Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend at the Museum

Join the Museum to honor the life, service, and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. over MLK Weekend, discovering the ongoing legacy of the American Revolution and learning what it takes to change the world.

First-Person Performance: Meet Elizabeth Freeman
Onsite (Film), Daily, 1:15 & 2:15 p.m. | Online, Anytime
Unfortunately, our previously scheduled onsite performances of Meet James Forten have been canceled. We will be showing our recorded performance of Meet Elizabeth Freeman, which portrays the life and experiences of Elizabeth Freeman, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won. The recorded performance is also available to watch online at anytime for free.

"Brave Men as Ever Fought" Painting in Liberty
Patriots Gallery (first floor) | Daily
"Brave Men as Ever Fought" is one of nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani's latest works, commissioned by the Museum with support from the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. In the painting, young African American sailor Forten, later a stalwart in anti-slavery and abolitionist movements, looks on as Black and Native American troops in the ranks of the Continental Army’s Rhode Island Regiment kick up clouds of dust as they march on their way to Yorktown, Virginia, past crowds of Philadelphia residents lining Chestnut Street in front of the brick façade of the Pennsylvania State House. Nearly 50 years later, Forten penned a letter to his friend and fellow abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, reflecting on the moment that Troiani depicted in the painting, writing, “I well remember that when the New England Regiment passed through this city on their way to attack the English Army under the command of Lord Cornwallis, there was several Companies of Coloured People, as brave Men as ever fought.”

We Shall Continue by the Philadelphia Jazz Project
Online | Anytime
On our website, watch the Philadelphia Jazz Project's performance of We Shall Continue, an engaging intermingling of spoken word, singing, and instrumental music paying tribute to one of America’s greatest citizens and thinkers, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Developed in collaboration with the Museum and PhillyCAM, the remarkable virtual experience pulls together video footage from their 2019 and 2020 concerts at the Museum, as well as commentary from the performers and other contributors, all to take a look at Dr. King’s enduring impact on the struggle for human rights and ongoing American Revolution.
Note: The previously scheduled onsite Philadelphia Jazz Project performance of their new work, Wait Means Never, has been canceled.

Community Engagement Wall
Rotunda (first floor) | Daily
How can you create change in your community? Guests can share how they are carrying forward the Revolution’s promises of liberty and equality at a community engagement wall in the Museum’s first-floor rotunda

Discovery Cart: Protest in Early America
Onsite & Online | Daily
Join a Museum educator at this discovery that uses images and replica objects to spark conversations about the stories told in the Museum's American Liberties, 1765-1775 gallery. Examine how early Americans used boycotts, printed propaganda, violence, and public demonstrations to advocate for various causes and helps guests consider similarities and differences between the 18th century and today. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Promises of the American Revolution
Online | Anytime
Throughout many of his speeches and writings, King powerfully invoked the words and messages of the American Revolution in his calls for civil and economic rights and in speaking out against racism. By invoking the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, King returned often to a central tenet of his work: holding America and its people to the promise of “the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to all men, a promise made by the Founders against the backdrop of the practice of slavery and the displacement of Native peoples.

Health & Safety Note
As of Jan. 10, 2022, all visitors ages 5 and up will be required to show proof of vaccination; visitors 18 and older must also show a matching valid ID. An original CDC vaccination card or a photo or electronic copy of the card are all acceptable forms of documentation. Proof of a negative COVID test will not be accepted. Masks are required for visitors ages 2 and up. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate these challenging times.