Celebrate Revolutionary Women Past and Present this Mother’s Day Weekend, May 11-12

Explore Stories of the Diverse Women of the American Revolution, Create Your Own Mother’s Day Card, and Get a Free Carnation on Mother’s Day

See a Newly Discovered Eyewitness Sketch of Women, Children Traveling with Continental Army

This Mother’s Day Weekend, Saturday, May 11 – Sunday, May 12, 2024, join us at the Museum of the American Revolution to celebrate the diverse, inspiring women who played vital – often unsung – roles on both the home front and the battlefield during the Revolutionary War. Don’t forget to pick up a free carnation courtesy of the Museum on Sunday, May 12, to wish a happy Mother’s Day to the revolutionary woman in your life.

During your visit, be sure to check out a newly discovered sketch and the second-known depiction of Continental Army camp followers – women and children who traveled alongside fighters on both sides of the Revolutionary war – done by an eyewitness, on view starting April 17. The sketch wasd drawn by Swiss artist Pierre Eugène du Simitière and shows the North Carolina Brigade marching through Philadelphia on Aug. 25, 1777 on their way to join the rest of General George Washington’s troops stationed south of Philadelphia. The inclusion of two female camp followers, including one holding an infant, shown riding in a wagon exemplifies a direct defiance of known regulations at the time about how women following the army could use wagons. The sketch was donated to the Museum in 2023.

Mother’s Day Weekend Highlights:

• Witness to Revolution Special Exhibit | Daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Our newest special exhibition greatly expands the story told in the Museum’s award-winning Washington's War Tent film and brings to life the stories of individuals from all walks of life who saved George Washington’s tent from being lost over the generations and who ultimately fashioned this relic into a symbol of the fragile American republic. At a 10-minute, in-gallery talk, learn more about women such as Selina Gray, Martha Washington, and Hannah Archer Till, who had to balance the demands of motherhood with the demands and realities of wartime life. Witness to Revolution is included with regular Museum admission.
• Mother’s Day Card Craft in Revolution Place | Daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m
  Explore Revolution Place, the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, which brings to life Old City’s lively, diverse neighborhood during the1700s and invites visitors to learn through hands-on exploration. Kids of all ages can immerse themselves in four historical environments – a military encampment, a tavern, a parlor, and an 18th-century meeting house – to experience the places where the American Revolution took root. Don't miss your chance to try your hand at scherenschnitte – German paper-cutting craft  – to make and take home a Mother’s Day card.
• First Person Performance: Meet Elizabeth Freeman | Saturday, May 11 at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
  Watch a 30-minute first-person theatrical performance portraying the life and experiences of Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mumbet, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won. The performance stars Katelyn E. Appiah-Kubi as Elizabeth Freeman and was written by Teresa Miller.
• Discovery Cart: Camp Followers | Daily from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m
  During the Revolutionary War, women and children traveled with both the British and Revolutionary armies. Whether part of a soldier’s family or not, they served vital roles, including as laundresses and food vendors. Meet a Museum educator to view replica objects and learn more about these “forgotten revolutionaries.”
• In-Gallery Talks: Newly Discovered Eyewitness Sketch | Daily at 11:15 and On Demand
  Learn more about a new view of the Continental Army and what it tells us about women who went to war.
• Find a Perfect Mother’s Day Gift | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Online, Any Time
  Find one-of-a-kind gifts at the Museum Shop onsite or online, from a mug bearing Abigail Adams’s call to “Remember the Ladies” and Martha Washington's cacao tea to a 13 original states bracelet.
• Gallery Guide: Celebrating Revolutionary Women | Onsite and Online, Any Time
  Pick up or download a gallery guide to lead you through the personal stories of the diverse women of the Revolutionary era featured in the Museum's galleries. Learn about remarkable women such as Phillis Wheatley, Baroness Frederika von Riedesel, Tyonajanegen (Two Kettles Together), and more.

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Current special exhibit Witness to Revolution 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 $2 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.