Brandywine Battlefield Park Archives

Graphic announcing Pennsylvania's birthday celebration on March 8th with free admission from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brandywine Park Honors PA’s 345th Birthday

History comes to life in Chester County this March as Brandywine Battlefield Park opens its doors for a special celebration. On Sunday, March 8, 2026, the park will mark Pennsylvania’s 345th birthday with free admission and engaging programming for visitors of all ages from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Pennsylvania was officially established on March 4, 1681, when King Charles II granted William Penn a charter for the colony. What began as a vision for religious freedom and thoughtful governance grew into one of the most historically significant states in the nation. Nearly a century later, the Commonwealth played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. The Battle of Brandywine, fought on September 11, 1777, became one of the largest land battles of the Revolutionary War and a defining moment in the region’s story.

The March 8 celebration invites guests to reflect on that legacy while exploring the very ground where history unfolded. Visitors can enjoy free admission to the park’s museum and to General Washington’s Headquarters, where exhibits detail military strategy, personal stories of soldiers, and the broader impact of the campaign on the Revolutionary effort. Knowledgeable guides will be available throughout the afternoon to answer questions and provide context that connects local history to the national narrative.

Living history interpreters will also be on site, offering colonial era demonstrations and sharing stories from the battlefield. Through period clothing, tools, and firsthand accounts drawn from historical records, these interpreters help paint a vivid picture of 18th century life. The hands on atmosphere makes the experience engaging for children and adults alike, offering an educational outing that feels immersive rather than distant.

Designated a National Historic Landmark, Brandywine Battlefield Park encompasses 52 acres of preserved land in Chadds Ford. The rolling landscape offers a rare opportunity to stand in the same fields where American and British forces once maneuvered. Today, the park is stewarded by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, with active support from the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates, ensuring that its stories, artifacts, and educational programs remain accessible to future generations.

Whether you are a history enthusiast, a local family seeking a meaningful afternoon activity, or someone simply curious about Pennsylvania’s roots, the birthday celebration offers a thoughtful way to step back in time and honor the Commonwealth’s enduring legacy.

For event updates and historical insights, visit www.brandywinebattlefield.org

Learn more about the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission at phmc.pa.gov

About Jamie Kleman

Jamie Kleman is a children’s author, playwright, TEDx speaker, and the Executive Producer of It’s Not Mean to be Green, an award-winning book and musical that toured for two years and launched a national Make a Monster Difference movement. She is the creator of the It’s Not Mean to be Green Camp and Licensing Program, a turnkey theatre and sustainability curriculum adopted by schools, libraries, museums, homeschool networks, and youth organizations.

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“Rally the Troops” Brings Revolutionary War to Life at Brandywine Battlefield

Arts & Entertainment

783e12ff754fc5ca2212192764148794 — “Rally the Troops” Brings Revolutionary War to Life at Brandywine Battlefield

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — History will come alive Saturday, August 2, as Brandywine Battlefield Park hosts “Rally the Troops,” a hands-on, family-friendly event designed to immerse visitors in the life and legacy of the Revolutionary War’s largest single-day battle.

Held on the hallowed grounds of General George Washington’s 1777 encampment, “Rally the Troops” invites guests to enlist in the Continental Army, explore interactive exhibits, and witness the tools and tactics that shaped America’s fight for independence. Reenactors will demonstrate musket drills, colonial crafts, and the daily duties of soldiers and civilians who stood at the edge of a nation’s birth.

“We want visitors to feel like they’ve stepped into history,” said organizers with Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates. “It’s not just about dates and names—it’s about seeing, touching, and experiencing what life was like on the front lines of the Revolution.”

The Heart of a Turning Point

The event takes place on the site of Washington’s strategic encampment before the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777—a battle that would become the largest land engagement of the American Revolution. Washington had positioned his troops along Brandywine Creek to block the British advance toward Philadelphia, then the American capital. However, British General Sir William Howe executed a surprise flanking maneuver that led to an American defeat.

Still, the American army’s ability to retreat in good order under pressure demonstrated the growing discipline and resilience of Washington’s forces. The battle also marked the battlefield debut of young French nobleman Marquis de Lafayette, who was wounded in action but famously refused to leave the fight.

“The loss at Brandywine exposed serious flaws in reconnaissance and planning,” noted a battlefield historian. “But it also prompted crucial improvements in military strategy that would strengthen Washington’s army for future campaigns.”

A Lasting Legacy

Today, Brandywine Battlefield Park serves as a National Historic Landmark and a vital link to early American history. The Benjamin Ring House, which served as Washington’s headquarters, and the nearby Gideon Gilpin House, home to a local Quaker family, have been carefully preserved to reflect their roles during the Revolutionary War.

The encampment is remembered not only for the battle it preceded but for the spirit it represents: determination, sacrifice, and community resolve in the face of overwhelming odds. More than just a historic site, the park is a cultural touchstone for the entire Delaware Valley region.

Ongoing efforts by the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force and regional partners are working to preserve over 14,000 acres of undeveloped battlefield land—ensuring future generations can learn from and reflect on this defining chapter of America’s past.

“This park isn’t just about what happened in 1777,” one volunteer shared. “It’s about preserving our shared story and showing how local actions played a role in a global fight for liberty.”

Engaging the Present Through the Past

“Rally the Troops” transforms Brandywine into a living classroom. With an emphasis on engagement, education, and spectacle, the event features reenactors, immersive exhibits, and historical interpreters who help visitors of all ages explore Revolutionary camp life—from military tactics and medical care to food preparation and daily chores.

Visitors can talk with colonial tradespeople, watch musket demonstrations, and even take part in drills and training sessions modeled on Washington’s army.

“It’s one thing to read about the Revolution in school,” said a Park educator. “It’s another thing entirely to stand where Washington stood, hold the tools his soldiers used, and imagine what they were fighting for.”

How to Attend

Rally the Troops takes place on Saturday, August 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Brandywine Battlefield Park, located at 1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children ages 6–12. Kids under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the day of the event. Parking is available on-site.

For more information, call 610-459-3342 or email bolex@pa.gov. Updates and details are also available on the Park’s website and social media pages.

How to Get Involved

Brandywine Battlefield Park is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and staff who lead tours, portray historical figures, and help run public programs and events. While the official volunteer application is temporarily closed, the Park welcomes inquiries from individuals and families eager to support preservation, education, and public outreach.

For major events like “Rally the Troops,” volunteers play a critical role in logistics, interpretation, and visitor engagement.

Whether you’re a history buff, a parent looking to inspire your kids, or a community member passionate about preservation, “Rally the Troops” offers a rare chance to connect with the past—and help shape its future.

About George Rotsch

George is the publisher of Chadds Ford LIVE along with DelawareLIVE, MilfordLIVE, and TownSquareLIVE. He is a professional communicator and marketing consultant. He has worked national brand and local non-profits and contribute to editorial strategy and as a reporter from time to time. He can be reached at george@delawarelive.com.

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Battlefield plan released

Along the Ford

Years of research by members of the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force have resulted in a just released plan for the 35,000-acre battlefield area.

Task Force Chairman Jeannine Speirs, a senior community planner for the Chester County Planning Commission, said it would take decades — 20-30 years — to implement everything in the plan. However, within the next five years she thinks it’s possible to develop something specific for that part of the battlefield in Chadds Ford Township.

One of the primary recommendations was to create specific plans for 13 strategic landscapes that are still intact enough to tell the story of the September 1777 Battle of Brandywine. One of those landscapes involves the Brandywine Battlefield Park and Chadds Ford Village.

“Chadds Ford Township could work with [the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation], work with the park, work with Brandywine Conservancy to somehow facilitate access from the Brandywine Battlefield Park to the Chadds Ford Township building to the Harvey Run Trail that’s being developed behind the building to the Brandywine Conservancy Trail that leads to the Chadds Ford Historical Society,” Speirs said.

It is, however, up to the various municipalities to implement the specifics of the plan as recommended by the task force.

The task force has been working on plan since August 2011 and has now submitted it to the American Battlefield Protection Program. The plan will be on the task force’s Web site within about a month and the Brandywine Conservancy will be putting it on its Greenway Web site within the year, Speirs said.

The entire battlefield encompasses includes 15 municipalities and is defined as the total area where major combat took place, but also areas of skirmishes, encampments and troop movements.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Questions arise over hosting weddings in Chadds Ford

Local News

Who can and can’t host weddings and other special events in Chadds Ford residential districts?

While Chadds Ford Township is fighting a resident’s request to hold special events for profit at a private home, Brandywine Battlefield Park, also in a residential district, does host such events.

Drew and Nicola Barnabei are involved in a zoning hearing in which they’re seeking to hold weddings and other events at Stonebridge Mansion, the 25-room home on almost 5 acres of land at Webb Road and Route 1. The home is in the R-1 residential district and the township contends that holding such events is not permitted in the R-1 district.

However, the Brandywine Battlefield Park is also in an R-1 district and during an Aug. 21 hearing, Nicola Barnabei testified and presented documentation that a wedding was held at the park last year.

In the interim, Chadds Ford Live has learned that another wedding is scheduled for the park this November and that the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates has a committee to explore hosting the events. There was also a wedding with a tent and outdoor music on Webb Road on Aug. 24, two properties up from the Barnabei home.

According to Township Supervisor George Thorpe — who is also on the Associate’s board — the fact that both Stonebridge and the park are zoned the same is irrelevant.

Thorpe said the Barnabeis were told explicitly that they could not hold events at Stonebridge — that it “would never be the case” — but that the park is grandfathered in since special events have been held there for many years.

“We don’t give permission, we don’t not give permission, they just do it at the [park], Thorpe said. “So, there is a great, great difference between the two.”

The Barnabeis believe Stonebridge should be also grandfathered because events have been held there. In lieu of being grandfathered in, they are seeking zoning relief.

Thorpe added that the lack of advertising is another difference between the Stonebridge and the park, as is the fact that the park is state property and the township supervisors have never been asked for permission to do anything there.

He acknowledged that a committee was established to handle “small, events,” but no negotiations were underway with event-organizing companies and that he’s not aware of any weddings being planned for later this year.

”It could be that they have talked to our education director who gets involved in things like this, but to my knowledge — and I’m on the [Associates’] board and very much involved in scheduling things — I’m not aware of that,” he said.

While Thorpe might not be aware of a wedding planned for the park later this year, that’s not necessarily unusual.

“There have been weddings at the park for years, some we’ve known about, some we haven’t,” he said.

Brandywine Battlefield Park is owned by the state and is overseen by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. PHMC spokesman Howard Pollman said having weddings at commission sites is normal.

He also said there have been negotiations with a private company for a wedding tent at the park with the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates (also referred to as the Friends of Brandywine Battlefield) receiving a share of the profits.

“The Friends have had a lot of conversations with a lot of different [entities] but things move slowly…I think these talks have been going on for sometime,” Pollman said.

He said that having special events at PHMC sites is part of the annual licensing agreement with the various friends’ groups and added that the Brandywine group has talked about adding a pavilion and even received some money for the project but it wasn’t enough.

Pollman also said that improvements to the visitors’ center could make the site more attractive for corporate events.

“The idea of hosting a special event, a wedding or whatever, is not alien to us. It happens at all of our sites…The Friends can do this as part of their licensing agreement.”

About Rich Schwartzman

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Run for the park set for November

Local News

A 5-K run to benefit the Friends of the Brandywine Battlefield is scheduled for Nov. 2 at, appropriately enough, the park.

Tyler Therriault, one of the event organizers, said the goal is to raise money to keep the Brandywine Battlefield Park operational, even without state money. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission stopped funding park operations in 2009 and the friends group has been holding things together on a shoestring since.

Therriault and the others are looking for sponsors and runners. He said $15,000 has already been raised, but they want more.

“We would love to raise $30,000 to $35,000. If we could get $50,000, that would be great,” he said. “Every little bit helps the battlefield. We want to help keep it open.”

There are several tiers for sponsorship, ranging from $500 to $5,000. There is also a $20 entrance fee for participants.

Runners will leave the park, head north to Heyburn Road, then down to Ridge Road and over to Ring Road, then down Ring and finishing at the township building across from the park, Therriault said.

He added that people shouldn’t feel too bad if they can’t run the entire distance.

“It’s labeled as a 5K run, but of course I’m not sure I can run the whole thing so I’ll be walking some of it. We’ll just appreciate the effort and the appearances,” he added.

Organizers are looking to make this an annual event that will become bigger and “more elaborate” every year. This year’s participant goal is 250 runners.

As one would expect, Rich Bowers, president of the friends’ group is pleased with the effort.

“Anything that anybody is willing to do for us is a wonderful thing,” Bowers said.

For more information on the run, to sponsor or participate, go to http://brandywinebattlefield5k.com

About Rich Schwartzman

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Privatize the park

Opinion

The legacy of the colonial soldiers who fought the Battle of Brandywine — and that of those who fought in all of the other battles in the American War of Independence — deserves to be preserved.

So, It’s frustrating to hear that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania still doesn’t know what it wants to do with the Brandywine Battlefield Park. The park’s status is “up in the air,” according to Stephen Miller, the director for the Bureau of Historic Sites/Museums, a division of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Miller made the comment during a meeting of the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force held at the park on June 7. The task force is looking for ways to preserve the battlefield landmark, but it seems the park itself is not a priority.

PHMC still pays for maintenance of the site on Route 1, but stopped funding the day-to-day operation in August of 2009 because of state budget tightening. After a brief shutdown, the Friends of the Brandywine Battlefield were allowed to reopen the park, but it’s not open full time.

As reported in this issue of ChaddsFordLive.com, Miller said PHMC is looking at different models of operation and that: “The status of the park is not yet fully determined.”

It’s been three years. What’s the state waiting for?

There’s been some unofficial speculation that it’s waiting for the legislature to get its fiscal house in order, and then resume operation of the park when the state can afford it. On one hand that makes some sense, but one has to wonder whether the current politicians can actually correct the state’s financial situation.

It should also be asked whether the friends group would get something for acting as a foster parent. Of course, members probably don’t care about that. They care about preserving the site for its own sake.

Miller also said that the state is not looking to sell the site. Selling, however, might be the right thing to do. A private entity with a dedication to preserving history might do better than the state at running the site. Another option would be to lease the park out to a private management company that’s allowed to make a profit.

Private management has helped save elephants in Africa and the American bison in the U.S. Privately owned toll roads tend to be better maintained than government owned roads. Bryant Park in Manhattan was in horrible condition when publicly operated by the city of New York, but was cleaned up and became well used once a private management firm took over.

Some people might complain that a private company is only after profit. So what? The men who fought for American independence from Britain were fighting for private property, not government owned land. And if a private entity can maintain the park and preserve its educational function, it would well deserve any profit it makes.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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