AmRev Presents: Trash Talk Archaeology Night, March 28

After-Hours Event Will Explore What Unearthed Artifacts Reveal About Revolutionary Philadelphia

How did thousands of 18th century ceramics, pottery, glassware, and animal bone fragments end up under the site of the Museum of the American Revolution? Find out at AmRev Presents: Trash Talk Archaeology Night on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m. This after-hours event includes a happy hour, select exhibit access, a featured presentation and Q&A, and activities that explore the story behind the discarded treasures excavated from the Museum site’s archaeological dig. Activities will explore the mysteries of "Feature 16,” a privy shaft where early Philadelphians Mary Humphreys and Quansheba Morgan discarded the broken plates, drinkware, and refuse from their household and its illegal tavern, once on the site of the Museum’s street corner.

This night at the Museum will kick off with a cocktail reception and tavern-themed activities in the Museum’s Rotunda, followed by an exclusive talk in the Museum’s Lenfest Myer Theater with Matt and Melissa Dunphy, local citizen archaeologists and hosts of “The Boghouse” podcast. They will be joined by Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson to discuss the world-class ceramics discovered during their home renovation in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood. Learn how the Dunphys’ private collection connects to the Museum’s own archaeological discoveries and reveals a global underground network of Revolutionaries and local artisans who may have also frequented the Museum site’s former tavern.

Following the program, guests are invited to tour the second-floor curated display of the Museum’s archaeological collection in Trash Tells the Truth: Archaeology at the Museum and view the Museum’s largest artifact – and one that also happened to survive many years pitched in dirt – General Washington’s War Tent, presented in the Alan B. Miller Theater.

Tickets to this event are $35 for general admission and $30 for Museum Members, and can be purchased here. Collections Society Members are invited to arrive prior to this event at 4:30 p.m. for a private tour of additional archaeological discoveries not on view to the public. Learn about the collaborative work needed to recover rare Chinese, European, and American-made ceramics among over 80,000 fragments excavated before the Museum opened in 2017. To RSVP for this exclusive Collections Workroom Tour for Collections Society Members, please contact our Leadership Giving team at 267.579.3364 or [email protected].

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets to the Museum can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at AmRevMuseum.org, or at the front desk. Save $2 per adult ticket by purchasing online. Kids ages 5 and under are always free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days.

About Collections Society

The Collections Society is an add-on for members who share a special interest in our collections and exhibitions development. Membership in the Collections Society begins at $500 per year and includes exclusive invitations to behind-the-scenes programs throughout the year that demonstrate the impact of your support. One hundred percent of your Collections Society membership funds new acquisitions and the care of the collection. Have questions about the Collections Society? Please contact our Leadership Giving team at 267.579.3364 or [email protected].  

About Museum of the American Revolution

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.