The Best National Parks You’re Not Visiting #2: Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

October 2, 4:16 PMNational Parks Recreation ExaminerRandi Minetor

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You’re not the first person to say, “Thaddeus who?”

This tiny national park site in Philadelphia, PA (in fact, it’s the smallest park in the system) brings attention to the achievements of this brilliant engineer whose work had much to do with the Continental Army’s success over the British at key points in the American Revolution. Despite having a national memorial created in his honor, however, Kosciuszko’s story remains obscure: Only about 4,600 people visit this site each year,

Kosciuszko designed and constructed fortifications—most notably at Saratoga and West Point in New York—that kept the Redcoats at bay and protected the American troops—leading to the momentous British surrender at Saratoga that sparked the French to join America in the fight for independence. 

After the war, Kosciuszko led his Polish countrymen in an attempt to free them from foreign oppression.  Sadly, he failed in his cause, returning to Philadelphia and taking a small rented room on the second floor of the house that now hosts the memorial in his honor. Kosciuszko spent the winter of 1797-98 reading, sketching and receiving distinguished visitors like then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson.

What do you do at the nation’s smallest national park?  Take the self-guided tour of the house, read the exhibits and take the stairs to the second floor to see the bedroom furnished as it might have been in Kosciuszko’s day. The diorama-style exhibit features a voice-over that may resemble the honoree’s actual voice and accent, talking briefly about his days in Philadelphia.

 

When you’ve covered these bases, you’ve successfully completed your visit to this memorial—probably in under 20 minutes—and with any luck, you’ve learned about a national hero of Polish birth whose name you did not know before you arrived.

If you travel frequently, you will come to notice that many cities and towns across the country have streets or bridges named for this remarkable man…and now, you can impress your friends by telling them what you know about Kosciuszko’s accomplishments.

The memorial is open Wednesday – Sunday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 p.m.. It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and on Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission to this park is free.

 The Best National Parks You’re Not Visiting #1: Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve

The Best National Parks You’re Not Visiting #3: Thomas Stone National Historic Site