Memorial Day Weekend at the Museum

Join the Museum over Memorial Day Weekend to pay tribute onsite and online 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 through Memorial Day Weekend, courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal.

Special Exhibit: Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War
Onsite (Patriots Gallery) & Online | Daily
The Museum's special exhibition, now open through Sept. 5, 2022, immerses visitors in the dramatic and research-based works of nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani to bring the compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events of the American Revolution to life. Don’t miss a 10-minute, in-gallery talk on Troiani’s painting, The Veteran’s Return, to learn about the challenges soldiers faced when they returned home after the war’s end. Liberty is now available as a virtual tour where you can immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the art and artifacts, and a guided audio tour.

Revolution Place
Onsite (lower level) | Daily, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, will be open daily to explore the Museum’s lively, diverse Old City neighborhood during the 1700s through hands-on exploration in four key recreated historical environments, including a military encampment, a tavern, a home, and an 18th-century meeting house. Don’t miss themed crafts and activities, including memorial ribbons based on those given to surviving veterans of the Battle of Bunker Hill at a 50-year commemoration in 1825.

Joseph Plumb Martin Performances
Onsite & Online | Saturday & Monday, 1:15 & 3:15 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. A copy of his memoir is on display in Liberty.

Stories on Deck: Life at Sea
Onsite | Daily
All hands on deck on the Museum’s replica sloop! Join a Museum educator to hear about the risks and rewards sailors faced while at sea.

10-Minute, In-Gallery Talk: Veterans Wall
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator in the final gallery of the core exhibition to come face-to-face with America’s Revolutionary generation through their photographs. Many veterans suffered after the war, as the new nation was slow to recognize its war heroes. The last known Revolutionary War veterans died shortly after the Civil War, still many had their photograph taken.

Discovery Cart: Soldier’s Pack
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator at a discovery cart featuring replica handling objects to learn more about what Continental Army soldiers would carry in their knapsack, such as a fire-starting kit and a 18th-century whirligig.

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 Page: A Revolutionary Thank You
Onsite & Online | 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 USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.