Valley Forge Memorials has the exceptional balance of compassion and professionalism. I was in deep…read moregrief when I needed a memorial stone for my beloved father. Valley Forge Memorials stood out with their communication and emotional intelligence. They were quick to reply yet thoughtful with their responses to all of my questions both by phone and over email. They helped my family and me find the right stone, design, and unique expression we were seeking to honor my father's memory. Picking the right stone, the stone being delivered and personalized, the installation in the cemetery -- every step of the way, I was treated with kindness and respect. The finished stone is magnificent and is exactly what I wanted. I highly recommend Valley Forge Memorials. They will help you create a beautiful memorial stone for your loved one. They are a business that understands bereavement, and they have integrity.

Tucked away on a grassy lot just off South Gulph Road near US 202/ DeKalb Pike sits the historic…read moreKing of Prussia Inn. Built before the USA was established, it was an important inn for people traveling to Philadelphia, which was about a day's ride away by horseback. Originally Berry's Tavern, its believed to have been renamed the King of Prussia Inn during the revolutionary war as a way to attract business from the Hessian soldiers fighting with the British Army against the Revolutionary American soldiers who were encamped in nearby Valley Forge. Eventually the area around the inn also became known as King of Prussia. The Inn was situated on a major travel route that became US-202. As the area grew, the Inn was in danger of demolition as 202 was widened. It spent approximately 45 years marooned on a patch of land surrounded by freeway. By 1975 the vacant, fenced and boarded up Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. By 1998 it was again in jeopardy of demolition as more road improvements were planned for 202. A plan was hatched to move the Inn to land nearby donated by PECO Electric, and by August 2000 it was moved to its' current location. It now serves as headquarters for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia and a couple small businesses. The Chamber of Commerce meeting room is available for local clubs and nonprofits to hold meetings by reservation. FDC and I visited on a sunny afternoon, not expecting to see the interior. As it happens there was a group renting the room later, the organizer was there setting up and she allowed us to come inside and see part of the building. I'm so happy that this place was saved and moved to a place where it can continue to be a meeting place and a piece of history for future generations to enjoy.

PROS: very nice collection of log cabins that are replicas of what Washington's secret service…read morestayed in. Inside them has some relics of what the soldiers and secret service had CONS: these are replicas and not originals OVERALL: if you drive by and want to see some relics or even get a perspective of what the secret service lived in, then you should stop by

I'm going to need to file this under my "D'Oh! I should have gone here long ago" folder. You see, I…read moregrew up nearby this place. Have seen the signs thousands of times along Earlington Road. NMT has friends who live a block away. Yet I have never, ever been there. This changed when dear friend PhillyGal, up from Virginia for a visit, suggested we go to see the house decorated and the trains. Sure, I know right where it is but have never been there. Yes, really. The Grange estate is interesting in that it's nestled along a slope ending in Darby Creek, tucked at the back of a 1950s single home development and bordered on one side by US1- City Ave. Back in the 1970s there was talk about the estate being purchased by a developer, whose plans were to knock it down and build houses. The neighborhood rallied, got Haverford Township involved, saving it literally at the last moment. The Grange is a historic estate, with it's origins dating back before the Revolutionary War, and it's owner during the war was John Gross, who financed uniforms for the Revolutionaries. George Washington dined there several times, and The Marquis de Lafayette was a close friend who stayed there. The estate was named after The Marquis' "La Grange" estate in France. We learn all of this, and more, from a quite knowledgable and animated tour guide, who also shared that she was the last of the 1970s group who lobbied to save the Grange and convinced Haverford Township to buy the property & preserve it. She told us how they were ready to chain themselves to the gates if needed. Now she volunteers, showing us interesting things and sharing how life was lived in this house. Next to the 'main house' is a barn, substantial in size, and within it for the holidays model train enthusiasts set up quite elaborate railways for all to enjoy. I was impressed. The main house, barn and trails are wall well maintained, the landscaping lush even in December. There is a caretaker who lives in part of the house full time and their work definitely contributes. As this is owned by Haverford Township, there is no admission fee and no fee to do a self-guided tour. They ask $5 donation to the Friends of The Grange for a guide led. It's a bargain. The house when we visited was decorated beautifully for the holidays, with different themes in each room, including a pretty mind-boggling "Santa" room. Note: when you go, there is a small-fish parking lot and there is some street parking in the neighborhood. It's an easy walk from SEPTA buses and The Norristown High Speed Line, so that's a good way to go. The Grange is definitely one of those 'hidden gems' that not only tells us stories about its inhabitants, but also about the role some of the 'lesser known' supporters of the Revolution played in the securing of our freedoms. It's well worth the time to go spend some time there.

Such a hidden gem! I must admit that we came during the Christmas season, toured the house, and…read moresaw the trains. My near 2-year-old loved the trains that were set up in the old stables and my 62-year-old father-in-law did as well! The Christmas set-up is quite beautiful, trees in every room and Santas abound! The historic house is run by a tremendous group of dedicated individuals. They have donation bids set out and I'm sure that every single $1 donated to this place is put to good use. We will be making a point to return in every season as I'm sure the house and grounds will have many different things to offer as the season's change. It was busy the night we stopped by and the parking lot was full but street parking is nearby and plentiful. As Regina M. said, "I should have gone here long ago!"

Little-known cultural jewel in Delaware County! I believe when we took the tour they said this is…read morethe oldest structure still standing in Delco! First, yes, this is kind of out of the way of more obvious places, and is on some "back roads" for those not familiar with that part of Delco ("back roads" as in winding through the residential parts of Brookhaven/Upland, not as in some rural route). You will literally have to drive through a neighborhood of 20thC homes in order to get to Race Street, where what remains of the plantation is located. But it's easy enough to get to, with "Pusey Plantation" signs pointing the way when you are close, and definitely worth the trip. The address says Brookhavem but it really seems like it is in Upland, FYI. The location is kind of behind some project housing, which is so bizarre given the fact that this used to be a homestead on a 100-acre farm. But don't think you are in the wrong place, just keep going until you see it around the corner. The heavily constructed area will open up to a small park and the old home. It's a little oasis in the middle of sprawl and creeping citification. The tour (offered May - Oct), is really intimate in the tiny house, and the antiques and period items are very cool to see up close. The guide was personable, and very friendly about asking questions and showing her love of local culture and the history of the home. They host a fall festival which is great for kids (as is the tour, which they adjust for kids' interest levels). Here is info from their website: "Built in 1683 and occupied by Caleb Pusey, this is the only building still standing which can claim documented association with the Proprietor, William Penn, and which he is known to have visited on several occasions. This unique English Vernacular house stands beside Race Street, the small road once paralleling the millrace that brought water from Chester Creek to power the mills."

This is a wonderful family friendly event to attend and a good way to see the cabin. I hear it is…read moreopen more regularly during warmer months. Be prepared to park further away and walk if you need to as this is in very small space. Apparently there used to be a smokehouse here, but when it was being fixed up in 2015 or 2016, a tree fell on it a few hours after the repairman left for the day. Thank goodness the repairman was not hurt. Many decades ago, before organization(s) took this place over, locals would use this place for the usual of any form of debauchery that you can think of. It was nice to try to meet people and very casual, but I felt out of place. I had attended the Swedish museum's outdoor market and Lucia The Weeknd before, and a volunteer recommended I check the cabin out. I suggest that for special events that you check the cabin out with a friend or a child if you have that option to feel less out of place.

Fabulous site of an early Swedish cabin built between 1640 and 1650 along Darby Creek…read more This is one of the oldest surviving structures from the 1600s.

SO COOL!! So much history here it's amazing to see. I was…read moreable to take our wedding photos here and I'll post them so you can see how amazing of a backdrop it is!! Totally recommend

One of the things I never realized until I left Philadelphia was the sheer mass of historical…read moreplaces and artifacts I was surrounded by. There are so many places that are important to understanding where we came from that some end up becoming obscure, unknown, sometimes demolished in the name of progress. Then there are those that are saved from that fate, usually by passionate historians and community members who lobby to save the place from being destroyed. In the case of the Lazaretto Quarantine Station and Hospital, they succeeded - just barely. It is a success story worthy of a Hallmark special. The Lazaretto Quarantine Station and Hospital was the first of its kind, built and put into service after the Fever of 1793 swept through Philadelphia, killing 25% of the city's residents. This Quarantine station was built by the City of Philadelphia, long before the Federal Government became interested in such matters, because of the devastation of 1793. The Station served as a first point of entry for ships coming from abroad, where passengers were screened for contagious diseases and either held until their health was assured, turned away or let pass. It, along with the more famous Ellis Island, served as a major portal for immigrants coming to the United States for over one hundred years. It ceased being an immigration point in 1895, after which it was used as a port for seaplanes, an athletic club, and for many years after that, an abandoned property. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which gave it some protection. It was the threat of demolition that saved it, when a group of citizens and historians worked with Tinicum Township and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to restore the property. It is now home to Tinicum Townships' government offices. Walking around the building, still being restored, it's breathtaking. The long porch facing the river is stunning, the rooms all being carefully preserved while being updated with modern conveniences. I love that this has been done and love that it will continue to serve the residents of the Commonwealth, not from infectious disease, but serving as a place where they might get a building permit, enact ordinances, meet on issues concerning their community. Call this one a win for history.

We stopped here as one in our party is a blacksmith hobbyist. Historic iron furnace remains of the…read moreremnants of Berks County's industrial past, the Joanna Furnace is a restored 18th-century iron works and blast furnace. If you go there when there is not an event or demo, there is not much there in terms of explanations . The site is not accessible by wheelchair as it is either grass or gravel. Rustic and beautiful but not very enlightening in its current state.