Museum Honors America’s First Fallen Soldiers and Sailors During Memorial Day Weekend

Free Admission for Veterans and Active/Retired Military, Courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal

PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 25, 2018 — This Memorial Day weekend, the Museum of the American Revolution will pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in service to their country during the American Revolution, and celebrate the freedoms they fought to secure for future generations from Saturday, May 26 – Monday, May 28, 2018 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Veterans and active or retired military will receive free admission courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal during Memorial Day Weekend. 

To coincide with Sail Philadelphia, the Museum will highlight the lives of Revolutionary sailors and illuminate why they served and how they thought about wartime losses. Throughout the weekend, visitors can board the Museum’s replica privateer ship and witness an auction of a deceased sailor’s personal effects, meet interpreters portraying the men and women who crewed ships and worked on the city’s docks, and see what they think of their prospects as the sailing season begins.

Visitors are encouraged to post notes on a large panel in the Museum’s rotunda to express their gratitude to America’s servicemembers. Carnations will be available for visitors to place on the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier at Independence National Historical Park's Washington Square, which is located just two blocks from the Museum. 

The Museum’s artifacts and exhibits explore the stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the fight for American independence. The Museum’s core exhibition concludes with the “Revolutionary Generation,” a display of photographs of 70 people who lived through the American Revolution and survived into the age of photography. These moving photographs offer an extraordinary opportunity to see the faces of the Revolutionary generation, many of whom lost loved ones in the struggle to establish a new nation and who carried forward the ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government.

Beginning Memorial Day weekend, visitors also will learn about our nation’s history from Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s Once Upon A Nation storytellers at their newest bench located in the Museum’s outdoor plaza. The engaging storytellers will bring to life the stories of James Forten, a free black 14-year-old who joined a privateer ship; Deborah Sampson, a woman who dressed as a man in order to fight in the Revolutionary War; and the Philadelphia beginnings of the relationship between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

Veterans and active/retired military will receive free admission throughout Memorial Day weekend (May 26-28), courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal. General admission tickets can be purchased here or by calling 215.253.6731, and are $19 for adults; $17 for seniors and students; and $12 for children ages 6 and up. Children ages 5 and under are free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days.

About the Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dynamic story of the American Revolution using its rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art. Immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation’s founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, and Franklin Court, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.