Final Weeks: Visit our Witness to Revolution special exhibit before it closes Sunday, Jan. 5. Info & Tickets

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Timeline of the American Revolution

Explore nearly 100 historical objects, works of art, textiles, and documents from the Museum's collection alongside key dates from the French and Indian War through the Museum's opening in 2017.

A desktop computer showing the Timeline of the American Revolution with a succulent and mug next to the computer

Using a mixture of historical objects, artifacts, and documents all drawn from the Museum’s collection, this multimedia timeline explores both key moments and surprising stories of the American Revolution. The Timeline features high-quality images and is enhanced by video explorations of select items. It encourages users to look closely, dig deeply, and even extend their experience by creating and downloading their own curated timelines. The Timeline of the American Revolution is available to download on select devices to allow for offline exploration.

The Timeline of the American Revolution was made possible in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Additional support provided by VisitPA.com, the Achelis & Bodman Foundation, and the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation.

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360-Degree Virtual Tours

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Bluecadet 

Virtual Museum Tour

Explore our Virtual Museum Tour to immerse yourself in the history of the nation's founding through 360-degree panoramic images, high-resolution images of objects and artifacts, and a guided audio tour.

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Virtual Washington Tent Experience  Credit Moar
 

Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters

Explore the Museum's handsewn, full-scale replicas of General George Washington's Revolutionary War sleeping, dining, and baggage tents through 360-degree images in our Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters.

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Liberty Virtual Tour at Battles Of 1776 Stop
 

Liberty Exhibit Virtual Tour

Immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the art and artifacts, and a guided audio tour of the dramatic, research-based works of nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani.

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A screenshot of a 360-degree panoramic image from the Black Founders virtual tour.
 
NEW VIRTUAL TOUR

Black Founders Virtual Tour

Immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the artifacts and documents, a guided audio tour, and music station to explore the story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his descendants.

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Online Exhibits

A visitor looks at the When Women Lost the Vote tableau featuring two white women and a woman of color voting in New Jersey in 1811.
 

When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story

Explore the Museum's When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807 online exhibit to learn the little-known history of the nation’s first women voters.

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National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Felton Bequest, 1922 

Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier

Follow the untold story of Irish soldier and artist Richard St. George, whose personal trauma and untimely death provide a window into the entangled histories of the American Revolution of 1776 and the Irish Revolution of 1798.

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A zoomed in section of Verplanck's Point featuring General Washington’s tent perched on a hill overlooking the encampment
 

Among His Troops: Washington's War Tent in a Newly Discovered Watercolor

Explore the online exhibit inspired by French-born Continental Army engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1782 watercolor painting depicting the encampment at Verplanck's Point, New York, which includes the only known wartime image of General George Washington's headquarters tent.

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Interactive Features

A watercolor depicts London, a person of African descent, with his trumpet lowered in his right hand. He is looking over his left shoulder toward a hill. On top of the hill, there is a fire and smoke. Running toward the hill are four British soldiers with their rifles pointed.
 

Finding Freedom

Explore the stories of African American men and women in war-torn Virginia with the Finding Freedom interactive feature, adapted from the Museum's galleries.

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Season of Independence

Trace the spread of American support for Independence and learn the perspectives of real men and women on all sides of the debate with the Season of Independence interactive feature, adapted from the Museum's galleries.

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A zoomed in section of Verplanck's Point featuring General Washington’s tent perched on a hill overlooking the encampment
 

Picturing Washington's Army

Explore rare paintings of the Continental Army at West Point and Verplanck's Point, including the only known wartime image of George Washington's tent.

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When Women Lost the Vote Poll Lists

Dive deep into the Museum's discovery of nine poll lists featuring women and free Black voters who cast ballots in New Jersey from 1800 to 1807.

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An illustration of Abigail Adams embracing John Adams.
 

Abigail & John Adams Book

Read the book Abigail & John, the story of one of America’s most celebrated historical couples written by David Bruce Smith alongside original illustrations by his mother, Clarice Smith.

Read Online
Portait of John Davenport Sr.
Courtesy of Anne Hayden 

The Davenport Letters

Explore 17 letters written by brothers James and Isaac How Davenport while serving in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War between 1778-1783.

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Washington's War Tents

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Online Collection

Washington's War Tent

General George Washington's original sleeping and office tent from the Revolutionary War.
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A zoomed in section of Verplanck's Point featuring General Washington’s tent perched on a hill overlooking the encampment
 
Interactive Feature

Picturing Washington's War Tent

Explore rare paintings of the Continental Army at West Point and Verplanck's Point, including the only known wartime image of George Washington's tent.

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Image 101220 Foop George Washingtons Replica War Tent
 
Making the Replica

First Oval Office Project

Learn more about the Museum's handsewn, full-scale replica of General George Washington's mobile Revolutionary War headquarters tents.
Explore the Project
Washington Field Hq Sleeping Marquee Exterior View
 
Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters

Explore the Museum's handsewn, full-scale replicas of General George Washington's Revolutionary War sleeping, dining, and baggage tents through 360-degree images in our Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters.
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Additional Digital Resources

This image shows the Bunker Hill Bible. It is open to The Gospel according to Matthew. It is displayed against a white background.
 

Collection Highlights

Explore highlights from the Museum's impressive collection of several thousand objects, works of art, manuscripts, and printed works from the period of the American Revolution.
Explore the Collection
200th Edition Museum Staff Picks Reading List includes A People’s History of the American Revolution by Ray Raphael; John Adams by David McCullough; Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar; American Revolutions: A Continental History 1750-1804 by Alan Taylor; The Shoemaker and the Tea Party by Alfred F. Young; and Spies in the Continental Capital by John A. Nagy. The books are stacked on top of one another on a wooden bench outside on a sunny day. The books and the bench are in clear view while the background is blurred.
 

Read the Revolution

Browse Read the Revolution featuring a curated collection of excerpts from exciting, thought-provoking books about the American Revolution.
Browse Excerpts
Filming an episode of AmRev360 with Dr. R. Scott Stephenson to the left and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich to the right.
 

AmRev360 Web Series

Watch lively conversations on the American Revolution from all angles, hosted by Museum President & CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson and featuring a broad slate of dynamic guests, on our AmRev360 web series.
Browse Episodes
Dr. R Scott Stephenson moderates a conversation with James Forten descendant Kip Forten Jacobs and Dr. Julie Winch.
 

Watch Museum Programs

Watch Museum of the American Revolution programs from the comfort of your own home with our archived video livestreams.
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For Kids & Families

Inspire the next generation of revolutionaries with hands-on activities, crafts, books, digital experiences, and more.
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For Students & Educators

Engage your students with the dramatic story of America's Founding with our in-person, in-class, homeschool, and virtual learning resources.
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A mother and her two children, wearing masks, explore the galleries.
Guests with masks enjoy the images of Revolutionary War veterans.

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