Brandywine Battlefield Park to Reopen Next Week

An agreement in principle has been reached which should allow all of the facilities at historic Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford to reopen early next week, according to Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and George Thorpe, the immediate past president of Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates.

“There was a very good dialogue today between Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,” said Senator Pileggi. “Everyone is optimistic that the park and all of the exhibit buildings will be open again very soon.”

The final details of a short-term “facilities agreement” between the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the nonprofit organization Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates will continue to be hammered out over the weekend, but it is anticipated that the short-term agreement could be officially signed by Monday.

The exhibit buildings at the park, which closed temporarily today at 5 p.m., could reopen as early as Tuesday. (Under the park’s regular hours, the buildings are closed on Mondays.)

Under the facilities agreement, Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates will operate the park at no additional cost to the state. Park visitors should not see any change in the daily operations. Much of the park’s current staff has agreed to continue working as volunteers while a long-term solution is finalized.

“This is fantastic news,” said Thorpe, who is also Chairman of the Chadds Ford Township Supervisors. “The Battlefield was the site of the largest engagement of the Revolutionary War, and many people were heartbroken when it looked like the park would be closed indefinitely. We are thrilled that the full experience at this important piece of American history will continue to be available to visitors.”