash out archeological resources along the creek, and even threaten the Covered Bridge and Washington’s Headquarters.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 40° 6.063′ N, 75°
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Washington’s Headquarters (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Village of Valley Forge (about 300 feet away); American Icon (about 400 feet away); War Comes to Valley Forge (about 400 feet away); Did You Know? (about 500 feet away); Headquarters Complex (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Village of Valley Forge (about 600 feet away); Commander in Chief’s Guards (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in King of Prussia.
More about this marker. The background of the marker contains a 19th century photo of Valley Creek with Washington’s Headquarters nearby. It has a caption of “In the 18th and 19th centuries, this scene looked very different. Iron works, mills, and other industries were located along the stream. These were ‘working waters.’ Dams in several places provided water power and also created large ponds where now you see flowing water. The land on either
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 20, 2010
2. Marker in Valley Forge
In the 19th century, a mill stood between Washington’s Headquarters (at upper left) and Valley Creek. Like all waterways until modern times, the creek was filled with sewage and industrial wastes.”
A picture of a trout on the left of the marker has a caption of “In spite of its location in an urbanized region, Valley Creek supports a naturally reproducing population of wild trout. Numerous springs from the limestone bedrock along the creek’s length provide a steady supply of the cool water that trout and native stream species need. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation”
A photo of Valley Creek’s covered bridge appear on the marker’s right, above the sidebar.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, March 20, 2010
3. Valley Creek
This photo of Valley Creek was taken from in front of the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,032 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on August 17, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
