Gen. Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge National Historical Park Being Restored

Repairs and restoration of Gen. Washington's headquarters at Valley Forge have forced park officials to close the building to the public. NPS photo.

If you're planning a trip to Valley Forge National Historical Park and have hopes of touring General George Washington's headquarters, you might want to delay your visit. The stone house is closed to the public while workers perform an array of repairs.

Park officials say high visitor traffic and related wear-and-tear has created a number of problems in the two-story building. The work, which got under way in late October and isn't expected to be completed until next summer, will help prevent damages to historic fabric, protect the structure from the weather, and restore features to a historically accurate appearance and architecture.

Among the tasks being performed:

* General historic cleaning of entire interior, including furniture, exhibit items, and artifacts

* Painting of interior and exterior woodwork

* Exterior masonry cleaning and re-pointing

* Repair or replacement of door and window hardware

* Replacement of missing shutters

* Replacement of missing or damaged trim on gable ends

* Regrading of areas around exterior

* Repair of buckling plaster on ceilings

* Removal of disconnected electrical and mechanical equipment