I'm fortunate to live only about 30 minutes from Valley Forge National Historical Park. I try to visit whenever it snows—the landscape becomes absolutely stunning—but I also make a point to attend the annual March‑In event at the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts. So, what is this event all about?

Each year, the park commemorates the Continental Army's arrival at Valley Forge on December 19, 1777, marking the beginning of the grueling yet transformative six‑month winter encampment. As the park describes it:

"Come to Valley Forge National Historical Park to commemorate the 248th anniversary of the Continental Army's arrival at Valley Forge on December 19, 1777, and the beginning of the transformative six-month encampment."

Over the years, this event has taken several different forms. Sometimes it's held on December 19, the exact date Washington and his troops marched in. Other years it's been a night program or scheduled on the Saturday closest to the anniversary, like this time. In past events, the troops would march in, but this year they were already assembling when I arrived.

Below is a panoramic photo of the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts, just a short walk from the visitor center. Most of the park's special events take place here.

A big part of what makes encampments and reenactments so fascinating is watching the interactions among the reenactors—officers, soldiers, and camp followers alike—as well as how they engage with the public. They fully step into their roles, turning every moment into an opportunity for learning and interpretation.

In this scene, the commander is reprimanding a soldier for an unspecified infraction. Situations like this can unfold at any time, completely unprompted. That’s exactly what makes photographing these events so much fun—you never know what’s going to happen next!

Cannons have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. As a boy, whenever our family vacations took us to places like Fort Ticonderoga, Fort William Henry, or Gettysburg, I never wanted the usual souvenirs—just a scale model cast metal cannon. Over the years, I collected enough of them to form my own little artillery battery. I often wonder where those models ended up.

The cannon below is the same one I converted to black and white and chose as one of my favorite photos of 2025. I photographed it from every angle—high, low, and everything in between—experimenting with perspectives until it felt just right. I used filters in ON1 Software to give it an earthy, timeless feel. Looking at it now feels a bit surreal, because only a few weeks after I took this shot, the entire scene was buried under snow.

Sometimes when I’m walking, my mind starts turning what I see into little images or stories. As I was making my way around the redoubt—about a hundred yards from the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts—these alatés caught my eye. An alaté is a defensive obstacle made from felled trees with the branches sharpened and angled outward toward the enemy.

One of them had fallen, and from the angle I was viewing it, it instantly looked like a mouth. And once that thought popped in… my imagination took over. I’ll admit it: it reminded me of an alligator.

Do you see it too, or is my imagination just running wild?

Some photos simply come alive in black and white—and this lantern shot, with the candle burning inside, is a perfect example. What drew my eye first was the reflection in the glass, catching the flame in a way that feels both quiet and mesmerizing.

Lanterns like this are traditionally placed all around the huts during the March-Ins I’ve attended, scattered throughout the area like quiet sentinels marking the night. During evening events, their glow—along with the flicker of a few campfires—served as the only source of light. As darkness settled in, park rangers placed many more needed lanterns around the area.

It’s such a simple image, yet I find myself viewing it longer than most of my photos. Something about the glow, the reflection, and the stillness makes it impossible to look away.

Click here for March-In to Valley Forge 2025 Photo Gallery!

Thank you for reading! Blog #105 will be posted on March 1, 2026. Be safe & well!

Huzzah,

Ken Bohrer