Winter Break at the Museum

Throughout Winter Break, join us at the Museum to explore our new special exhibition, Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War, walk through a wintery scene in Revolution Place, stop at hands-on discovery carts and in-gallery talks to dive deeper, and much more for the whole family.

Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War
Onsite | Daily
The Museum's newest special exhibition, Liberty, will plunge visitors into some of the most pivotal events of America’s fight for independence and reveal nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani’s research-based artistic process. Don't miss paintings and artifacts from the 10 Crucial Days, the period from Dec. 25, 1776 to Jan. 3, 1777 when the Continental Army won a series of battles at Trenton and Princeton to boost morale and turn the tides of the Revolutionary War.

Revolution Place
Onsite | Daily, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Explore the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, which will transform into the winter of 1778! Walk in to frost-covered windows, logs piled by the fire, and 18th-century coats and cloaks as you learn about what Philadelphia would have been like in the snowy winter months and how they celebrated the winter holidays. Plus, make your own window illuminations, scherenschnitte hand-made cards, or tin-punched lantern. 

Meet James Forten Theatrical Performance
Onsite | Daily, 1:15 & 3:15 p.m.
Watch a presentation of the Museum's newest 20-minute first-person theatrical performance, "Meet James Forten," exploring Forten’s life as a free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War veteran, and stalwart abolitionist. 

In-Gallery 10-Minute Talk: A Brawl in Harvard Yard Tableau
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator for a 10-minute, in-gallery talk at the tableau scene depicting A Brawl in Harvard Yard, when Continental soldiers from different regions fought each other in camp. As an older man writing his pension application, Israel Trask, who was 11 years old at the time, recalled watching George Washington leap into a fight between American soldiers, pull the men apart, and restore order in his camp.

Discovery Cart: Peale's Philadelphia
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator at a discovery cart to learn more about artist and soldier Charles Willson Peale's time in Revolutionary Philadelphia with handling objects and reproduction documents and artifacts. In December 1776, Peale canvassed the neighborhood around the Museum to muster support for the Revolutionary cause before he and his militiamen, the Philadelphia Associators, marched off to confront the British in New Jersey, where they would serve alongside Alexander Hamilton’s artillery company.

On View: The March to Valley Forge
Onsite | Daily
On Dec. 19, 1777, the hardened veterans of General Washington's army limped into their winter encampment at Valley Forge. The March to Valley Forge, December 19, 1777, the iconic image of that day was painted more than a century later by Philadelphia artist William B. T. Trego. The painting will be on view alongside additional artifacts from the Valley Forge encampment in a display case in the Museum's second-floor Oneida Indian Nation Atrium.

Holiday Shopping
Onsite & Online
It’s the season of giving! Let us help you find the perfect last-minute gift for your friends and family this holiday season. From gift memberships to unique gift options for all ages in the Museum Shop, the Museum has the perfect selection of meaningful gifts for the history buffs in your life.