Mother's Day Weekend 2023 at the Museum

Celebrate inspiring, trailblazing women this Mother’s Day weekend at the Museum and learn about the diverse women who played vital, often unsung roles on the home front and on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War. Join the Museum to explore the stories of the women of the Forten family, the women who legally voted in Revolutionary-era New Jersey, camp followers, and more.

Plus, pick up a free carnation on Sunday, May 14, courtesy of the Museum to wish a happy Mother’s Day to the revolutionary mother figure in your life.

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. Learn more about Forten's wife, Charlotte Vandine Forten, and his daughters, who all played critical roles in the founding of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society in 1833.

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 try your hand at scherenschnitte – German paper-cutting craft – to make and take home a Mother’s Day card inspired by Mary Wood Forten’s friendship album on display in Black Founders.

Discovery Cart: Camp Followers
Onsite | Daily
During the Revolutionary War, women and children traveled with both the British and Revolutionary armies. Whether part of a soldier’s family or not, they served vital roles, including as laundresses and food vendors. Meet a Museum educator to view replica objects and learn more about these “forgotten revolutionaries.”

In-Gallery Talks: Let Them Vote
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator at the When Women Lost the Vote tableau in our core galleries for a 10-minute talk to learn about voting rights for women and people of color in New Jersey from 1776-1807.

Find a Perfect Mother’s Day Gift
Onsite & Online | Daily
Find one-of-a-kind gifts at the Museum Shop onsite or online. From a mug bearing Abigail Adams’s call to “Remember the Ladies” and Martha Washington's cacao tea to a 13 original states bracelet.