Museum Wins PA Museums’ Statewide Institutional Achievement Award for “Cost of Revolution” Exhibition

The Museum Also Received PA Museums’ S.K. Stevens Award for its 2018-2019 Hamilton Was Here Exhibition 

The Museum of the American Revolution today announced that it has been recognized with a 2021 Institutional Achievement Award from PA Museums for its 2019-2020 special exhibition Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier, which was critically and publicly acclaimed for its fresh scholarship and evocative storytelling. The Museum also received an S.K. Stevens Award for its 2018-19 special exhibition Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia.

Through the little-known story of Richard St. George, an Anglo-Irish artist and officer in the British Army, Cost of Revolution provided a window into the entangled histories of the American Revolution and the Irish Revolution of 1798. As the Museum’s first international loan exhibition, Cost of Revolution was an incredibly ambitious undertaking for a Museum that is only a few years old. The exhibition assembled more than 100 artifacts, manuscripts, and works of art from museums and private collections across the United States as well as in Ireland, England, and Australia, many of which were on display in America for the first time. Together, these objects revealed the physical and emotional toll of revolution.

A richly illustrated exhibition catalog written by Curator of Exhibitions Matthew Skic, who served as the lead curator for Cost of Revolution, is available for purchase in the Museum’s shop. An original one-man theatrical performance based on the life of Richard St. George, created to complement the exhibition, is available to be viewed on the Museum’s website.

“What an honor it is to be recognized by PA Museums for the fourth year in a row for the exceptional work of our in-house exhibition team,” said Skic. “Cost of Revolution is a prime example of how the Museum strives to tell ‘the other half’ of the story – those that are lesser-known and often surprising. Richard St. George’s tragic, personal journey provides a fascinating lens through which to view the Revolutionary era.”

Since the 1980s, PA Museums has invited nominations from its membership and chosen projects that are exemplary to receive recognition. This year, seven organizations from every region of Pennsylvania are being recognized with Institutional Awards of Merit. Two organizations are receiving PA Museums’ prestigious S.K. Stevens Award, and three individuals are being honored for their contributions to the field with Individual Awards.

PA Museums’ awardees are being celebrated at a safe distance this year with a multi-platform social media campaign leading up to the PA Museums virtual conference in April 2021. The upcoming campaign will include details about the people, museums, and projects that PA Museums is recognizing through feature posts on Facebook and Twitter, as well as via its membership e-newsletter.“PA Museums’ annual awards are meant to inspire the museum field,” said Rusty Baker, executive director of PA Museums. “Pennsylvania’s museums and historical organizations are star performers, and we are proud to recognize the great work being done throughout the Commonwealth.”

About PA Museum
PA Museums is Pennsylvania’s statewide museum association with 350 members across the Commonwealth. PA Museums’ membership includes museums and historical organizations of many types and sizes, and in addition to providing professional development opportunities for museum professionals, the organization also leads advocacy campaigns on behalf of the museum community. For more information, visit pamuseums.org.

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 a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.