Grand Parade Trail

Grand Parade Trail. The Grand Parade is a Place of Transformation: For the Landscape and Our Country.. School of War , The Grand Parade was the classroom for the Continental Army’s new Inspector General, Friedrich von Steuben., A former office in the Prussian army, Steuben arrived at Valley Forge in February 18. He spent weeks formulating a new, unified manual of arms for the American army. Steuben demonstrated his system on the Grand Parade. Here, thousands of men practiced his maneuvers. Here, the army was unified., Steuben’s impact went beyond the battlefield. His instructions for maintaining sanitation and order paid off at later encampments, saving lives., [Caption]: Portrait of Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, circa 1786. Courtesy of Yale University, New Haven, Conn., A Land of Change , The land where the Grand Parade sits has undergone many changes throughout American history., During colonial times, it was farmland. When the Continental Army moved in, they decimated the farms and every tree within miles was cut for use in structures or as fuel. The land recovered slowly after the encampment, and eventually returned to farmland. Later, as the nation industrialized, quarries and manufacturing left their mark on the land. Industrial use continued until the land was incorporated into the park. In each case, the landscape was impacted and changed., The beautiful meadow before you has only been restored recently. Years of dedicated remediation and management enabled the meadow to grow and flourish., [Caption]: Top Left. This ink drawing by Ernest C. Peixotto from 1897 shows the artist’s depiction of the Balley Forge Site. Courtesy Smithsonian American Museum of Art., [Caption]: Top Right. This painting shows Valley Forge as it might have looked during the winter of 1777 / 1778 with many cabins being built., [Caption]: Bottom Left. This photograph from 1924 shows the factory buildings of the Ehret Magnesia Manufacturing Company, which occupied land on the Grand Parade., [Caption]: Bottom Right. This photograph shows the Maurice Stephens Springhouse, found on the Grand Parade.