by The Washington Memorial Chapel is located in Valley Forge National Historical Park in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Though located within the park, the church and surrounding property is owned by the Episcopal Church.
The chapel was built as a “tribute to George Washington and the American Patriots of the Revolution.”
The cornerstone was laid in 1903 on the 125th anniversary of the Continental Army’s evacuation from Valley Forge.
Money was raised a little at a time, so construction proceeded slowly. The exterior was not completed until 1917, and the interior not until 1921.
The 102-foot Bell Tower was a later addition, with funds raised by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Construction for the tower began in 1941 but was not completed until 1953, due in part to delays caused by World War II.
The stunning stained-glass windows in the chapel were designed and executed by Nicola D’Ascenzo. They depict scenes about the establishment of the United States and the life of Washington, among other curiosities.
