Celebrate July 4th Weekend at the Museum of the American Revolution with Special Exhibits and Events for the Whole Family, June 30 – July 4

Kick Off the Weekend with a Naturalization Ceremony and a High-Energy Performance by the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad on June 30

Enjoy Walking Tours, Theatrical Performances, and More All Weekend Long

What do the American Revolution’s promises of liberty and equality mean to you? Explore this question and more with special exhibits, events, and activities for all ages at the Museum of the American Revolution over Fourth of July Weekend, Friday, June 30 – Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Throughout the weekend, visitors can listen to pop-up talks, enjoy neighborhood walking tours, watch first-person theatrical performances, explore our special exhibit, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, and more.

On Friday, June 30, at 10 a.m., dozens of candidates from across the globe will be sworn in as U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony in the Museum’s third-floor Liberty Hall, hosted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Immediately following the ceremony, from 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., enjoy the heart-pounding, high-energy percussive sounds of the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad on the Museum’s outdoor plaza. All ages will enjoy the beats of snare, quad, and bass drum with a unique Philly flavor, accompanied by step dancers’ rhythmic foot work and body movement. The performance is free and open to the public.

Fourth of July Weekend Highlights:

• Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia | Daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  In the Museum’s newest special exhibition, explore the life and legacy of free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War privateer, and successful businessperson James Forten and his descendants as they navigated the American Revolution and cross-racial relationships in Philadelphia to become leaders in the abolition movement in the lead-up to the Civil War and the women's suffrage movement. Join a Museum educator for an in-gallery talk about how James Forten heard the words of the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time as a young boy and worked to ensure its promises that "all men are created equal" were for all.
• Revolution Place Discovery Center | Daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  The Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, will be open daily to explore the Museum’s lively, diverse Old City neighborhood during the 1700s through hands-on exploration in four key recreated historical environments, including a military encampment, a tavern, a home, and an 18th-century meeting house. Don’t miss a themed craft to create-your-own flag inspired by Revolutionary-era symbols, shapes, and colors.
• USCIS Naturalization Ceremony | Friday, June 30 at 10 a.m.
  Welcome dozens of new American citizens from across the globe during a naturalization ceremony hosted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Museum's Liberty Hall.
• West Powelton Drummers & Steppers | Friday, June 30, from 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
  Join us on the Museum's outdoor plaza immediately following the USCIS Naturalization Ceremony for a free, heart-pounding, high-energy performance by the West Powelton Drummers and Steppers to kick off the holiday weekend.
• In-Gallery Talk: The Promise of Equality | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator in the Declaration of Independence gallery to discuss the promises of the Declaration and how different people, like Elizabeth Freeman and William Findley, seized the opportunity to advocate for equal rights in 1776 and afterwards. Plus, learn more about the connections between these Revolutionary-era events and figures to later movements advocating for equal rights in America.
• Meet Elizabeth Freeman | Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2 at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
  See Katelyn E. Appiah-Kubi in a first-person theatrical performance of Meet Elizabeth Freeman and learn about the life and experiences of Elizabeth Freeman, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won.
• On Display: True Colours Flag Project | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  The Museum’s handsewn, replica “suit of colours” will be on display throughout the weekend. Learn more about the process of recreating these huge flags flown by 18th-century ships at sea during the Revolutionary War. Sponsorship for this project is provided by The Color Guard of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.
• Discovery Cart: Season of Independence | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator to learn more about the spread of support for American independence through the colonies from January 1776 through the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. Plus, don’t miss our in-gallery touchscreen and online interactive exploring the spread of support and to encounter the perspectives of real men and women on all sides of the debate.
• History Explorer Meet-Up: Soldier’s Pack | Monday, July 3, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  Join us for an interactive History Explorer Meet-Up where you’ll enlist in the Continental Army and decide what you’re going to take with you in your haversack, like a Revolutionary-era backpack! Kids are invited to take the lead in this interactive, hands-on program, which is included in regular Museum admission and runs for about 20 minutes and takes place in the Museum's Robert A. M. Stern Rotunda. This History Explorer Meet-Up is great for kids 7-11 but open to kids of any age.
• National Constitution Center's Finding the Founders Summer Scholar Series: Thaddeus Kosciuszko Discovery Cart | Sunday, July 2, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  Join us on the Museum's outdoor plaza for a hands-on discovery cart to learn more about one of the Revolutionary War’s early supporters, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, his contributions to the American Revolution, and his influence right here in Philadelphia. The National Constitution Center partners with neighboring sites throughout Historic Philadelphia for its annual Finding the Founders scholarly series. These programs explore the ideas of equality and freedom through the lens of the American Revolution and provide an expanded understanding of Independence Day.
  
• Guided Gallery Tours & Neighborhood Walking Tour | Additional Tickets Required
  Explore the Museum and its historic neighborhood with an expert guide! Tours include 90-minute outdoor walking tours that explore iconic sites in the Museum’s historic Old City neighborhood, hour-long tours of our core galleries, hour-long early-access guided tours for a private experience, and audio tours. Tickets can be purchased in addition to regular Museum admission. Tour and ticketing options can be found here.

Fourth of July Weekend offerings are included with regular Museum admission (walking tours are an additional charge). The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Black Founders is open daily 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.