Explore 18th-Century Life in Philadelphia this Winter Break

Discover Alexander Hamilton’s Philadelphia Connections in New Exhibit Hamilton Was Here

What were Philadelphia winters like for Alexander Hamilton? During Winter Break, Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, visitors to the Museum of the American Revolution can explore the city of Philadelphia as Hamilton would have experienced it. Visitors can learn about activities that would have taken place in the Museum’s neighborhood during the Revolutionary era, from dueling to dressmaking and more. 

In the Museum’s new hands-on exhibit Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia, playful activities and facilitated games engage visitors of all ages in the challenges of founding and maintaining a country. It is free with regular museum admission. During Winter Break, Hamilton Was Here will be open to the public for extended hours from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

On Friday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Hamilton Was Here, learn the rules of the duel Hamilton witnessed between Charles Lee and his friend John Laurens near Philadelphia on December 24, 1778.

On Saturday, Dec. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 30 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Museum’s rotunda, meet seamstress Samantha McCarty as she creates a gown like the one Eliza Schuyler – who would later become Hamilton’s wife – would have worn when she first met her military suitor in 1777. Inspired by Paul Tazewell’s costume design for Hamilton: An American Musical, McCarty will use 18th-century techniques to reveal what changing women’s fashions reveal about politics.

Additionally, from Saturday, Dec. 29 through Monday, Dec. 31 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., visitors can stop by an activity table in the Museum’s rotunda to learn the art of paper cutting, “scherenschnitte,” brought to America by German immigrants, and create paper ornaments inspired by artifacts in the Museum’s collection to take home.
 

On Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Friday, Dec. 28, pop-up gallery talks throughout the day will transport guests on a ten-minute trip through the “ten crucial days” between the Battle of Princeton and Battle of Trenton, during which Hamilton served as an artillery commander. 

In the Museum’s new Revolution Place discovery center, kids of all ages can explore 18th-century Philadelphia through immersive environments, interactive touchscreens, reproduction objects, and try-on clothing daily from Noon – 6 p.m. during Winter Break.

Museum Holiday Hours
Monday, Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 25 MUSEUM CLOSED
Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Sunday, Dec. 30 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 1 MUSEUM CLOSED

About the Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dramatic, surprising story of the American Revolution through its unmatched collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, documents, and works of art. Immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and digital touchscreens bring to life the diverse array of people who created a new nation against incredible odds. Visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in the ongoing promise of the American Revolution. 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 April 19, 2017, is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.