Free Admission for Veterans, Military, and Blue Star Families During Veterans Day Weekend, Nov. 10 – 12

Explore Veterans’ Stories with A Film Premiere, Walking Tours, Discovery Carts, and Other Family-Friendly Activities

Don’t Miss the Final Weeks of Black Founders Special Exhibition

This Veterans Day Weekend, Friday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, the Museum of the American Revolution will pay tribute to America’s first veterans as well as those who continue to serve our nation today. Visitors of all ages can enjoy walking tours, performances, and other family-friendly activities. From Nov. 10-12, the Museum will offer free admission to veterans, those currently serving in the military, and Blue Star Families, courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal.

Throughout the weekend, the Museum will debut its new Pension Project, a powerful series of videos featuring living veterans reading the military pensions of Revolutionary War soldiers to connect the past with the present.

In the Museum’s special exhibit, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, visitors can join a Museum educator learn more about a flag captured by Black troops at the Battle of the Crater and about the service during the Civil War. Black Founders is open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is included with regular Museum admission. Be sure to visit this groundbreaking exhibition before it closes on Nov. 26, 2023.

Other Veterans Day Weekend Highlights:

• Premiere of the Pension Project | Daily at 11:30 a.m.
  Join us in Lenfest Meyer Theater throughout Veterans Day Weekend to watch the debut of the Museum's Pension Project videos featuring three living veterans, whose service spans from World War II to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as they read the military pensions of Revolutionary War soldiers to connect the past with the present. This 45-minute film is recommended for all ages and included with regular Museum admission.
• Special Exhibit: Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia | Daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  In the Museum’s current special exhibition, explore the life and legacy of free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War privateer, and successful businessman James Forten and his descendants as they navigated the American Revolution and cross-racial relationships in Philadelphia to become leaders in the abolition movement in the lead-up to the Civil War and the women's suffrage movement. Plus, join a Museum educator to learn more about a flag captured by Black troops at the Battle of the Crater and about the service during the Civil War.
  Walking Tours to Old Pine Conservancy | Saturday & Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator for a walking tour to Old Pine Conservancy and learn about some of the veterans of the Revolutionary War who are buried there. Old Pine Conservancy supports the preservation and protection of the graveyard and continues to document and share the history of those who are buried there.
• Postcards and Poppies | Daily 
  Guests of all ages are invited to write a special message of gratitude for service members and their families throughout the weekend. The Museum will mail the messages to organizations supporting Blue and Gold Star Families. Visitors also can donate to the American Legion Auxiliary and receive a red crepe paper poppy that was handmade by veterans as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation. Proceeds will assist disabled and hospitalized veterans.
• Meet Elder James Forten Performance | Sunday at 1:15 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.
  Set in 1838, meet 72-year-old James Forten as he speaks with his friend Daniel Brewton about the nearby ruins of Pennsylvania Hall. The building, which he helped to finance as a meeting space for social reformers and abolitionists, was looted and set on fire by a mob of white men who did not view the work of abolitionists favorably. That same year, Forten, who witnessed a reading of the Declaration of Independence and served two tours as a privateer, lost the right vote when Pennsylvania disenfranchised all Black men. The 20-minute performance of Meet Elder James Forten stars Steve Crum and is best enjoyed by guests ages 9 and up.
• Ribbon Craft in Revolution Place | Daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Visit Revolution Place, the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, which brings to life Old City’s lively, diverse neighborhood during the1700s 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. For Veterans Day, visitors can make their own commemorative ribbon to honor members of our armed forces.
• Discovery Cart: Akiatonharónkwen (Louis Cook) | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  November is Native American Heritage Month, and during Veterans Day weekend, visitors can explore the stories of native veterans such as Akiatonharónkwen, also known as Louis Cook, who was one of the highest-ranking Native American officers in the Continental forces during the Revolutionary War. Join a Museum educator at a discovery cart to learn about the path he chose in the Revolutionary War as British and Revolutionary leaders courted him as an ally. This cart features brand-new replica wampum belts recently commissioned by the Museum.
• 10-Minute Gallery Talk: The Darkest Hour | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  What did it mean to participate in the Revolutionary War? Join a Museum educator in the core exhibition to learn more about the diverse range of people who experienced and fought in the Revolution.
• Gallery Guide: Remembering Fallen Revolutionaries | Onsite and Online, Any Time
  Throughout the Museum, we tell the stories of many of our nation’s first fallen soldiers and honor those whose names we don’t know. Use our Remembering Fallen Revolutionaries gallery guide, available onsite and online, to explore these stories and artifacts, including the sword of fallen Revolutionary General Hugh Mercer and the gravestone of Maryland Captain Michael Cresap, among many others.
• Relaxed Experience Morning | Sunday at 9 a.m.
  Experience the Museum galleries in a calm, crowd-free environment. On Sunday, Nov. 12 from 9-10:30 a.m., galleries will have lower sound effects and higher light levels to create a sensory-friendly experience. Sensory guides and social stories will be available at the front desk to aid your visit. Other offerings include an available quiet room and sensory kits to borrow. Guests who pre-register will be admitted free of charge. To reserve your tickets for Relaxed Experience Mornings, please contact [email protected]. Space is limited.

Veterans Day Weekend activities are 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. Free admission for veterans, those currently serving in the military, and Blue Star Families is available at the front desk with ID. The Museum is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Veterans Day Weekend 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.