Press Releases
Museum Wins PA Museums’ Statewide Institutional Award of Merit for “Hamilton Was Here” Special Exhibition
July 23, 2020The Museum Also Received an S.K. Stevens Award for Revolution Place and an Emerging Museum Professional Award for Associate Curator Matthew Skic
The Museum of the American Revolution today announced that it has been recognized with a 2020 Institutional Award of Merit from PA Museums for its 2018-19 exhibit Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia. PA Museums also awarded the Museum with an S.K. Stevens Award for its Revolution Place discovery center and a Carol Wickkiser Memorial Award for Emerging Museum Professionals in recognition of Associate Curator Matthew Skic.
In Hamilton Was Here, the Museum highlighted the surprising connections between the city of Philadelphia and Alexander Hamilton’s extraordinary contributions to the nation’s founding. Through playful activities, scenic environments, and interactive games, visitors actively engaged in the challenges of founding and maintaining a country as they followed Hamilton’s story through different locations in Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
In addition to the exhibit, the Museum launched a “Year of Hamilton” programming, which included a range of special events and programs dedicated to exploring Hamilton’s life and legacy. Over the course of the year, the Museum’s core exhibition featured nearly 30 artifacts related to Alexander and Eliza Hamilton.
“What an honor it is to be recognized by PA Museums for the third year in a row for the exceptional work of our in-house exhibition team,” said Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution. “Hamilton Was Here was another great example of how we strive to tell ‘the other half’ of the story – those that are lesser-known and often surprising. We also are thrilled to be recognized for our family-friendly Revolution Place discovery center and for the work of Matthew Skic, an incredibly talented, rising historian and curator.”
Since the 1980s, PA Museums has invited nominations from its membership and chosen projects that are exemplary to receive recognition. This year, nine (9) organizations from every region of Pennsylvania are being recognized with Institutional Awards of Merit. Two (2) organizations are receiving PA Museums’ prestigious S.K. Stevens Award, and three (3) individuals are being honored for their contributions to the field with Individual Awards.
PA Museums’ Special Achievement Awards Campaign is leading up to the PA Museums virtual conference, August 23-29, 2020. PA Museums postponed its awards ceremony and conference scheduled for April 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This award and 13 others are being celebrated at a safe distance this year with a multi-platform social media campaign, running from August 3-19, supported by the Cumberland County Historical Society. The upcoming campaign includes details about the people, museums, and projects PA Museums is recognizing with awards and feature posts on Facebook and Twitter, as well as in direct emails to members.
“PA Museums’ Special Achievement Awards is something we look forward to each year,” 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 Museums
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 www.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.