Memorial Day Weekend 2023 at the Museum

Join the Museum over Memorial Day Weekend to pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in service to their country during the Revolutionary War and celebrate the freedoms they fought to secure for future generations.

Veterans, military, and Blue Star Families enjoy free admission throughout Memorial Day Weekend.

Special Exhibit: Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia
Onsite (Patriots Gallery) | Daily, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In the Museum’s newest special exhibition, 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. Don’t miss your chance to join a Museum educator for a 10-minute, in-gallery talk remembering the service of Black soldiers during the Civil War.

Guided Gallery Tours & Neighborhood Walking Tours
Onsite | Options Vary Daily
Additional Ticket Required for Tours
Explore the Museum and its historic neighborhood with an expert guide! Tours include 90-minute outdoor walking tours that explore iconic sites in the Museum’s historic Old City neighborhood, hour-long tours of our core galleries, hour-long early-access guided tours for a private experience, and audio tours. 

Revolution Place
Onsite (lower level) | Daily, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Explore Revolution Place, the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, which brings to life Old City’s lively, diverse neighborhood during the1700s and invites visitors to learn through hands-on exploration. Kids of all ages can immerse themselves in four historical environments – a military encampment, a tavern, a parlor, and an 18th-century meeting house – to experience the places where the American Revolution took root. Don’t miss your chance to make a memorial ribbon based on those given to surviving veterans of the Battle of Bunker Hill at a 50-year commemoration in 1825.

“Meet Joseph Plumb Martin” Performances
Onsite (Alan B. Miller Theater) | Daily, 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Experience the Museum’s first-person theatrical performance portraying Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin, performed by Jaried Kimberley and written by Ryan Schwartz. Martin was one of the thousands of teenaged soldiers in General George Washington's army. He wanted to prove he was "as warm a patriot as the best of them." In June 1776, he left Milford, Conn. and joined the Continental Army in New York City. Martin went on to write Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier, which was published in 1830 and is one of the best-known Revolutionary War memoirs depicting the life of an ordinary soldier.

Discovery Cart: Black Soldiers of the Revolution
Onsite (Robert A.M. Stern Rotunda) | Daily, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Join a Museum educator to view and handle replica objects to learn more about the service of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

Unpacking a Sea Chest
Onsite (Core Galleries) | Daily
All hands on deck on the Museum’s replica sloop! Join a Museum educator for a story about what life was like at sea during the Revolutionary War and see what sailors and privateers carried on board.

Gallery Guide: Remembering Fallen Revolutionaries
Onsite | Daily
The Museum tells the stories of many of our nation’s first fallen soldiers and honors those whose names we don’t know. The Museum’s artifacts and exhibits explore these stories, including the sword of fallen Revolutionary General Hugh Mercer and the gravestone of Maryland Captain Michael Cresap, among many others. Use this gallery guide to find these highlights and more around the Museum.

Coloring a Revolutionary Thank You
Onsite (Robert A. M. Stern Rotunda) | Daily
Thank a service member this Memorial Day Weekend with a personalized postcard. Color a picture based on Washington's Standard, the flag that marked his presence on the battlefield, and add a special message of gratitude. The Museum will mail the messages to the American Legion.