Museum of the American Revolution Announces First-Floor Building Updates, Including the Relocation of Family-Friendly Discovery Center, Revolution Place

Updates to Enhance Visibility and Accessibility of Child and Family Museum Experience, Impact of Intergenerational Learning

The Museum of the American Revolution today announces the relocation of Revolution Place, the Museum’s hands-on family discovery center, from the building’s lower level to the first floor. Revolution Place will reopen to the public on April 5, 2025. After opening in May 2018 and drawing nearly 64,000 visitors to date, the relocation is set to enhance and expand the Museum’s offerings to families, and promote more opportunity for object-focused discovery, intergenerational learning, and the building of historical empathy among visitors.

Revolution Place brings to life the Museum’s lively, diverse Old City neighborhood during the 1700s and invites visitors — especially families with children ages 5-12 — to learn through hands-on exploration. To facilitate its relocation, and in consultation with the Museum’s retail operator, Event Network, the Museum has reduced the square footage of its gift shop from 3,000 square feet to 1,590 square feet. Revolution Place is set to move into the vacated 1,300 square foot space now open on the first floor, and feature three of the four historical environments previously featured — the military encampment, the Three Tun Tavern, and the 18th -century parlor.

According to data compiled by Wilkening Consulting in 2019, half of American families visit museums regularly or intermittently to promote children’s enjoyment and learning, as well as family fun. However, according to the families surveyed, visiting museums is a less pleasurable activity for parents, and visitation decreases as children grow up. The Museum of the American Revolution aims to tackle logistical engagement barriers with the moving of Revolution Place, as well as extending its hours and associated activities and programming.

“This move reinforces the Museum’s commitment to family programs and maximizes the likelihood that offerings will be seen and utilized by as many visitors as possible,” said Rebecca Franco, Family Programs Manager for the Museum. “That means more children and adults learning together, activating innate curiosity about the past, and discussing the causes, outcomes, and ongoing impact of the American Revolution, both at the Museum and at home.”

Key activity changes to the space include:

• Explore a recreated soldier’s tent and experience what it would have been like to sleep, dress, cook, and live as part of the Continental Army. Also, newly added to Revolution Place is a digital touchscreen showcasing General George Washington’s sleeping, dining, and office marquee tent in the context of a typical encampment.

• Visit a marketplace and shop at the stall of a local vender for vegetables and meats. Learn how boycotts and global trade affected the foods available during the Revolutionary War.

• Enter a recreation of Three Tun Tavern which was located across Chestnut Street from the Museum. Learn how taverns functioned as places where Revolutionary ideas and news were discussed, and where people came together to talk and make decisions. Also, learn what kind of food dishes you could order in a tavern in Philadelphia.

• Engage in craft activities or browse out collection of picture books in the parlor with expanded seating for guests of all ages.

Additional first-floor enhancements include a new digital video wall added to the Museum’s Lenfest Myer Theater, which serves as an introductory space and plays an orientation film for guests. The video wall brings 4K resolution enhancements to the space and also increases the Museum’s ability to present immersive live performances and host live programs with more flexibility. In addition, the Museum added speakers to its Rotunda and Court area, allowing the ability for background music to be played during Museum hours and for events.

“As an anchor institution ready to welcome an influx of visitors to Philadelphia for 250th anniversary Philadelphia in 2026, the Museum of the American Revolution is excited to invest in enhancements to our already highly engaging visitor experience,” said Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson. “Our continued focus on reaching families both in-Museum and online furthers our vision of ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. We want young people grow into more active, better informed, and engaged citizens who’ve been taught to think critically, understand and respect the views of others, and realize their important role in creating a more perfect future.”

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