Museum Asks Visitors How They Will #BeTheRevolution, Aims to Create Flag with 10,000 Personalized Ribbons by July 4

How will you protect your rights? How will you advance the common good? How will you #BeTheRevolution? 

The Museum of the American Revolution is asking visitors and passersby to declare how they are carrying forward the American Revolution’s promises of liberty and equality by adding a personalized ribbon to a flag-shaped “Declarations Wall.” The wall is located on the Museum’s outdoor plaza from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 30 – Wednesday, July 4, 2018. The goal is to collect 10,000 ribbons by July 4.

Those who aren’t able to make it to the Museum in person can join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #BeTheRevolution. Museum staff will add a ribbon to the wall on their behalf.

One side of the 6.5 ft. by 12 ft. “Declarations Wall” features a 13-star American flag based on one depicted by Abel Buell in a 1783 map of the new United States. The other side features George Washington’s Headquarters Flag, the flag that marked his headquarters and his presence on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War, which is in the Museum’s collection and was recently displayed at the Museum for the first time.
 

“The American Declaration of Independence holds that all people have fundamental rights and that government exists for the good of the people,” said Dr. Elizabeth Grant, Director of Education at the Museum. “This Fourth of July, we’re exploring the Declaration’s very words and global legacy, inviting visitors to tell us how they understand the Declaration’s meaning for today.”

Indoors, the Museum explores the history and continuing legacy of the Declaration with special programs and activities for all ages throughout the holiday weekend. Visitors can sign their name to a giant Declaration of Independence in the Museum’s rotunda and take home a complimentary pocket-sized Declaration of Independence. Throughout the building, posters featuring snippets from declarations of independence from around the world show the global influence of the American Declaration.

The Museum also is showcasing a rare printing of the Declaration from July 1776, on loan from the American Philosophical Society Library. The printing, by Philadelphian John Dunlap, is the only parchment broadside printing of the Declaration known to exist.

About Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dramatic, surprising story of the American Revolution through its unmatched collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, documents, and works of art. Immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive digital elements bring to life the diverse array of people that created a new nation against incredible odds. Visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in the ongoing promise of the American Revolution. 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.