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

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

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 Revolutionary War and celebrate the freedoms they fought to secure for future generations from Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27, 2019. Veterans and active or retired military will receive free admission courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal. 

Visitors can take a 30-minute walking tour to the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier at Independence National Historical Park's Washington Square – located just two blocks from the Museum – where thousands of Revolutionary soldiers lie buried in a mass grave. The tours are included with regular Museum admission and will depart from the Museum’s rotunda at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. from May 25-27. Carnations will be available for visitors to place on the Tomb (donations will go to Friends of Independence National Historical Park to support the Tomb’s maintenance).

Throughout the weekend, visitors are encouraged to post notes on a special display in the Museum’s rotunda to express their gratitude to America’s servicemembers. In the Museum’s new discovery center, Revolution Place, visitors of all ages can learn what it takes to be a soldier by trying on reproduction Revolutionary-era uniforms, climbing inside a soldier’s tent, signing an enlistment form, and participating in special programs and craft activities from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily from May 25-27.

Also during the weekend, ten-minute talks will take place daily at 1:30 p.m. next to the gravestone of Captain Michael Cresap, which is on loan from the New-York Historical Society, in the Museum’s galleries. Cresap led a rifle battalion from Maryland in 1775. He fell ill soon after arriving at Washington’s headquarters in Cambridge, and died in New York City on his way home to recover. A reproduction of the tombstone now stands at the Trinity Churchyard on Wall Street, where he is buried.

Veterans and active/retired military will receive free admission throughout Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27), courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal (available at the Museum’s front desk only). General admission tickets can be purchased here or by calling 215.253.6731, and are $21 for adults; $18 for seniors and students; and $13 for children ages 6 and up. Children ages 5 and under are free.

About the 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 digital touchscreens bring to life the diverse array of people who 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.