Anna Holstein, Who Helped Get The Land To Establish Valley Forge Park, Gets Plaque

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — The first state historical marker to be erected in King of Prussia was recently unveiled during a ceremony honoring the woman who is credited with helping to secure the acreage of land that eventually became Valley Forge National Historical Park.

A historical marker honoring Anna Morris Holstein, who was the lead organizer in acquiring and restoring George Washington's headquarters, and who was integral in securing land that became Pennsylvania's first-ever state park — which later became Valley Forge National Historical Park — was recently unveiled during an event outside Holstein's home on Henderson Road in King of Prussia.

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission announced Holstein's historical marker earlier this year. She would be the second woman ever in Montgomery County to have a historical marker erected in her name.

Holstein, who worked as a nurse during the U.S. Civil War, lived from 1824 to 1900. She was the great-granddaughter of Samuel Morris, the captain of the first city troop of Philadelphia when it served as body guard to George Washington during the Revolutionary War, according to Holstein's Wikipedia page.

This past March, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission announced that Holstein's marker was one of 23 new markers the commission had approved for 2021. The new markers, which were selected from a total of 39 applications, would be added to the nearly 2,300 blue and gold historical markers that are spread throughout Pennsylvania to honor important people, places and events in the commonwealth's history.

To learn more about Holstein, check out this YouTube video from Karen Ploch of the Historical Society of Montgomery County.