Presidents Day Weekend with the Museum

Observe Presidents Day Weekend onsite and online with family-friendly tours, talks, crafts, and more exploring the nation’s first president, George Washington, and the diverse range of people he would have interacted with. Don’t miss the Museum’s special exhibition When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807, which explores the stories of the nation’s first women voters, now available online as a virtual exhibit and on view at the Museum through April 25.

In-Gallery Talks & Take-and-Make Crafts
On-site | Daily
Throughout the weekend, enjoy 10-minute pop-up talks in the galleries about Washington’s leadership and view original inaugural buttons from his campaign. Afterwards, grab a take-and-make craft kit with instructions and supplies to create your own inaugural button at home.

Washington's War Tent Film
On-site | Daily
Don’t miss our signature Museum experience, Washington’s War Tent, a dramatic presentation of the linen field tent that served as Washington’s command center during the Revolutionary War. One of the most iconic surviving artifacts of the Revolution, the tent is a stirring testament to his leadership and a powerful symbol of the survival of our fragile republic.

The Virtual First Oval Office Project Sneak Peek: A Guided Tour
Online | Sunday, Feb. 14 from 2-3 p.m.
Take a virtual guided tour of a replica of Washington’s tent, affectionately referred to as the “First Oval Office” for its role as Washington’s headquarters. Join Dr. Tyler Putman, Manager of Gallery Interpretation, for a 360-degree photographic tour of the inside of the replica, created through a generous grant by the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania. 

Artifact Highlight
Case Next to Washington's War Tent | Daily
View a newly installed artifact – the discharge of an African American soldier, signed by General George Washington. The soldier, Cash Palatine, was from Lebanon, Conn., and enlisted in a Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Army in 1777. He served until his discharge in 1783. Along the way, he served through many of the significant events of the Revolutionary War, including Valley Forge and the Battle of Monmouth. His wartime service is well-documented in muster rolls in the National Archives. After the war, he married Rose Cosman in 1784 and had two children. He died in 1791 and is buried in Lebanon, Conn.

In The Galleries
On-site & Online | Daily
Learn about the diverse range of individuals that Washington would have interacted with and how their lives impacted the Revolution, including his wife Martha Washington; William “Billy” Lee, Washington’s enslaved valet; and Harry Washington, who escaped from Mount Vernon and found freedom by fighting as a loyalist during the Revolutionary War.

When Women Lost the Vote Special Exhibit
On-site & Online | Daily
Don’t miss the Museum’s current special exhibition When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807, which explores the little-known story of women and free people of color voting in Revolutionary-era New Jersey. The exhibition is integrated within the Museum’s core exhibition and connected with a free audio tour. The exhibit is now available virtually through a robust, free online experience.