Historic Significance The Duportail House served as headquarters for General Louis Lebègue Duportail, George Washington’s Chief Engineer, who planned Valley Forge’s defenses during the Revolutionary War’s darkest hours. Recruited by Benjamin Franklin and loaned by France, Duportail founded what would become the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and helped establish West Point Military Academy. His motto “Essayons” (“Let us try”) remains the Corps’ official motto today.
What You’ll Experience
The heritage campus features three historic structures: The Duportail House (1740) – Where Revolutionary War defense plans for the Valley Forge Encampment were created by General Duportail.
The Federal Barn (1792) – Builders Jonathan and John H. Moor raise a bank barn on the property, inscribing it “The Federal Barn 1792.” Today it remains the only known signed bank barn in Pennsylvania and a rare instance of a barn builder claiming credit for the structure itself.
The Jones Log Barn (circa 1730) – Owned by the Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust, the Jones Log Barn took over 20 years of fundraising, planning and loving preparation to be saved as a historic treasure. The Trust rescued the barn from demolition, deconstructed it piece by piece, stored the timbers for years and then moved them from nearby Teegarden park and meticulously reconstructed on a new foundation on the Duportail property.
(The Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust is a 501c3 non-profit organization and operates independently from the Duportail House.)
Interactive experiences are planned to include: Digital touch-screen kiosk with multimedia storytelling Direct connections to Valley Forge National Historical Park Access from the Chester Valley Trail Educational programs and living history demonstrations
About the Heritage Campus
The Duportail House served as headquarters for General Louis Lebègue Duportail, George Washington’s Chief Engineer, who planned Valley Forge’s defenses during the Revolutionary War’s darkest hours. Recruited by Benjamin Franklin and loaned by France, Duportail founded what would become the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and helped establish West Point Military Academy. His motto “Essayons” (“Let us try”) remains the Corps’ official motto today.
What You’ll Experience
The heritage campus features three historic structures:
The Duportail House (1740) – Where Revolutionary War defense plans for the Valley Forge Encampment were created by General Duportail.
The Federal Barn (1792) – Builders Jonathan and John H. Moor raise a bank barn on the property, inscribing it “The Federal Barn 1792.” Today it remains the only known signed bank barn in Pennsylvania and a rare instance of a barn builder claiming credit for the structure itself.
The Jones Log Barn (circa 1730) – Owned by the Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust, the Jones Log Barn took over 20 years of fundraising, planning and loving preparation to be saved as a historic treasure. The Trust rescued the barn from demolition, deconstructed it piece by piece, stored the timbers for years and then moved them from nearby Teegarden park and meticulously reconstructed on a new foundation on the Duportail property.
(The Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust is a 501c3 non-profit organization and operates independently from the Duportail House.)
Interactive experiences are planned to include:
Digital touch-screen kiosk with multimedia storytelling
Direct connections to Valley Forge National Historical Park
Access from the Chester Valley Trail
Educational programs and living history demonstrations