Help Preserve Where America's Victory Was Planned

Stand Where General Duportail Designed Valley Forge's Defenses

The Tredyffrin Heritage Center at Duportail isn't just another historic house—it's where the survival of Washington's Continental Army was engineered. In this circa 1740 stone house, General Louis Duportail, Chief Engineer of the Continental Army, crafted the defensive plans that helped 12,000 soldiers survive the darkest winter of the Revolution and emerge as a professional fighting force.

Why Now Matters: As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform this nationally significant site into one of Northern Chester County's premier heritage destinations. But we need your help to make it happen.

Your Impact: Two Historic Structures, One Living Campus

Your donation preserves:

The Duportail House (c. 1740) - Where Benjamin Franklin's hand-picked French engineer planned the fortifications that saved Valley Forge. His detailed defensive plans, discovered in the house's attic after nearly a century, are testament to decisions made within these walls that changed American history.

The Federal Barn (1792) - A rare surviving bank barn with its builders' signatures—John Hamer and Jonathan Moor—inscribed in its walls. Soon to become our hands-on Education Center where students will experience 18th-century life.

What We're Building Together

✓ A Connected Heritage Experience - Interactive kiosks and QR codes linking our site to Valley Forge and Chester County's revolutionary story

✓ Accessibility for All - ADA improvements ensuring everyone can experience where history was made

✓ Educational Programming - School visits, living history demonstrations, and community events

✓ "Dare to Declare" 2026 - Join us July 4, 2026, to read the Declaration of Independence in the very rooms where those who fought for its principles once stood

Every Dollar Counts Toward Our $350,000 Goal

$100 Helps preserves a historic artifact or document and helps a student's field trip experience

$250 - Funds interpretive signage connecting our story to Valley Forge

$500 - Supports one month of preservation work

$1,000 - Join the Essayons Society ("Let Us Try" - Duportail's motto, now the Army Corps of Engineers' motto)

$2,500 - Become a Continental Army Friend

$5,000 - Enter the Patriots Society

$10,000 - Join the Valley Forge Defenders Circle

Major Naming Opportunities Available from $25,000-$75,000 for those ready to leave a permanent legacy.

Time-Sensitive Opportunity

With critical grant deadlines approaching and America's 250th anniversary in 2026, your support now leverages additional public funding and ensures we're ready to welcome visitors for this historic milestone.

Why This Place Matters

From the Havard family's colonial farm to Duportail's revolutionary headquarters to today's community treasure, this property has witnessed and shaped 285 years of American history. General Duportail didn't just design fortifications—he established American military engineering, founded what became the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and advocated for West Point's creation.

His motto "Essayons" (Let Us Try) embodies the determination that built our nation. Now it's our turn to try—to preserve this irreplaceable landmark for future generations.

Join Our Mission

The Tredyffrin Heritage Center at Duportail is more than a museum—it's a gateway to understanding how Chester County shaped America's independence. Your tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit ensures this story continues to inspire.

Together, we're not just preserving buildings—we're keeping alive the place where American resilience was engineered.

The Tredyffrin Heritage Center at Duportail is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. EIN: [33-4651781]

Questions? Contact Jim McKinley , Board Chair
📧 [email protected]
📞 445-241-4427