William B. T. Trego (1858-1909)
North Wales, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Widely recognized as an accomplished historical painter, Trego overcame the disability of paralysis in both hands. Notable works include "March to Valley Forge" (1883) and "Rescue of the Colors" (1899). He lived here with his father and mentor, artist Jonathan K. Trego.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
William Trego built a national reputation as a painter of American history—dramatic canvases like "March to Valley Forge" and "Rescue of the Colors"—and he did it while paralyzed in both hands, gripping and guiding his brushes through sheer determination. He learned his craft here alongside his father, the artist Jonathan K. Trego, who was both parent and mentor. Their Montgomery County home was where a remarkable talent was nurtured against long odds.
Why it matters
Trego's battlefield paintings shaped how generations of Americans pictured their own Revolution and Civil War, and his life stands as an early testament to artistic achievement overcoming physical disability.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · William B. T. Trego
- · Jonathan K. Trego
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
John Philip Boehm (1683-1749)
Whitpain Township, PA · est. 2018
John Philip Boehm was a German schoolmaster turned minister who organized the scattered German Reformed settlers of colonial Pennsylvania into a genuine church. Between 1725 and 1740 he founded twelve congregations, each required to adopt a written constitution spelling out members' voting rights, rules of discipline, and the handling of money—an early experiment in self-governance on the frontier of the empire. He established his last congregation here in 1740 and lies buried beneath the church that bears his name.
The Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women
Upper Dublin Township, PA · est. 2002
Founded in 1910 by Jane Bowne Haines and a "congress of women," this school was among the first in the nation to train women for professional careers in horticulture and agriculture. It became a seedbed for organized women's work in the field, hosting the founding of the Woman's National Farm and Garden Association in 1913. During both world wars its students taught women to grow and preserve food for the war effort before the school merged with Temple University in 1958.
Rittenhouse Farm
East Norriton Township, PA · est. 1949
David Rittenhouse, born in 1732, spent his early life on this farm, where he launched one of colonial America's most remarkable scientific careers. A self-taught clockmaker and astronomer, he built precise instruments and in 1769 computed and observed the transit of Venus across the sun—a globe-spanning effort to measure the solar system that placed American science on the world stage. He later moved to Philadelphia, serving the young republic until his death in 1796.
Log College
Warminster Township, PA · est. 2008
Around 1735, the Reverend William Tennent built a humble log schoolhouse here and began training Presbyterian ministers — the first academy of its kind in America and the first college in Pennsylvania. Detractors mocked the rustic building as a "Log College," but it became a seedbed of the religious revival known as the Great Awakening. When Tennent died in 1746 the school closed, but its graduates soon helped found what became Princeton University.