Celebrate Revolutionary Women Past and Present this Mother’s Day Weekend, May 13-14

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

This Mother’s Day Weekend, Saturday, May 13 – Sunday, May 14, 2023, 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 14, for the revolutionary woman in your life.

During your visit, be sure to explore our current special exhibition, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, to learn about free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his family, including three generations of remarkable Forten women. James Forten's wife, Charlotte Vandine Forten, was active in supporting abolitionist causes. She helped start the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society in 1833 with her daughters, including Margaretta Forten, who was a leading educator of African American children in Philadelphia; Sarah L. Forten, who was an accomplished poet and mother of 8; and Harriet Davy Forten, whose own daughter, Harriet Purvis, became a prominent voice in women’s suffrage.

Artifacts connected to the Forten women in Black Founders include needlework samplers stitched by two of Forten’s daughters; the only surviving photo of Charlotte Vandine Forten; an album belonging to James and Charlotte’s daughter-in-law, Mary Virginia Wood; a journal written by James and Charlotte’s granddaughter, Charlotte L. Forten; and sheet music, circa 1836, which sets to music the words of a poem by Sarah L. Forten, “The Grave of a Slave;” among other objects, documents, textiles, and works of art.

 Mother’s Day Weekend Highlights:

• 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 inspired by Mary Wood Forten’s friendship album on display in Black Founders.
• 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: Let Them Vote | Daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator at the When Women Lost the Vote tableau in our core galleries for a 10-minute talk to learn about voting rights for women and people of color in New Jersey from 1776-1807.
• 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.

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.