Museum of the American Revolution

Museum of the American Revolution Rediscover the Revolution at the Museum, located in historic Philadelphia.
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The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through authentic artifacts, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures.

On the brink of a revolution, Samuel Adams pushed for the creation of an American naval fleet in 1775. Congress did not ...
11/08/2023

On the brink of a revolution, Samuel Adams pushed for the creation of an American naval fleet in 1775. Congress did not take Adams’s proposal seriously. Many members of Congress believed that diverting men and money from the Continental Army was futile and dangerous. How could America ever compete with the fighting prowess of the British Navy? How would they recruit enough men when recruitment for the Continental Army was already challenging? Despite reservations from his fellow congressmen, Adams persevered and Congress began buying ships and encouraging men to join the fight as sailors in the fledgling Continental Navy.

Tim McGrath’s Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America’s Revolution at Sea, traces the history of the American Navy from its earliest days to its critical assistance in winning the Revolutionary War. Using the stories of former merchant captains, like John Paul Jones and John Barry, and their brave crews, McGrath paints a picture of determination and perseverance.

Read an excerpt and hear more from McGrath as he joins us next Wednesday, Nov. 15 for our Read the Revolution Speaker Series: Tim McGrath to explore the life of John Barry and his role in the Continental Navy.

On the brink of a revolution, Samuel Adams pushed for the creation of an American naval fleet in 1775. Congress did not take Adams’s proposal seriously. Many members of Congress believed that diverting men and money from the Continental Army was futile and dangerous. How could America ever compete...

Absalom Jones, who in 1787 formed the Free African Society with Rev. Richard Allen and founded the African Episcopal Chu...
11/07/2023

Absalom Jones, who in 1787 formed the Free African Society with Rev. Richard Allen and founded the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, was born this week in 1746.

Born enslaved in Delaware, Absalom Jones moved to Philadelphia with his owner and attended school at night. His owner granted Jones his freedom in 1784. Jones became the first Black man to be ordained in the Episcopal Church. On view in our Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia is a baptismal register on loan from The Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas - AECST used by Jones between 1795 and 1837 that features the names of James Forten and other Forten family members. James Forten served as a vestryman, or lay leader, of the church.

See it before the exhibit closes Nov. 26: https://bit.ly/3H0QRmE

November marks Native American Heritage Month! Native American nations held sway across the North American continent for...
11/06/2023

November marks Native American Heritage Month! Native American nations held sway across the North American continent for centuries after the first European arrivals. By the time of the American Revolution, more than 80 nations lived east of the Mississippi River. These nations were forced to make difficult decisions regarding their territory, alliances, and their futures. During the Revolutionary War, the Haudenosaunee of New York were split, with some of their member nations supporting the British while others fought alongside the United States.

In a Read the Revolution feature, read an excerpt from In Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America, in which historian Pekka Hämäläinen redraws our perception of early America, arguing that the boundaries on many European maps of the 18th century had little to do with reality. On the ground, sovereign Native American nations controlled land and held the upper hand in many international relationships. Hämäläinen’s history spans millennia and places the American Revolution in its broader, indigenous context.

The Cross Keys Café will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 7. The Museum will be open normal hours, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plan Your Visit

🚨 There are just a few weeks left to catch our groundbreaking special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Ph...
11/05/2023

🚨 There are just a few weeks left to catch our groundbreaking special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia!

Before it closes on Sunday, Nov. 26, explore the life and legacy of free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War privateer, and successful businessman James Forten and his descendants as they navigated the American Revolution and cross-racial relationships in Philadelphia to become leaders in the abolition movement in the lead-up to the Civil War and the women's suffrage movement.

When James Forten walked the streets of 1770s Philadelphia as a young man, he was surrounded by the sights and sounds of transformation. He heard the words of the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time in 1776 before setting sail to fight for independence in 1781. Born a free pers...

One of the Museum’s most precious collections objects is so delicate, it has been displayed here just once: George Washi...
11/04/2023

One of the Museum’s most precious collections objects is so delicate, it has been displayed here just once: George Washington’s headquarters flag. If you've visited the Museum, you may have seen a replica of the flag, sometimes called the Commander-in-Chief’s Standard. The original Standard, carefully conserved with funds provided by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution and its Color Guard and kept off display, was the personal wartime flag of General George Washington.

From weaving the silk to dyeing the fabric, the Museum's Washington Standard Project set out to recreate the flag, which is said to have marked Washington's presence during the Revolutionary War. Now, thanks to artist and weaver Bettes Silver-Shack, indigo farmer Rowland Ricketts and textile conservator Virginia Whelan, the replica of Washington's Standard is complete!

Read more about the process and watch Whelan share more in a video about the project.

The Cross Keys Café will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 7. The Museum will be open normal hours, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plan Your Visit

Join us in honoring America’s first veterans as well as those who have served and continue to serve the nation today ove...
11/03/2023

Join us in honoring America’s first veterans as well as those who have served and continue to serve the nation today over Veterans Day Weekend at the Museum with the premiere of the Pension Project videos, which feature readings of military pensions of Revolutionary War soldiers by three living veterans, guided walking tours to Old Pine Conservancy, theatrical performances, family-friendly crafts, and more for all ages.

Throughout the weekend, the Museum will offer free admission to those currently serving in the military, veterans, and Blue Star Families courtesy of Comcast.

The Cross Keys Café will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 7. The Museum will be open normal hours, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plan Your Visit

The holiday season will be here before you know it! 🎁Let the Museum help you find the perfect gift for your friends and ...
11/02/2023

The holiday season will be here before you know it! 🎁

Let the Museum help you find the perfect gift for your friends and family this year. From gift tickets, memberships, and tours to unique Revolutionary gifts from the Museum Shop, we have a little something for everyone in your life this holiday season. Use our Revolutionary Holiday Gift Guide for inspiration!

The Cross Keys Café will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 7. The Museum will be open normal hours, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plan Your Visit

Join us at the Museum this month for the final chance to see our Black Founders special exhibit, plus holiday weekends, ...
11/01/2023

Join us at the Museum this month for the final chance to see our Black Founders special exhibit, plus holiday weekends, special lectures, and more for visitors of all ages! 🍂

📅 Nov. 10-12: Veterans Day Weekend featuring the premiere of the Pension Project videos and free admission to those currently serving in the military, veterans, and Blue Star Families, courtesy Comcast
📅 Nov. 12: Relaxed Experience Morning at the Museum for a sensory-friendly experience
📅 Nov. 15: Read the Revolution Speaker Series with author and avid sailor Tim McGrath for a special presentation, “’What Think You of an American Fleet?’: The Rise and Fall of the Continental Navy”
📅 Nov. 24-26: Thanksgiving Weekend at the Museum and Black Founders closing weekend
📅 Nov. 26: Final day of Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia special exhibition

Plan your visit for these events and more!

The Cross Keys Café will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 7. The Museum will be open normal hours, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plan Your Visit

Happy Halloween! 🎃☠️Though Americans weren't yet celebrating All Hallow's Eve as we know it, the edition of the Pennsylv...
10/31/2023

Happy Halloween! 🎃☠️

Though Americans weren't yet celebrating All Hallow's Eve as we know it, the edition of the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser published on this day in 1765 featured a spooky symbol that was particularly apt for its publication date: a skull and crossbones.

The symbol was a satirical representation of the official stamp required by the Stamp Act of 1765. The newspaper, published in Philadelphia by William Bradford, ran the symbol alongside text that read, “An emblem of the effects of the STAMP - O! the fatal Stamp." The Stamp Act, which faced fierce opposition from American colonists, imposed a tax on printed materials, such as this newspaper.

Find this symbol in our galleries on your next fall visit: https://bit.ly/3u7qYJM

It's time to carve the perfect turnip for Halloween! Yes, we said turnip. 🎃Today’s Halloween traditions reached the Unit...
10/30/2023

It's time to carve the perfect turnip for Halloween! Yes, we said turnip. 🎃

Today’s Halloween traditions reached the United States more than a century after the Revolutionary War. Now, we most commonly carve jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins. But in Ireland in the 1700s, kids like William Burke, who later joined the British Army (and can be found in our galleries), carved turnips with scary faces to ward off evil spirits – like the one in this satirical drawing.

Download our carving stencils to make your jack-o-lantern truly Revolutionary: https://bit.ly/3tPdl60

🎨 Satire with a group of five men walking at night by the light of two lanterns who are terrified by a turnip with a face cut in it placed on top of a sign-post, ca. Oct. 1792, via British Museum

Scenes from Day 1 of Occupied Philadelphia 🇬🇧The British are back all weekend long! Join us as we explore what life was ...
10/29/2023

Scenes from Day 1 of Occupied Philadelphia 🇬🇧

The British are back all weekend long! Join us as we explore what life was like in 18th-century Philadelphia under British control with costumed historical interpreters portraying soldiers, civilians, and spies on the Museum’s outdoor plaza, guided walking tours, and more.

Occupied Philadelphia: https://bit.ly/3t34WeG

🇬🇧 Occupied Philadelphia is underway! 🇬🇧In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia was seized by the British and occupied for nin...
10/28/2023

🇬🇧 Occupied Philadelphia is underway! 🇬🇧

In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months. Join us on Oct. 28-29 as we explore what life was like in 18th-century Philadelphia under British control with costumed historical interpreters portraying soldiers, civilians, and spies on the Museum’s outdoor plaza, guided walking tours, a special family-friendly History Explorer meet-up, a Member-exclusive teatime, and much more.

Occupied Philadelphia: https://bit.ly/3t34WeG

The British are back this weekend for Occupied Philadelphia! 🇬🇧In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia — the Revolutionary cap...
10/27/2023

The British are back this weekend for Occupied Philadelphia! 🇬🇧

In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia — the Revolutionary capital at the time — was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months, with Independence Hall serving as a prison for American prisoners-of-war. Occupied Philadelphia, the Museum's annual flagship living history event, recreates the dark days of the 1777-78 British occupation of the city.

Use our daily schedule to help you navigate the free activities, ticketed walking tours, Museum programs, and more at Occupied Philadelphia on Oct. 28-29.

In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia — the Revolutionary capital at the time — was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months, with Independence Hall serving as a prison for American prisoners-of-war. Occupied Philadelphia, the Museum's annual flagship living history event, recreates t...

With Halloween quickly approaching, we know that choosing the perfect jack-o-lantern pattern can add some unneeded stres...
10/26/2023

With Halloween quickly approaching, we know that choosing the perfect jack-o-lantern pattern can add some unneeded stress. We've created eight pumpkin carving stencils to make your Halloween truly Revolutionary so that you can focus on planning the perfect trick-or-treating route.

Be sure to tag us in photos of your handiwork! 🎃

The autumn chill is in the air, the crunch of the burnt orange leaves is beneath your feet, and the decorative gourds, well, they're everywhere. It all points to one thing... Halloween is coming! With All Hallow's Eve quickly approaching on October 31, we here at the Museum know that choosing the...

Jabez Pottage. Jonas Sunsaman. Brister Baker.Nearly 200 rare documents bearing the names of Black and Native American so...
10/25/2023

Jabez Pottage. Jonas Sunsaman. Brister Baker.

Nearly 200 rare documents bearing the names of Black and Native American soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War are now accessible to everyone at no cost, thanks to a partnership with Ancestry as part of their commitment to preserving history that is at risk of being forgotten.

The Patriots of Color Archive was acquired by the Museum in 2022 from a private collection, following the generous contributions of several donors. The collection of original muster rolls, pay vouchers, enlistment papers, discharge forms, and other documents, some of which are on display in our Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia special exhibit open through Nov. 26, was assembled from auctions, rare manuscript dealers, and other collectors over the past two decades. Now digitized, you can explore the lives of hundreds of veterans of color, from home, and better understand their often complex relationship to the American Revolution.

Patriots of Color Archive: https://bit.ly/3HIEWce

Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker left perhaps the most detailed and sustained account of life in Revolutionary Philadelphia. T...
10/24/2023

Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker left perhaps the most detailed and sustained account of life in Revolutionary Philadelphia. Thanks to her lengthy series of diaries, she is more well known today than her husband, Henry. But in 1777, it was Henry, along with 19 other prominent Quakers, whose arrest and exile captured the attention of Philadelphians and even drew sympathy from George Washington.

In Prisoners of Congress: Philadelphia’s Quakers in Exile, 1777-1778, historian Norman E. Donoghue II explores how on the eve of the British capture of the capital of the United States, Pennsylvania’s government sentenced these potential collaborators to exile in Virginia. Henry Drinker spent that long, cold winter far from home, while Elizabeth managed her household amid a military occupation.

In a Read the Revolution excerpt, read about the difficulties that many Philadelphians faced in obtaining food and supplies in October 1777 as the Battle of Fort Mercer unfolded within sight of the Drinkers' home. Explore more of what life was like in Philadelphia under British control this weekend with our Occupied Philadelphia 2023 living history event on Oct. 28-29.

Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker left perhaps the most detailed and sustained account of life in Revolutionary Philadelphia. Thanks to her lengthy series of diaries, she is more well known today than her husband, Henry. But in 1777, it was Henry, along with 19 other prominent Quakers, whose arrest and exi...

Save up to $4 when you visit both the Museum and our friends African American Museum in Philadelphia! 🎟️Visitors can rec...
10/22/2023

Save up to $4 when you visit both the Museum and our friends African American Museum in Philadelphia! 🎟️

Visitors can receive $4 off admission to the Museum of the American Revolution when they show their ticket stub from the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP). Discounts can be redeemed by showing AAMP ticket stubs at the front desk.

Check out fall events at AAMP: https://bit.ly/46AO6mf

Have a spot of afternoon tea at our Occupied Philadelphia! ☕On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29, Museum Members are invited to ...
10/21/2023

Have a spot of afternoon tea at our Occupied Philadelphia! ☕

On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29, Museum Members are invited to stop by the Museum’s third-floor Liberty Hall for a spot of tea during Occupied Philadelphia. While enjoying light refreshments, “loyal” Members and History Explorers alike will have the opportunity to spy on the bustling British-occupied marketplace on the Museum plaza from the terrace above. Hear British General Howe’s side of this story, enjoy a complimentary warm beverage, and participate in family-friendly activities with costumed living history interpreters before venturing back into Occupied Philadelphia.

Not a Member? Join today for teatime and more perks all year long!

On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29, between 1-2 p.m., Museum Members are invited to stop by the Museum’s third-floor Liberty Hall for a spot of tea during Occupied Philadelphia, the Museum's flagship living history event. While enjoying light refreshments, “loyal” Members and History Explorers alike...

It's Red(coat) October. ⚾️The Philadelphia Phillies aren't the only ones looking to parade through Philadelphia this fal...
10/20/2023

It's Red(coat) October. ⚾️

The Philadelphia Phillies aren't the only ones looking to parade through Philadelphia this fall. Catch the British back in the city for Occupied Philadelphia on Oct. 28-29! Explore what life was like in Philadelphia under British control in 1777 with costumed historical interpreters portraying soldiers, civilians, and spies on the Museum’s outdoor plaza, guided walking tours, a family-friendly History Explorer meet-up, a Member-exclusive teatime, and much more.

Occupied Philadelphia: https://bit.ly/3QpuCv6

On this day in 1781, the British officially surrendered to the Continental Army led by General George Washington and the...
10/19/2023

On this day in 1781, the British officially surrendered to the Continental Army led by General George Washington and the French Army led by Comte de Rochambeau following the Siege of Yorktown.

German-born Continental artillery officer Sebastian Bauman served at the siege and created this map from his surveys of the battlefield taken three days after the British Army’s surrender. The yellow rectangles plot the positions of the French troops, while the blue rectangles show the positions of the Continental Army during the siege. Bauman included the location of General Washington’s headquarters just above the text describing the map. Engraved and published in Philadelphia in 1782, Bauman distributed copies of this map to fellow army officers to show off his skills and celebrate the victory.

A copy of Bauman's map is in our collection, thanks to a gift from the Landenberger Family Foundation and The Acorn Foundation Fund for History in Memory of Alexander Orr Vietor. Take a look with our Timeline of the American Revolution: https://bit.ly/3PZNuj1

Join us at the Museum or online tomorrow, Oct. 19 for a special evening panel discussion inspired by the historical lega...
10/18/2023

Join us at the Museum or online tomorrow, Oct. 19 for a special evening panel discussion inspired by the historical legacies of Black entrepreneurship presented in our special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.

With opening remarks by Regina A. Hairston, President & CEO of the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, and DE, and Museum Curator of Exhibitions Matthew Skic, host Karla Trotman (Electro Soft, Inc) will facilitate a discussion with panelists Steven Scott Bradley (OneDigital), Jason M. Coles (Katika) , Nia Eubanks-Dixon (Creative Praxis), Chef Kurt Evans, and Derek Green, who will explore how James Forten’s successful enterprises, philanthropic mission, and influential networks connect with Black founders of Philadelphia businesses today.

Ticket Pricing:Public Onsite - $20Members Onsite - $15Public Online - $12Members Online - $10New Individual Member - $70 (includes membership and onsite admission)New Dual Member - $105 (includes membership and onsite admission for two)

"In one respect nothing had changed: the morning dawned 'very dark and foggy.' But in all others this was a day like non...
10/17/2023

"In one respect nothing had changed: the morning dawned 'very dark and foggy.' But in all others this was a day like none that had gone before, and no one who was there would ever forget it."

On this day in 1777, British General John Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga following two important battles. In this past Read the Revolution feature from Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War by Richard Ketchum, we see Burgoyne and his stunned and battered troops begin the long march to finalize their surrender.

On September 19, 1777, and October 7, 1777, two important battles were fought by British and American forces near Saratoga, New York, in a campaign by British General John Burgoyne to cut off New England from the middle and southern states. While the British won the first battle, they also suffered....

The British are back this season... and they're coming for your pumpkin spice lattes. 🎃🍂Guard your gourds and your fines...
10/16/2023

The British are back this season... and they're coming for your pumpkin spice lattes. 🎃🍂

Guard your gourds and your finest flannels as we fall for Occupied Philadelphia! Join us on Oct. 28-29 as we explore what life was like in 18th-century Philadelphia under British control in the fall of 1777 with costumed historical interpreters portraying soldiers, civilians, and spies on the Museum’s outdoor plaza, guided walking tours, a special family-friendly History Explorer meet-up, a Member-exclusive teatime, and much more.

Occupied Philadelphia: https://bit.ly/3t34WeG

The process of bringing a museum exhibition to life is a long, winding journey that can take years of work. Among the my...
10/15/2023

The process of bringing a museum exhibition to life is a long, winding journey that can take years of work. Among the myriad steps between conception, research, writing, design, construction, opening, and activation is, of course, curating the artifacts that will be on display to help guide visitors through the exhibition's narrative. Those objects, however, are not always in a safe condition for immediate museum display. For a variety of reasons, like light exposure, age, general wear and tear, or poor storage, artifacts may require conservation in order to be safely displayed in an exhibition.

Read from five conservators, including Joana Hurd, Lydia Aikenhead, Amber Hares, Holly Smith, and Virginia Whelan, who all worked on conserving artifacts before they were displayed in the Museum's Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia special exhibition.

The process of bringing a museum exhibition to life is a long, winding journey that can take years of work. Among the myriad steps between conception, research, writing, design, construction, opening, and activation is, of course, curating the artifacts that will be on display to help guide visitors...

Newly on display at the Museum, take a closer look at a powder horn carried by Joseph Chaffin of the Acton Minute Compan...
10/14/2023

Newly on display at the Museum, take a closer look at a powder horn carried by Joseph Chaffin of the Acton Minute Company. With his fellow Acton Minutemen, Chaffin charged towards the British across the Old North Bridge at Concord on April 19. When the British retreated towards Boston, the minutemen were at their heels, loading their muskets with powder out of horns like this one. After April 19, Chaffin joined the soldiers besieging Boston.

See if you can spot the etchings on the horn, which Chaffin had engraved on May 12:

"FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE AM I,
JOSETH CHAFFIN MAY 12 1775"

See it on your next visit: https://bit.ly/3u7qYJM

Happy birthday, U.S. Navy! ⚓ On this day in 1775, the Continental Navy was established by the Continental Congress.John ...
10/13/2023

Happy birthday, U.S. Navy! ⚓ On this day in 1775, the Continental Navy was established by the Continental Congress.

John Barry, born in County Wexford, Ireland, immigrated to Philadelphia where he served with distinction as an officer in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. In April 1776, near the Virginia Capes, Barry oversaw the first capture of a British ship by the young Continental Navy. In 1794, he was given the first captain’s commission in the newly established United States Navy. His sword is currently on display at the Museum on loan from John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

🎶 Join us on the Museum's outdoor plaza on Sunday, Oct. 15 at noon for a special performance in honor of Commodore John Barry by Navy Band Northeast as part of Navy Week celebrations: https://bit.ly/3rQYcjJ

Join us on Thursday, Oct. 19 for a special evening panel discussion inspired by the historical legacies of Black entrepr...
10/12/2023

Join us on Thursday, Oct. 19 for a special evening panel discussion inspired by the historical legacies of Black entrepreneurship presented in our special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.

With opening remarks by African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, and DE President & CEO Regina A. Hairston and Museum Curator of Exhibitions Matthew Skic, host Karla Trotman, CEO & Owner of Electro Soft, Inc, will facilitate a discussion to explore how James Forten’s successful enterprises, philanthropic mission, and influential networks connect with Black founders of Philadelphia businesses today.

Featuring panelists:
◾️ Steven Scott Bradley (OneDigital)
◾️ Jason M. Coles (Katika)
◾️ Nia Eubanks-Dixon (Creative Praxis)
◾️ Chef Kurt Evans
◾️ Derek Green

Onsite and online registration available!

Ticket Pricing:Public Onsite - $20Members Onsite - $15Public Online - $12Members Online - $10New Individual Member - $70 (includes membership and onsite admission)New Dual Member - $105 (includes membership and onsite admission for two)

The letters exchanged by America’s founding fathers are filled with argument and debate but also with moments of sweet t...
10/11/2023

The letters exchanged by America’s founding fathers are filled with argument and debate but also with moments of sweet tenderness, sentimental friendship, and expressions of love shared between men. In the early years of the United States, men walked arm-in-arm down the streets and wrote effusive poetry to each other. What can the love shared by these men tell us about the origins of our country?

In The Overflowing of Friendship: Love between Men and the Creation of the American Republic, historian Richard Godbeer explores how a new culture of sensibility, religious practices, and independence itself placed male friendships – which ranged from brotherly collaborations to romantic affection – at the center of the new American republic. He asks us to set aside our preconceptions about gender and sexual identities in order to imagine a world that sometimes reminds us of today and other times stands in stark contrast.

In a Read the Revolution excerpt, Godbeer explores how we might catch a glimpse of this past world of male friendship and love and how those relationships compare to our modern understanding.

The letters exchanged by America’s founding fathers are filled argument and debate but also with moments of sweet tenderness, sentimental friendship, and expressions of love shared between men. In the early years of the United States, men walked arm-in-arm down the streets and wrote effusive poetr...

On this day in 1871, an election day in Philadelphia, educator and activist Octavius V. Catto, of whom there is a statue...
10/10/2023

On this day in 1871, an election day in Philadelphia, educator and activist Octavius V. Catto, of whom there is a statue by City Hall, was murdered on his way to vote.

Catto joined with William Deas Forten, the youngest child of James Forten and Charlotte Vandine Forten, to help lead the recruitment charge in Philadelphia for Black men to join the armed forces of the United States following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Forten, along with Catto, Frederick Douglass, and Anna E. Dickinson, organized rallies, published recruitment broadsides, and sponsored lectures. The War Department authorized recruitment of African American men to form regiments of United States Colored Troops (USCT) led by white officers. Over the next two years, nearly 180,000 men enlisted in the over 160 regiments of the USCT. Over 8,000 of those men came from Pennsylvania, the most from any northern state.

In addition to recruitment, Catto led efforts to desegregate the city’s horse-drawn trolley cars during the war years. After the war, Harriet Davy Forten Purvis joined Catto in this desegregation effort.

Learn more on your visit to Black Founders, open through Nov. 26: https://bit.ly/3H0QRmE

Meet Oneida people in the midst of a debate about how they will engage in the Revolutionary War in the Museum's Oneida N...
10/09/2023

Meet Oneida people in the midst of a debate about how they will engage in the Revolutionary War in the Museum's Oneida Nation Theater.

For Indigenous Peoples Day, and anytime on your next visit to the Museum, learn more about the six figures that bring the scene to life — Two Kettles Together (Tyonajanegen), Han Yerry (Han Yerry Tweahangarahken or Han Yerry Doxtader), Skenandoah (Johannus Skenandoah), Wale (Mary Hanonwayele), Grasshopper (Cornelius Ojistalak), and Paul Powless (Tegahsweangalolis) — each based on a real Oneida person and dressed in garments representative of what these people wore in the 1770s.

"This is the best museum I've ever been to. I almost cried when my son, who is Native American, was in the gallery and went to touch the figures that look like him. We spent a lot of time in that room." - Ruth, VisitorMeet people of the Oneida Nation in the midst of a debate about how they will enga...

Indigenous Peoples Weekend is officially underway at the Museum! From learning about traditional garments and participat...
10/08/2023

Indigenous Peoples Weekend is officially underway at the Museum!

From learning about traditional garments and participating in Lenape social dances from the Delaware Tribe of Indians (performances daily on the Museum plaza, free and open to the public) to exploring Mohawk and Tuscarora cultures and traditions and making corn husk dolls from Jordan & Kehala Smith to seeing Mary Homer's beautiful traditional Iroquois beadwork on display, there is something for visitors of all ages to explore Native American history, culture, and their role in the American Revolution.

Join us through Oct. 9: https://bit.ly/3tiRKmf

"Eleven cannon balls went through the house, and we could plainly hear them rolling over our heads... I was more dead th...
10/07/2023

"Eleven cannon balls went through the house, and we could plainly hear them rolling over our heads... I was more dead than alive, though not so much on account of our own danger, as for that which enveloped my husband." - the Baroness von Riedesel

On this day in 1777, the Battle of Bemis Heights, the Second Battle of Saratoga, was fought in New York.

Throughout the Saratoga Campaign, American troops fired three-pound and six-pound cannon balls like these, which are part of the Museum's collection, at British and Hessian forces. Among those who witnessed Second Battle of Saratoga was the Baroness von Riedesel, who accompanied her husband throughout the Saratoga campaign and wrote one of the finest accounts of the War.

Learn more on your next visit: bit.ly/34R70b5

The Battle of Kings Mountain was fought in South Carolina on this day in 1780 with a decisive Revolutionary victory.Sout...
10/07/2023

The Battle of Kings Mountain was fought in South Carolina on this day in 1780 with a decisive Revolutionary victory.

South Carolina's 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia served in dozens of battles across the state from 1779 until the end of the war in 1783. Individual companies, battalions, or individual members of the regiment were present at Stono Ferry, Hanging Rock, Musgrove’s Mill, King’s Mountain, Ninety-Six, Eutaw Springs, and dozens of other skirmishes. On Oct. 7, 1780, southern militia forces including the 2nd Spartan Regiment surrounded and defeated a large Loyalist force at King’s Mountain.

After being hidden away for more than two centuries, this flag is on public display at the Museum for the first time since it flew over the regiment during the Revolutionary War. The newly discovered flag, courtesy of Nick Manganiello and Francine Carrick, is one of fewer than half a dozen surviving Revolutionary War flags from the South. The regimental flag of the 2nd Spartan Regiment marked its position on the battlefield. The flag shows a “spartan dog” as well as a rattlesnake.

Read more about the regiment and see the flag — and the engraved wooden chest it was stored in — on your next visit: https://bit.ly/3r47sAI

Address

101 S. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
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You may now watch a recording of "Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War" on our YouTube channel!

Join Matthew Skic, Curator of Exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, for an exciting look at the artistic career of Don Troiani, America's foremost historical military artist. For the very first time in a museum exhibit, nearly 50 of Don Troiani's original paintings of the Revolutionary War are now on display at the Museum of the American Revolution. Matthew will discuss Troiani's artistic process, how Troiani uses his collection of historic military antiques in his work, and the significance of Troiani's paintings to our understanding of the Revolutionary War. Co-sponsored with The Hopewell Museum and Hopewell Valley Historical Society.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/LB1KLnLeQ9U
Happy fifth anniversary to the Museum of the American Revolution! It was an honor to be part of the museum's development, creating superior sound quality and control in the theaters and permanent exhibit spaces. If you find yourself in Philadelphia we encourage you to check out this wonderful exploration into the people and events surrounding an important period of American history.
Happy Wednesday, MoxieTalkers....

If you didn't know, today is a very historic day in the birth of a nation that would soon become the United States of America.

Arguably, it would become the 1st of many "moments of moxie" displayed by its inhabitants in the foundation of its independence.

Coined the "shot heard 'round the world" from the "Concord Hymn" poem below by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American Revolutionary War began 247 years ago on April 19, 1775, with a battle between British soldiers & American revolutionaries at Concord & Lexington in Massachusetts.

The Concord Hymn is as follows:

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world."

The first shots were by American soldiers acting under orders and the first British fatalities and retreat.

The war would end 8 bloody years later with the independence of a new country born of the 13 Colonies - the United States of America.

So do you feel you would have fought for your freedom on that day in 1775? I know that I would have to seek a better & independent life for myself and my future generations.

Onward,
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Hillsdale College
Museum of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters
Sons of the American Revolution
Kirt Jacobs
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today, my office had the privilege of registering new U.S. citizens to vote at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Naturalization Ceremony at the Museum of the American Revolution. We're so glad to be back in person to welcome these New Americans.

Photo credit: Museum of the American Revolution
Happy Anniversary to our friends at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA! Visitors to the Museum can take in the rich historical account of the Oneida Indian Nation becoming America’s first ally.

The entire second-floor atrium at the Museum is named for the Oneida Indian Nation, and a prominent gallery, complete with recreated settings, pays homage to the Oneida Indian Nation’s heritage. This partnership helps preserve the Nation’s culture, share its historic bonds with the founding fathers, and ensure that generations to come can learn about the Nation’s important contributions to establishing the foundation of the United States.

More info about the Museum: https://www.amrevmuseum.org/

Check out some photos from the Grand Opening in 2017.
Happy Patriot's Day, and congratulations to the Boston Marathon runners!

A state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, Patriots' Day commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord in 1775.
https://nsl.ink/512V

Ganondagan's Site Manager, Michael Galban, was one of the presenters at this year's Conference on Collecting the Revolutionary War at the Museum of the American Revolution

At the opening of the Museum of the American Revolution, with Abigail
Join Jim Christ, the President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund, at 7 pm on April 27 at the Masonic Temple as he talks about this historic battle that has been looked over in history. "Remember Paoli" is the nation's first battle cry and was born of the battle that was fought in Malvern, PA on the night of September 20th, 1777.

He will explore why this battle is called the "Paoli Massacre" as well as common myths such as soldiers being asleep during the attack. This presentation is free and open to the public!

Artwork details: Battle of Paoli, painted by Xavier Della Gatta, Naples, Italy 1782.
Museum of the American Revolution.

Paoli Battlefield Historical Park
🚨 Win a Trip to Philadelphia Sweepstakes! 🚨

🎆 Two-night hotel stay at The Notary Hotel, Autograph Collection, Philadelphia, PA for four guests
🎆 VIP access to July 3rd and July 4th events
🎆 Tickets to the Museum of the American Revolution

Courtesy of Wawa and in partnership with Visit Philly
PA Museums is proud to present Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution and its critically acclaimed special exhibition, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807, with an Institutional Award of Merit as part of its 2022 Special Achievement Awards. Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting American women the right to vote, the museum’s groundbreaking exhibition changed the conversation about voting in the early United States. It was viewed onsite as well as virtually through a robust online display that remains globally accessible.

When Women Lost the Vote explored previously untold stories of women and people of color who legally voted in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War and its immediate aftermath. The exhibition featured nine newly discovered poll lists dated between 1800 and 1807 that were displayed alongside more than 65 original objects, including textiles, manuscripts, and artworks. Abigail Adams’ “Remember the Ladies” letter, the short gown of free Black woman Elizabeth “Betty” Dorn, the wedding gown of Deborah Sampson who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army, an 1811 ballot box from Deptford Township, N.J., and the original manuscript of New Jersey’s 1790 election statute, the first voter law passed by an American state that specifically included women, were among the many artifacts exhibited.

A wide range of dynamic special events and programs enhanced the project, such as evening speaker events and panel discussions, a printed activity guide, a voting selfie station, and two one-woman theatrical performances that dramatized the different experiences and perspectives of Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, an enslaved woman who sued for her freedom and won, and Rebecca VanDike, whose name appears on the 1801 Montgomery Township, Somerset County, N.J. poll list.

On permanent display in the museum’s core galleries, a historical tableau with lifelike figures originally created for the special exhibition encourages visitors to consider the complexity of laws that allowed propertied women, both of European and African descent, to vote, but also defined enslaved women as property. The free online experience explores history-making discoveries and how historians do their work, offers provocative questions, exercises, and teacher resources, and includes interviews with the project curators. The introductory film features commentaries from leading scholars, while a poll list interactive invites users to learn about the women and people of color whose names appear there.
Spring bird migration, our new and current listings, and things to do in Philly.

https://cityblockteam.com/around-the-block-4-8-2022/

Featured: National Audubon Society, Friends of the Wissahickon, The Discovery Center, Dixon Meadow Preserve, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge At Tinicum, Awbury Arboretum, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary, Audubon New York, Museum of the American Revolution, John's Water Ice, Reading Terminal Market, Really Reel Ginger, Kensington Food Company, Pera Turkish Cuisine, Lacroix Restaurant at The Rittenhouse, PHS : Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, The Bourse Philly, Visit Philly

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