My Thoughts on The American Revolution Center

Printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, July 8, 2009

Unaltered Beauty Tells Story Best

by Timothy Johnson

The relocation of the American Revolution Center project from Valley Forge to Center City should be applauded for historical as well as environmental reasons. Both the proposed museum and Valley Forge will be better served by the move.

The center is an ambitious effort to create a museum devoted entirely to the War of Independence. The United States' first war has not been given its due in popular culture. Most Americans are familiar with Gettysburg and Normandy, but they blink at the mention of Guilford Courthouse or Monmouth. So efforts like the center's are sorely needed.

But when the project was first announced, public reaction was mixed. At the heart of the controversy was the chosen location on 78 acres of undeveloped land within the park at Valley Forge. Naturally, conservationists rebelled in the tradition of Lexington and Concord.

As a resident of nearby Upper Providence Township, I understand the value of open space. But the most compelling arguments for the relocation are historical as well as environmental. In the case of Valley Forge, the historical cannot be separated from the environmental.

In the bitter winter of 1777-78, George Washington's Continental Army had not yet recovered from a series of defeats resulting in the loss of Philadelphia, the new nation's capital. Washington needed to stay close to the British force comfortably housed in the city, so he headed to Valley Forge to set up winter camp.

Today, visitors can see why this was an excellent choice. The park sits on a hill overlooking the Schuylkill valley, with excellent high ground for defense and lookouts. Head there in winter to experience its chilling beauty, as well as the elements America's first army braved as it struggled for survival and drilled relentlessly. The natural surroundings of Valley Forge tell the story best unaided.

A museum at Valley Forge could not do the site or the war justice. Philadelphia is a far better choice, giving the Revolution what it needs to cross the divide of public consciousness: context.

Center City's Independence National Historical Park is a treasure trove of resources on both pre- and post-revolutionary America. With the Revolution embedded between these eras, the existing sites and museums would provide the American Revolution Center with the necessary supporting context, not to mention foot traffic guaranteeing its success.

Consider how Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center complement each other. One site tells the story of the constitutional debates; the other highlights the genius of the founding document that resulted from them. Or consider Center City's mix of British Georgian architecture and the similar but contrasting American Federal style.

These symbiotic relationships are common in Independence National Historical Park, combining to tell a fascinating story. With the addition of the American Revolution Center, the epic has a new chapter, ushering in a new age of discovery for a new generation of students.

Those focusing on tax revenues and open space miss the significance of this opportunity. For proponents of commercial development and disappointed representatives of Montgomery County, I offer a bit of advice: The best way to preserve history is to preserve the way it was.

Timothy Johnson is a graduate student in the University of Pennsylvania's History Department. He can be contacted at atimothy@sas.upenn.edu.