Celebrate Flag Day with Hands-On Demonstrations, Pop-Up Talks, and Activities for All Ages, June 14

Take Home a Free Handheld Version of George Washington’s Headquarters Flag

Enjoy Pop-Up Talks about a Rare Flag in Black Founders Special Exhibit

Celebrate Flag Day at the Museum of the American Revolution on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, and discover Revolutionary-era flags of “all kinds of colours” with pop-up talks, discovery carts, and other activities for the whole family. Throughout the day, all guests will receive a free handheld version of George Washington’s Headquarters Flag to take home, based on the flag in the Museum's collection that is said to have marked his presence throughout the Revolutionary War.

In our special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, learn about a rare surviving silk flag painted by Philadelphia artist David Bustill Bowser for the 127th Regiment of United States Colored Troops. Black Founders explores the life and legacy of free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War privateer, and successful businessman James Forten and three generations of his family as they navigated abolition and women’s suffrage movements.

Flag Day Highlights:

• Special Exhibit: Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  The Museum’s groundbreaking special exhibition brings together – for the first time – more than 100 historical artifacts to tell the inspiring story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his remarkable family, from the Revolutionary era through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Pop-up talks about a rare surviving silk flag painted by Philadelphia artist David Bustill Bowser for the 127th Regiment of United States Colored Troops will take place throughout the day. Black Founders is included with regular Museum admission.
• Pop-Up Gallery Talks: Liberty and Forster Flags | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Enjoy a 10-minute pop-up talk to learn more about the recently installed Liberty flag and the Forster flag on display at the Museum. The Liberty flag, on loan from the Schenectady Historical Society, is the only surviving example from the Revolutionary War and is believed to have been carried by a New York regiment in 1776 and 1777. The Forster flag, on loan from Brian and Barbara Hendelson, may be one of the earliest American flags to have been altered after the Declaration of Independence; it is clear that the British Union was removed from it and the white fabric has been reworked to create stripes.
• Sewing Demonstration: George Washington Standard Project | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Textile conservator Virginia Whelan will be onsite in the Museum's rotunda to discuss and demonstrate her work on the Museum’s Washington Standard Project to recreate a handwoven and handsewn replica of George Washington's headquarters flag from the Museum's collection.
• On Display: True Colours Flag Project | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  The Museum’s handsewn, replica “suit of colours” is back on display for Flag Day. Learn more about the process of recreating — and the history behind — these huge flags flown by 18th-century ships at sea during the Revolutionary War. Sponsorship for the project was provided by The Color Guard of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.
• Rebecca Flower Young Discovery Cart | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Flagmaker Rebecca Flower Young advertised “all kinds of colours” for the Revolutionary cause from her shop here in Philadelphia. Meet a Museum educator at a discovery cart to view replica objects and learn more about Young’s work as a military contractor making flags and drum cases for the Continental Army. 
  

All Flag Day activities are included with regular Museum admission. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Black Founders is open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is included with regular Museum admission. Tickets to the Museum can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at AmRevMuseum.org, or at the front desk. Save $3 per adult ticket by purchasing online. Kids ages 5 and under are always free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days.

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 a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.