Commemorate Memorial Day Weekend at the Museum of the American Revolution with Theatrical Performances, Crafts, Guided Tours, and More

Free Admission for Veterans, Military, and Blue Star Families All Weekend 

Visit the Museum of the American Revolution this Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27, 2024, to learn about the diverse range of people who served and sacrificed during the Revolutionary War and pay tribute those who continue to serve our nation today. Throughout the weekend, veterans, military, and Blue Star Families will receive free admission, which includes access to the Museum’s current special exhibition Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent.

Open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Witness to Revolution 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. Visit this special exhibition over Memorial Day Weekend to hear a 10-minute, in-gallery talk to learn more about how George Washington was memorialized following his death in 1799.

Memorial Day Weekend Highlights:

• Coloring a Revolutionary Thank You | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Thank a service member this Memorial Day Weekend with a personalized postcard. Color a picture based on Washington's Standard, the flag that marked his presence on the battlefield, and add a special message of gratitude. The Museum will mail the messages to the American Legion.
• Meet the Revolution: Daniel Sieh | Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26
  As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, visitors can meet living historian Daniel Sieh, who will bridge past and present by illustrating some of the roles Asian individuals might have had in the United States during the 18th century. Through documents, activities, and objects, Daniel will unpack how global trade connected the lives of Asian sailors, soldiers, traders, and enslaved people as they navigated an unfamiliar land and adapted to American society – showcasing how Asians were part of the American story from the beginning.
• “Meet Joseph Plumb Martin” Performances | Daily at 1:15 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.
  Step into the harrowing and exciting world of a teenaged soldier with a first-person theatrical performance portraying Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin, who was just 16 years old when he left Milford, Conn. and joined the Continental Army to prove he was "as warm a patriot as the best of them.” Martin went on to write Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier, which was published in 1830 and is one of the best-known Revolutionary War memoirs depicting the life of an ordinary soldier. This performance stars Christopher Roché as Joseph Plumb Martin and was written by Ryan Schwartz.
• 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 the 1700s 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 make a memorial ribbon based on those given to surviving veterans of the Battle of Bunker Hill at a 50-year commemoration in 1825.
• Indoor and Outdoor Walking Tours | Offered Daily
  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. For additional tours and more information, visit AmRevMuseum.org/visit-tour.
• In-Gallery Talk: Veterans Wall | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator in the final gallery of the core exhibition to come face-to-face with America’s Revolutionary generation through their photographs. Many veterans suffered after the war, as the new nation was slow to recognize its war heroes. The last known Revolutionary War veterans died shortly after the Civil War, yet still many had their photograph taken.
• Stories on Deck: Life at Sea | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  All hands on deck on the Museum’s replica sloop! Join a Museum educator for stories about what life was like at sea during the Revolutionary War for the Continental Navy, privateers, and prisoners of war, and learn about the different types of Revolutionary-era ships.
• Gallery Guide: Remembering Fallen Revolutionaries | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  The Museum tells the stories of many of our nation’s first fallen soldiers and honors those whose names we don’t know. The Museum’s artifacts and exhibits explore these stories, including the sword of fallen Revolutionary General Hugh Mercer and the gravestone of Maryland Captain Michael Cresap, among many others. Pick up a copy during your visit or download this gallery guide online to find these stories and more around the Museum.

Walking tour tickets can be purchased here. All other Memorial Day Weekend programming is included with regular Museum admission. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Special exhibit Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent is open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is included with regular Museum admission. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at AmRevMuseum.org, or at the front desk. Save $2 per adult ticket by purchasing online. Children ages 5 and under are always free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. From Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27, 2024, veterans, military, and Blue Star Families will receive free admission (free admission tickets cannot be reserved in advance and are available at the front desk only).

Memorial Day Weekend 2024 at the Museum is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal.

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.