Washingtons War Tent Credit Moar

During Presidents’ Day Weekend at the Museum of the American Revolution, Saturday, Feb. 15 – Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, explore the life, leadership, and legacy of our nation’s first president, George Washington, and the diverse range of people with whom he interacted. Through hands-on demonstrations, discovery carts, pop-up talks, crafts, and more, discover lesser-known stories from Washington’s 18th-century world.

Presidents’ Day Weekend Highlights:

  • Meet the Revolution: Leslie Bramlett | Sunday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    Living historian Leslie Bramlett will join the Museum to explore the lives of two women of African descent connected to the Revolutionary era: Hannah Archer Till and Ona Judge. Bramlett will share stories about the roles and responsibilities of both women, their connections to George Washington, and how they found their freedom on different paths.

  • Meet the Author: John Rees | Sunday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    Stop by the Museum’s rotunda on Sunday, Feb. 16, for a chance to meet John Rees, coauthor of the upcoming book, Don Troiani's Black Soldiers in America's Wars: 1754–1865, which combines Don Troiani’s art with Rees’s narrative and forty-three artwork captions covering the four wars the book spans. Using many primary sources, Rees provides a picture of Black soldiers' service in America’s military over 111 years, with discussions of integration, segregation, and exclusion during that period. That service is contrasted with the story of the Black men who fought in North America with the armies of Britain, France, Germany, and Spain. Previously, Troiani’s paintings were the subject of the Museum’s special exhibit, Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War. 

  • “Meet Joseph Plumb Martin” Performances | Saturday, Feb. 15, at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
    Experience the Museum’s first-person theatrical performance portraying Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin, one of the thousands of teenaged soldiers in General George Washington's army, who wanted to prove he was "as warm a patriot as the best of them." This performance is appropriate for all audiences.

  • “Meet Elizabeth Freeman” Performances | Sunday, Feb. 16, at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
    Watch a first-person theatrical performance portraying the life and experiences of Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mumbet, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won. The performance stars Katelyn E. Appiah-Kubi as Elizabeth Freeman and was written by Teresa Miller.

  • History Explorers Meet Up: Create Your Own Washington Sash | Saturday, Feb. 15, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    How do you create a uniform for a newly formed army? Join a Museum educator to discover how George Washington used ribbons and cockades to differentiate between the officer ranks and try your hand at making your own ribbon sash! What rank will you hold? Don’t forget to pose with the General in your uniform!  

  • Gallery Highlights Tour: Black Voices of the Revolution | Saturday & Sunday at 12 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. An additional ticket is required for this tour and can be purchased here.

  • In-Gallery Talk: Peaceful Transition of Power | Daily at 11:30 a.m.
    What does it take to be a leader? Learn from a Museum educator about Washington’s time as president and how his decision to not seek a third term helped set the two-term precedent in place today.

  • Discovery Cart: Harry Washington | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    Explore replica objects related to the life of Harry Washington, who was enslaved by the Washingtons but found freedom through service in the British army after hearing of Dunmore’s Proclamation.

  • Color-Your-Own Inaugural Button Craft | Daily from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Check out original inaugural buttons from Washington’s campaign in The Constitution gallery in our core exhibition before heading on down to Revolution Place, the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, to make and take home your own inaugural button.

  • Washington's War Tent Film | Daily in Alan B. Miller Theater
    Do not miss our signature experience, Washington’s War Tent, a dramatic presentation of the linen field tent that served as Washington’s command center during the Revolutionary War. The tent is a stirring testament to his leadership and to the diverse people like William Lee and Selina Gray who were critical to the tent’s endurance through the years. One of the most iconic surviving artifacts of the Revolution, the tent remains a powerful symbol of the survival of our fragile republic.

  • Virtual Tour of Washington’s Field Headquarters | Online, Any Time
    Can’t make it to the Museum? With our Virtual Tour of Washington’s Field Headquarters, immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic images of a recreated Revolutionary War encampment, including the Museum’s handsewn, full-scale replicas of Washington’s sleeping marquee, dining tent, baggage tent, and common tents. Plus, virtually step inside Washington’s sleeping marquee, view high-resolution images of replica artifacts and wartime equipment, watch a timelapse of the encampment set-up, and learn more about Washington’s mobile headquarters while on campaign with the Continental Army.

Gallery Highlights Tour tickets can be purchased here. All other Presidents’ Day Weekend activities are included with regular Museum admission. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 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.

About John Rees
John U. Rees has been writing for thirty-nine years on the experiences and material culture of common soldiers and women in the armies of the American Revolution. Many of his 200-plus articles are available here. John’s first book was “They Were Good Soldiers”: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783 (Helion, 2019); his second book, coauthored with Don Troiani is titled Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865, will be published by Stackpole in January 2025. It can be pre-ordered here.

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 an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.