Museum’s Living History Youth Summer Institute Introduces Students to Museum Careers, Brings Diverse Stories to Life

Summer Program Culminates With Living History Interpretation of George Washington’s Revolutionary War Encampment at FDR Park, Aug. 8

The Museum’s Living History Youth Summer Institute has welcomed eight students to this year’s program. Now in its fifth year, the six-week intensive course immerses high school and college students in costumed interpretation of enslaved and free people of African ancestry while exploring museum career paths. The Summer Institute runs through Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.

Throughout the summer, students will learn about costumed historical interpretation, particularly focusing on enslaved and free people of African descent, and engage in some of the Museum’s most popular programs and offerings, including special exhibition The Declaration’s Journey, the Black Voices of the Revolution gallery highlights tour, and the Museum’s Meet the Revolution costumed living history series. Students will also take offsite trips to the African American Museum[KA1] [MC2] [KA3] [MI4]  in Philadelphia, Arch Street Meeting House, Betsy Ross House, Colonial PA Farmstead, Historic Germantown, Mother Bethel AME Church and the Richard Allen Museum, and the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, New Jersey.

“This year’s Living History Youth Summer Institute is especially exciting not only because this the fifth year of the program, but also because we get to welcome this group of students during a historic year like the Semiquincentennial,” said Michael Idriss, the Museum’s Manager of African American Interpretive Program. “Being able to have them engage, particularly with the stories we tell in The Declaration’s Journey, is a great opportunity to see how the Museum tells the stories of diverse people beyond the Revolutionary era.”

Students will conclude the Summer Institute by participating in a free, open-to-the-public costumed interpretation capstone experience on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the green in front of the American Swedish Historical Museum at FDR Park. During their live interpretation, participants will set up the Museum’s replica of George Washington’s Revolutionary War encampment as part of its First Oval Office Project, dress in 18th-century costumes, and display the lives of soldiers, camp followers, and free and enslaved people and their connections to General Washington.

Launched in 2022, the Living History Youth Summer Institute aims to cultivate and support a more diverse community of people engaged in the museum field. It is part of the Museum’s African American Interpretive Program, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, which the Museum launched in 2021 to significantly expand its capacity to develop and deliver programs that explore the lives, experiences, and impact of Revolutionary-era people of African descent.  

Comcast NBCUniversal is the sponsor of the Museum’s African American Interpretive Program. Additional support for the 2026 Living History Youth Summer Institute is provided by David and Sarah Kowitz.

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.