Last Chance to See Commodore Barry’s Sword Over Thanksgiving Weekend at the Museum of the American Revolution

Plus performances, crafts, and activities for the whole family, Nov. 29-Dec. 1

Visitors to the Museum of the American Revolution over Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday, Nov. 29 – Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, will have a chance to see the rare Revolutionary War sword of Commodore John Barry on display in the Museum’s core galleries before it is taken off view on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. The holiday weekend will also include theatrical performances, crafts, and immersive activities for the whole family. Plus, bring your new and unwrapped toys to donate to the Toys For Tots box at the front desk.

A “Father of the U.S. Navy,” Commodore John Barry served with distinction as an officer in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. In April 1776, near the Virginia Capes, Barry oversaw the first capture of a British ship by the young Continental Navy. In 1794, he was given the first captain’s commission in the newly established United States Navy. Barry’s Revolutionary War sword, on loan from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, is represented in the statue of him that stands outside of Independence Hall and was displayed in the Oval Office during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.

More Thanksgiving Weekend Highlights:

• Witness to Revolution Special Exhibit | Daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Our current special exhibition greatly expands the story told in the Museum’s award-winning Washington's War Tent film and brings to life the stories of individuals from all walks of life who saved George Washington’s tent from being lost over the generations and who ultimately fashioned this relic into a symbol of the fragile American republic.

• “Meet Elizabeth Freeman” | Friday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 1 at 1:15 & 3:15 p.m.
  Watch a 30-minute 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. This performance is appropriate for all audiences.

• “Meet Joseph Plumb Martin” | Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1:15 p.m. & 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." In June 1776, he left Milford, Conn. and joined the Continental Army in New York City. This performance is appropriate for all audiences.

• 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.

• 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. Don't miss your chance to craft your own version of Washington's headquarters tent to take home with you.

• Discovery Cart: Tyonajanegen (Two Kettles Together) | 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 Revolutionaries such as Tyonajanegen (Two Kettles Together), an Oneida woman who participated in the violent Battle of Oriskany during the Saratoga Campaign.

• 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!

Thanksgiving Weekend activities are included with regular Museum admission. Our current special exhibit Witness to Revolution is open daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 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. 28, 2024.

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.