Explore Stories of Unsung Revolutionaries During Black History Month at the Museum

New Special Exhibition Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent Opens Feb. 17

Annual Dennis Farm Forum on Racial Understanding to Be Held Feb. 10

Celebrate Black History Month and explore the stories of unsung Revolutionaries at the Museum of the American Revolution this February. Through the opening of a new special exhibition, an engaging forum on race, theatrical performances, and more, visitors can experience a more inclusive – and thus, more accurate – history of our nation’s founding.

A highlight of the month will be the grand opening of the Museum’s newest special exhibition, Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent, which opens Saturday, Feb. 17. This special exhibit will greatly expand the story told in the Museum’s award-winning Washington’s War Tent presentation and bring to life the stories of individuals who saved George Washington’s field headquarters from being lost over the generations and who ultimately fashioned it into a symbol of the fragile American republic. Throughout the exhibition, learn the diverse stories of the people of African descent who played critical roles in the tent's journey, including William Lee, Hannah Archer Till, and Selina Gray.

Black History Month Highlights:

Member Morning: Black Voices Highlight Tour
Feb. 4, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
Museum Members are invited to join a Museum educator for a 60-minute Black Voices of the Revolution tour of the core exhibit galleries highlighting a diverse set of stories, experiences, and objects related to people of African descent during the American Revolution.

First-Person Theatrical Performance: Meet Elizabeth Freeman
Feb. 3 & 10, 2024, at 1:15 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.
In this live, first-person theatrical performance, learn about Elizabeth Freeman, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement – and won. “Meet Elizabeth Freeman” will be performed by actress Katelyn E. Appiah-Kubi and was written by playwright Teresa Miller. The original “Meet Elizabeth Freeman” performance starring actress Tiffany Bacon is also available to watch online, any time.

Artisan Workshop: Make an Apron
Feb. 7, 21, & 28, 2024, from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Learn how to make your own hand-sewn men's or women's apron during a virtual, three-night workshop on Wednesdays, Feb. 7, 21, and 28, as part of the Museum's Artisan Workshop Series. Please note that there will be no class held on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Manager of Gallery Interpretation, Meg Bowersox will discuss how men and women wore aprons as she leads participants in making their own with historically accurate materials and sewing techniques.

Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust's Lonae A. Moore Forum
February 10, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
In partnership with the Museum, the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust will present the seventh annual Lonaé A. Moore Forum, “It Begins with Each of Us: Fostering Racial Understanding” on Saturday, Feb. 10. The theme of this year's forum, "Building Bridges By Sharing Our Stories,” will explore how access to media helps us learn about, respect, and appreciate one another in our communities. Speakers at the event will include Chelsea Frank, Director of Library Services at Rosemont College; M. Denise Dennis, Chairwoman and CEO of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust; and Adrienne G. Whaley, Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Museum of the American Revolution.

Presidents Day Weekend and Opening Weekend of Witness to Revolution
Feb. 17-19, 2024, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Join the Museum over Presidents Day Weekend, Saturday, Feb. 17 – Monday, Feb. 19, for the opening of our newest special exhibition Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent. Learn the diverse stories of the people of African descent who played critical roles in the tent's journey, including William Lee, Hannah Archer Till, and Selina Gray. Throughout the weekend, explore George Washington’s life, legacy, and the diverse range of people who he interacted with through discovery carts, pop-up talks, and hands-on activities. The exhibit is included with regular Museum admission.

Gallery Highlights Tour: Black Voices of the Revolution
Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00 p.m.
Join a Museum educator for our 60-minute tour of the core exhibit galleries, which highlights a diverse set of stories, experiences, and objects related to people of African descent during the American Revolution. Along the way, you’ll see a first edition of Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, learn about Elizabeth Freeman’s historic court case, consider what the engraving “No Slavery” on a Continental Army soldier’s musket meant, and discuss Harry Washington’s international life. Through it all, you’ll have the opportunity to consider what words like freedom, liberty, and equality meant for different people within the Revolutionary era, and how these ideas continue to influence our lives today. Tickets can be purchased here.

Discovery Carts, Pop-Up Talks, Crafts, and More:

Stop by a discovery cart to learn about Ona Judge, who escaped from the president’s house in Philadelphia, and listen to pop-up talks in our galleries about artifacts that connect with Black stories of the Revolutionary era. At our replica sloop, unpack a sea chest with a Museum educator and explore what life was like at sea during the Revolutionary War. Learn the difference between the Continental Navy and privateers and who served aboard these ships, including free Black Philadelphian James Forten, who served as a privateer.

In the Museum’s galleries and in our Virtual Museum, explore other personal — often unfamiliar — stories of free and enslaved people of African descent during the Revolutionary era. Learn about Olaudah Equiano, who purchased his own freedom and published a memoir of his experiences; Lemuel Haynes, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who became the first Black man in the United States to be ordained a minister; London, an African American teenager who joined Benedict Arnold’s British American Legion as a trumpeter; and Phillis Wheatley, America’s first published Black female poet; among many others.

Additional Digital Resources:

First Person Theatrical Performance: Meet James Forten
Meet a young James Forten as he learns the sailmaking trade alongside his father and encounters people in his community who help him decide to serve as a privateer during the Revolutionary War. This 20-minute performance of “Meet James Forten” stars Nathan Alford-Tate and was written by Marissa Kennedy.

Finding Freedom Interactive
The Museum’s virtual resources are always available, including the Finding Freedom digital interactive, which examines the stories of enslaved people of African descent in Virginia who followed different paths to freedom during the Revolutionary War. These stories are also available to explore in the Museum’s galleries via a touchscreen kiosk.

Black Founders Virtual Tour
Immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the artifacts and documents, a guided audio tour, and music station to explore the story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his descendants.

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. New special exhibit Witness to Revolution will be open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. beginning Saturday, Feb. 17, and is included with regular Museum admission. 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. Kids ages 5 and under are always free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days.

Black History Month at the Museum is sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.

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.