Gather at the Museum Over Thanksgiving Weekend for the Final Days of Black Founders Special Exhibit and Festivities for the Whole Family, Nov. 24 – 26

Explore Black Founders Before it Closes on Sunday, Nov. 26

Get a Head Start on Your Holiday Shopping at the Museum Shop

This Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday, Nov. 24 – Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, join us at the Museum of the American Revolution to experience the final days of our groundbreaking special exhibit, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia. Throughout the weekend, enjoy immersive exhibits and activities for the whole family. Plus, share a note of gratitude on our “Wall of Thanks” in the Museum’s rotunda and stop by the Museum Shop to find the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list.

Don’t miss your chance to explore Black Founders, open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, to learn about the life and legacy of free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War privateer, and successful businessman James Forten. Throughout the holiday weekend, join a Museum educator in Black Founders to hear special pop-up talks that delve deeper into the Fortens’ s fascinating story. Black Founders is included with regular Museum admission.

Thanksgiving Weekend Highlights:

• Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia | Daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Before it closes on Sunday, Nov. 26, 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 Museum educators throughout the exhibit for talks about a painting that depicts the Black and Native American troops of the Rhode Island Regiment marching past the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) en route to Yorktown on Sept. 2, 1781, a flag captured by Black troops at the Battle of the Crater, and to learn about the tools of the sailmaking trade.
• Ornament-Making in Revolution Place | Daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Explore the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, which will transform into the winter of 1778! Come in to discover frost-covered windows, logs piled by the fire, and 18th-century coats and cloaks as you learn about what Philadelphia would have been like in the snowy winter months and how they celebrated the winter holidays. Plus, create your own illumination ornament inspired by Charles Willson Peale’s window displays.
• Pop-Up Talks: Brawl at Harvard Yard | Daily at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Join a Museum educator at a tableau depicting a fight between American soldiers that was broken up by George Washington, who restored order in the camp. The scene was described by Israel Trask, who was 11 years old at the time of the brawl, in his pension application.
• Discovery Cart: Akiatonharónkwen (Louis Cook) | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  November is Native American Heritage Month, and this Thanksgiving 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.
• Gallery Guide: The Marketplace of Revolution | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Online, Any Time
  In colonial and revolutionary America, what you bought — and who you bought it from — told people a lot about you. Throughout the war and in the years that followed, money and the marketplace were everyone’s concern: buying things became part of what it meant to be American. This holiday shopping season, use our Marketplace of Revolution gallery guide on site and online, any time, to look for artifacts related to the “consumer revolution,” new shopping habits, and wish lists!
• Holiday Shopping | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Online Anytime
  It’s the season of giving! Let us help you find the perfect gift for your friends and family this holiday season. From gift memberships to unique gift options for all ages in the Museum Shop, the Museum has the perfect selection of meaningful gifts for the history buffs in your life. Plus, shop online anytime at shop.amrevmuseum.org.
• Wall of Thanks | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  What are you thankful for this year? Add a note of gratitude to the “Wall of Thanks” in the Museum’s rotunda.

Thanksgiving Weekend activities are included with regular Museum admission. Our current special exhibit Black Founders is open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., now through Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, 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. Kids ages 5 and under are always free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. Please note that the Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. The Museum will be open Friday, Nov. 24 – Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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.