Free Outdoor Programming Will Return During Annual Indigenous Peoples Weekend at the Museum, Oct. 10-12

Weekend Celebration of Native American History and Culture Will Include Free Performances by Indigenous Dancers, Historical Interpretation, Hands-on Demonstrations, and More 

Learn About America’s First Allies, Those to Recognize Our Declaration in The Declaration’s Journey 

Celebrate Native American history and culture, as well as their role in our nation's founding, during the Museum of the American Revolution’s annual Indigenous Peoples Weekend celebration from Saturday, Oct. 10 – Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The weekend will include traditional Native American dance performances, hands-on demonstrations, and other special activities for all ages.  

Throughout the weekend, the Museum will be joined by members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, who will perform traditional Lenape social dances on the Museum’s outdoor plaza. Dance performances will take place daily and are free and open to the public. 

In both our core galleries and our current special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, learn about the Native American nations that were the first foreign powers to formally acknowledge the independence of the United States, become allies with the U.S. during the Revolutionary War, and continued to play pivotal roles throughout American history. Objects on view in The Declaration’s Journey include a copy of the Treaty of Watertown, on loan from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University. 

Indigenous Peoples Weekend highlights: 

Lenape Social Dances | Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sunday and Monday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.  

Join us on the Museum’s outdoor plaza for lively performances of traditional Lenape social dances presented by members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. Daily performances are free and open to the public. 

Meet the Revolution: Kehala and Jordan Smith | Daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

As part of our Meet the Revolution series, living history interpreters Kehala Smith (Tuscarora Nation, Turtle Clan) and Jordan Smith (Mohawk, Bear Clan) will share stories about their culture, costuming, and traditions and engage guests in conversation about the past, present, and future of their people. They also will demonstrate and display culturally meaningful objects and materials, including woven baskets, slippery elm bark, and wampum belts. 

The Declaration’s Journey | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

The Declaration's Journey, presented by Griffin Catalyst, explores the historical and global impact of the Declaration of Independence from 1776 to today. The exhibition features artifacts that highlight the Native American nations that were the first foreign powers to formally acknowledge the independence of the United States, including a copy of the Treaty of Watertown and a letter written to President Abraham Lincoln by Chief John Ross of the Cherokee Nation explaining the political division in the tribe during the American Civil War. 

Revolution Place: Wampum Belt Craft | Daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.  

Wampum beads — purple and white beads made from seashells or (later) glass — were woven into patterns on belts to commemorate agreements between different communities of Native Americans and Europeans. Native American nations, such as the Oneida Nation, would design these belts to document what they discussed with others. Join a Museum educator in the Museum's family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, on the lower level to color your own wampum belt with your own symbols and messages. You can also make your own wampum belt at home online, any time. 

Discovery Cart: What did Colonists Think About Christopher Columbus? | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Join a Museum educator to learn about the diverse perspectives of 18th-century Americans on Christopher Columbus, his legacy, and his actions. 

Oneida Nation Gallery | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  

In the Museum’s core exhibition, visitors can explore an immersive multimedia gallery that recreates the Oneida Indian Nation’s debate over whether to break away from the Six Nations Confederacy to support the Revolutionary cause. Listen as recreated figures representing Oneida men and women discuss the difficult choices they faced. 

Film Screening: The People of the Standing Stone | Daily at 3:30 p.m. 

Screening daily in Lenfest Meyer Theater, The People of the Standing Stone explores the crucial but little-known history of the extraordinary contributions of one Native American people who chose to commit themselves to the Revolutionary cause when nearly all others fought on the side of the British during America’s War for Independence. The moving 25-minute film was directed by Emmy Award-winning director Ric Burns and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner. 

Lenape Social Dance performances are free and open to the public. All other Indigenous Peoples Weekend activities are included with regular Museum admission. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Our special exhibition, The Declaration's Journey, is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 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. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. 

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.