Celebrate Revolutionary Women this Mother’s Day Weekend, May 8-10

This Mother’s Day Weekend, learn about the diverse women who played vital, often unsung roles during the Revolutionary War. From Friday, May 8 – Sunday, May 10, 2020, join the Museum of the American Revolution online for a free, virtual celebration including a live embroidery demonstration, a video presentation about a Revolutionary-era mother who became a prisoner-of-war, and a make-at-home Mother's Day card inspired by German paper-cutting techniques.

On Friday, May 8 at Noon, join the Museum on Instagram for a live embroidery demonstration with Tyler Putman, Manager of Gallery Interpretation. Learn the basics of how to monogram a kerchief like the ones that women of the Revolutionary era would have made.

On Sunday, May 10 at 10 a.m., tune into the Museum’s Facebook page to learn the fascinating but little-known story of Baroness von Riedesel with a video presentation from Hannah Boettcher, the Museum’s Manager of Special Programs. Von Riedesel crossed the Atlantic with her three young children to follow Hessian troops, including her husband who commanded Brunswick forces with the British army. She became an American prisoner-of-war and left behind a diary of her experiences, providing a unique perspective on the war beyond the well-known stories taught in school.

Need a card for the revolutionary mother figure in your life? Follow the Museum’s how-to instructions, which will be posted on Facebook on Friday, to create a Mother’s Day card inspired by the art of paper cutting, “scherenschnitte,” brought to America by German immigrants.

At a Virtual Discovery Cart on the Museum’s Facebook and Instagram pages on Saturday, learn about female camp followers, the “forgotten revolutionaries” who provided support, supplies, and labor to help the Continental Army.  

Explore the Museum’s Virtual Tour anytime to learn the stories of other Revolutionary women, including Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, an enslaved woman who sued for her freedom and won; Deborah Sampson, who dressed as a man to fight in the Continental Army; Phillis Wheatley, America’s first published Black female poet; and Two Kettles Together, a Native American woman who fought in the Battle of Oriskany alongside her husband.

The Museum’s Mother’s Day Weekend celebration is sponsored by The Haverford Trust Company and RSM.

About the 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.