Explore Snowy Stories and Wintertime Scenes During a Revolutionary Winter Break, Dec. 26 – Jan. 2

Special Daily Activities Include Ornament-Making, Wintery Storytimes, and More

Experience the New Theatrical Performance “Meet James Forten” 

Make historically inspired ornaments, enjoy wintery stories, meet Revolutionary Philadelphian James Forten through a new theatrical performance, and more during A Revolutionary Winter Break at the Museum of the American Revolution from Sunday, December 26, 2021 - Sunday, January 2, 2022. And don’t forget to explore the new special exhibition Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War using a scavenger hunt to find surprises hidden in the paintings. All Winter Break activities are included with regular Museum admission. 

This year also marks the 245th anniversary of the “Ten Crucial Days” during which Washington’s army famously crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night and won its first victories at Trenton and Princeton. Explore this surprising wintertime story through recently installed artifacts and works of art in a new display.

Each day at 1:15 & 3:15 p.m., experience the Museum’s newest 20-minute theatrical performance, “Meet James Forten,” which explores the story of James Forten, a free Black Philadelphian who served on a privateer ship during the Revolutionary War and later became a prominent businessperson and abolitionist. 

Museum Holiday Hours

• Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, MUSEUM CLOSED
• Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 – Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, MUSEUM CLOSED
• Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Winter Break Highlights:

• Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War | Daily
  Throughout the week, don’t miss the Museum’s special exhibition Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War. For the first time in a museum, this special exhibition brings together more than 45 of Troiani’s original Revolutionary War paintings and pairs them with 40 historic artifacts. Families can explore the exhibit using a printed Family Guide and scavenger hunt. The exhibit is included with regular Museum admission.
• Revolution Place Discovery Center | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Explore the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, which will transform into the winter of 1778! Make your own ornaments to take home inspired by historic Philadelphia, including window illuminations, a tin-punched ornament, or cards inspired by “scherenschnitte,” the art of paper cutting, brought to America by German immigrants.
• “Meet James Forten” Theatrical Performance | Daily, 1:15 & 3:15 p.m.
  Watch a presentation of the Museum’s newest 20-minute first-person theatrical performance, “Meet James Forten,” exploring the life and experiences of James Forten, a free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War veteran, and stalwart abolitionist. Performances take place in the Alan B. Miller Theater. It is best enjoyed by ages 10 and up.
• Pop-Up Talks: A Brawl in Harvard Yard | Daily
  Join a Museum educator for 10-minute, pop-up gallery talks at the tableau scene depicting “A Brawl in Harvard Yard,” when Continental soldiers from different regions fought each other in camp. As an older man writing his pension application, Israel Trask, who was 11 years old at the time of the brawl, recalled watching George Washington leap into a fight between colonial American soldiers, pull the men apart, and restore order.
• Discovery Cart: Peale’s Philadelphia | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator at a discovery cart to learn more about artist and soldier Charles Willson Peale’s time in Revolutionary Philadelphia through handling objects and reproduction documents and artifacts. In December 1776, Peale canvassed the neighborhood where the Museum is now located to muster support for the Revolutionary cause before he and his militiamen, the Philadelphia Associators, marched off to confront the British in New Jersey, where they would serve alongside Alexander Hamilton’s artillery company. 
• On View: The March to Valley Forge | Daily
  On December 19, 1777, General Washington’s army limped into their winter encampment at Valley Forge. The March to Valley Forge, December 19, 1777, the iconic image of that day, was painted more than a century later by Philadelphia artist William B. T. Trego. The painting will be on display in the Museum’s second-floor Oneida Indian Atrium from December 18, 2021, through July 4, 2022, alongside original objects like those that Trego used as inspiration, including a 1770s bayonet scabbard, a cartridge box, and a canteen, as well as an original study by Trego of a Revolutionary soldier and a letter from Trego to a fellow artist.

Tickets to the Museum can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at amrevmuseum.org, or at the front desk. Save $2 per adult ticket by purchasing online. The Museum is now open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with enhanced health and safety protocols. Masks are required for all visitors ages 2 and up. 

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.