Celebrating America’s Victory Towns
The Trenton Battle Monument depicts General George Washington high above the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in New Jerseys’ capital city, one of nearly 200 Victory Towns.
The United States of America has nearly 20,000 incorporated cities, towns, and villages, and yet fewer than 200, less than 1 percent, are what we call “Victory Towns” because they were witnesses to the 700-mile march of American and French troops to Yorktown, Virginia, where they achieved victory in the American Revolution.
Thousands of American and French troops marched through these Victory Towns in 1781, en route to victory at the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, where they forced the surrender of the British General Cornwallis. It was one of the largest military maneuvers in the United States, leading to the establishment of the world’s first enduring democracy.
In 2026, those Victory Towns have an opportunity to party like its 1781! As every other town prepares for the 250th anniversary of the nation in 2026, we’re partnering with the towns of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route to raise awareness and pride in their communities for the special role they played in achieving American independence.
Do you live in a Victory Town? The trail passes through nine states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia—and the District of Columbia. If you live in one of these states, check our interactive map to see if the trail passes through your city or town.
In addition to towns located on the main trail, the program also includes towns on several side routes, such as General Hazen’s route in New Jersey and ports of the water route taken by French ships.
If you live in a Victory Town, we hope you’ll encourage your local governing officials to join our celebration of the 250th anniversary, known as the semi-quincentennial. It’s just around the corner! Municipalities or counties of the trail may choose to delegate local participation to a nonprofit, or work with W3R-US directly.
Even if you live somewhere else, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is a great vacation opportunity! Consider traveling the trail and visiting some of the incredible sites along the way. You’ll discover so many untold stories of the American Revolution, including the vital role played by our French allies, the racially diverse Continental Army, and the places where Washington and Rochambeau developed and revised their strategies to establish an independent nation based on the idea that all men are created equal.
Below is a downloadable PDF form to sign up for the Victory Towns program. Please fill this form out and either email the completed form to victorytowns@w3r-us.org or print and mail to:
P.O. Box 38255
Baltimore, MD 21231
