Digital Discovery Carts, Tours, and Case Studies
The Museum is continuously working to bring its in-gallery experiences and programming to our digital visitors. Can't make it to the Museum or to our Old City neighborhood in Philadelphia? Check out our growing selection of digital discovery carts featuring replica objects, "walking" tours, case studies, and more.
Digital Discovery Carts
Themed Discovery Carts offer digital guests a chance to view replica objects and documents to dig deeper into stories and people of the Revolution.
Louis Cook Discovery Cart
Learn more about Lieutenant Colonel Louis Cook's (Akiatonharónkwen) life and story using reproduction objects at this digital discovery cart.
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Harry Washington Discovery Cart
Explore replica objects related to the life of Harry Washington, who was enslaved by the Washingtons and found freedom through service in the British army.
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Forgotten Revolutionaries: Camp Followers Discovery Cart
Learn about the women and children who served vital roles while traveling with both the British and Revolutionary armies during the Revolutionary War.
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Artisans and Makers Discovery Cart
Learn more about tools used by artisans and makers working in specialized, skilled trades during the Revolutionary era.
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Virtual "Walking" Tours
Explore Revolutionary sites and spaces around historic Philadelphia with facts and commentary on these little-known histories.
Hamilton Was Here Virtual Walking Tour
Without Philadelphia, there might not have been the Alexander Hamilton we know today. Check out notable sites from Hamilton's time in Revolutionary Philadelphia.
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Virtually Tour the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier
Read more about the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier, which stands in Washington Square Park, just a couple blocks from the Museum.
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Case Studies
Take a closer look objects, artwork, and documents featured in the galleries of the Museum's core exhibition.
Witnesses of the “Shot Heard Round the World
Explore objects from the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which began the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775.
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General George Washington's 'Military Family'
Explore art and objects related to General George Washington's "military family," featured in the Museum's "Winter Patriots, 1777-1778" gallery.
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Before Equality: The King in American Life
Explore the Museum's "Rule Britannia" gallery, featuring objects that reveal how present symbols of the monarchy were in everyday colonial life.
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Symbols of a Developing American Republic
Explore symbols of the republic on objects and artifacts found in the Museum's gallery on the New York Campaign.
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Painting Breakdowns
Dive deeper into iconic paintings from the Revolutionary War that are featured in the Museum's collection.
Breaking Down Xavier della Gatta's Battle of Paoli Painting
British Army officer Richard St. George remembered Paoli as a “nocturnal bloody scene” and helped create the detailed painting of the battle.
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Breaking Down Xavier della Gatta's Battle of Germantown Painting
British Army officer Richard St. George worked with Italian artist Xavier della Gatta to create the painting of the Battle of Germantown.
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Breaking Down Trego's March to Valley Forge Painting
Painted by Philadelphia artist William B. T. Trego in 1883, The March to Valley Forge, December 19, 1777 is one of the most iconic paintings of the Revolutionary War.
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Video Explorations
Wondering how General George Washington's headquarters tent ended up at the Museum? Thinking about how individual artifacts give us a glimpse into Revolutionary events? Browse a selection of videos to explore the American Revolution even further.
Making the Museum: Washington's War Tent
The Museum opened in April 2017, but its collection has been in the making for more than a century. Learn more about the "rockstar" of our collection, General George Washington's headquarters tent.
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Remembering the First Shot of the Revolutionary War
April 19, 2020 marked the 245th anniversary of the first shot of the Revolutionary War – later called the “shot heard round the world” – at the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts.
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Discovering History: Baroness von Riedesel
Learn the fascinating but little-known story of Baroness von Riedesel with a video presentation from Hannah Boettcher, the Museum’s Manager of Special Programs.
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Discovering History: Memorialization at the Museum
Associate Curator Matthew Skic takes you through the stories of Revolutionary soldiers and officers such as Polish cavalryman Casimir Pulaski, Colonel Jonathan Pettibone, and Gershom Prince.
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Object Stories: Educating Citizens
Learn how important education became in the years following the Revolutionary War, and discover how parents were teaching their children from home in the early republic, much as people are doing today.
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Dive Even Deeper
Take a closer look at compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government.
American Flag’s Origins: A Symbol of Unity or Dissent?
Museum Chief Historian Dr. Philip Mead takes a closer look at the evolution of the American flag as a symbol during the Revolutionary era.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Promises of the American Revolution
Learn about the life, service, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through many of his speeches and writings that reference the America's founding documents.
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Canada and the American Revolution
Duquesne University historian Dr. Holly A. Mayer gives a glimpse into the role Canada played in the American Revolution.
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5 Pop Culture Portrayals of Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold’s journey from a once-ardent hero of the Revolutionary cause to its most dishonored traitor is well-documented in historical works.
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A Recipe for a Revolutionary Birthday
Download the recipes for a "whisky cake" favored by George Washington as well as a rum shrub cocktail for your next celebration.
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