Celebrate the Museum’s Fourth Birthday from April 16-19

Newly Installed Artifacts, Pop-Up Talks, Giveaways, and More Onsite and Online

Commemorate the 246th Anniversary of the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” 

The Museum of the American Revolution is turning four! Join us as we celebrate the Museum’s birthday with newly installed artifacts, pop-up talks, a virtual kids club meet-up, and giveaways from Friday, April 16 – Monday, April 19, 2021.

The Museum, which opened to the public on April 19, 2017 – the anniversary of the “shot heard ‘round the world” that ignited the Revolutionary War in 1775 – has welcomed nearly a million visitors from across the nation and around the world. Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the story of those first battles of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord through pop-up talks and newly installed artifacts that were used by Minutemen who fought and died on that day. 

On Monday, April 19 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., each visitor to the Museum will receive a free lapel pin inspired by George Washington’s Standard, the flag that marked his presence on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War, and will have the chance to win other prizes. 

The Museum is now open to the public Fridays – Mondays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with enhanced health and safety protocols. Advanced online ticket purchasing is recommended to guarantee availability. Tickets can be purchased at www.amrevmuseum.org or by calling 215.253.6731. Children ages 5 and under are always free.

Birthday Weekend Highlights:

• History Explorers Club: It’s Our Birthday! (Online)
  Saturday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  Join in our family-friendly virtual birthday party for the Museum as we celebrate our fourth birthday and learn about our most famous object, General George Washington’s Headquarters Tent. Could you have been part of the Commander-in-Chiefs Guard that protected Washington? Test your skills to find out! Tickets and more information here.
• 10-Minute Pop-Up Talks: Battles of Lexington and Concord (Onsite)
  Located in the Lexington and Concord Gallery
  Throughout the weekend, enjoy 10-minute pop-up talks to learn more about the “shot heard ‘round the world” —as Ralph Waldo Emerson later called it—at the Old North Bridge in Concord, Mass. The talks will take place in the gallery dedicated to the Battles at Lexington and Concord, which features artifacts from that day, including an original beam from the Old North Bridge on loan from the Concord Museum.
• Newly Installed Artifacts on Display (Onsite)
  Located in the Lexington and Concord Gallery
  A recently installed hatband, powder horn, and small sword tell the stories of the Minutemen who fought and died at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
• Currently on loan from the Acton Memorial Library, this 1775 silk hatband was owned and worn by Abner Hosmer of the Acton militia, who was at the head of the Americans as they came up to the bridge and was killed instantly by the British. 
• The powder horn – a cow’s horn used to hold gunpowder – of Private James Hayward of the Acton militia features a bullet hole which historians believe was created by the same bullet that mortally wounded him.
• The small sword owned by Isaac Davis, captain of the Acton militia, was used as a side arm and symbol of his rank. The sword’s blade broke as Davis, who led the advance on the North Bridge, fell after being killed in the first British volley. 
• Digital Resources about the Shot Heard 'Round the World
  Not able to come to the Museum? Dive deeper into the Museum’s gallery focusing on the “shot heard ‘round the world” with an online “case” study examining several objects that witnessed the battles. Commemorate the anniversary with a reading list of five suggested books from our Read the Revolution series. Or, watch a video presentation about objects that “witnessed” the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
• Museum Shop (Onsite and Online)
  To learn more about the Museum’s history, find the Museum of the American Revolution Official Guidebook in the Museum’s shop onsite and online. The 92-page commemorative guide includes images of historic artifacts and art, a detailed timeline, fascinating facts, and more. To learn more about the archaeological excavation of the Museum’s site prior to the building’s construction, explore Archaeology at the Site of the Museum of the American Revolution.

And don’t miss the Museum’s current special exhibition When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807, which explores the little-known story of women and free people of color voting in Revolutionary-era New Jersey. The exhibition is integrated within the Museum’s core exhibition and connected with a free audio tour. It runs through April 25, 2021. 

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.