Press Releases
Only One Month Left to See Once-in-a-Lifetime Special Exhibition “Banners of Liberty,” On View Through August 10
Jul 10, 2025
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Witness the Largest Gathering of Revolutionary War Flags in More Than Two Centuries
Virtual Tour of the Exhibition Will Remain Permanently Online
Only one month remains to see the Museum of the American Revolution’s current special exhibition, Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags, which brings together 17 total flags from the American Revolution and Revolutionary era – the largest gathering of such flags since the close of the eight-year conflict in 1783. Called “a Herculean feat” by Antiques and the Arts Weekly, the exhibition kicks off the Museum’s Semiquincentennial celebration plans by bringing together more than half of these banners of the Revolution known to still exist in one room. Banners of Liberty is on view exclusively at the Museum through Aug. 10, 2025, in the first-floor Patriots Gallery, and is included with regular Museum admission.
The assembled flags, carried by regiments of the Continental Army and American militiamen, once waved in the smoke on battlefields from South Carolina to New England. Though they are now faded and tattered, the distinctive colors, symbols, and mottos on each flag speak to the motivations and political ideals of the Revolutionary cause and the growth of American national identity. They help to tell the story of the American Revolution by serving as iconic links to the Revolutionary generation. Under these flags, diverse people forged a new nation based on the ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government.
All but one of the flags in the exhibition are on loan from private individuals or peer institutions and have traveled to Philadelphia from across the region and as far away as New England and the Midwest. Several of these flags were made in Philadelphia – the capital of the American Revolution – and this exhibition marks their first return to the city since the war. As part of its commitment to preserve these rare and fragile artifacts, the Museum has contributed to the conservation and new framing of six of the displayed flags with the help of generous donors. These preservation efforts, led by textile conservator Virginia Whelan, include the pair of flags of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, which are on loan from the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the flag of Pulaski’s Legion, on loan from the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
Key Artifacts on Display
Flags played key roles on the battlefield and the parade ground as tools of motivation and identification for armies of the Revolutionary War. They often featured a design in their canton (upper corner) as well as designs, a motto, or a unit designation at the center. Revolutionary Americans employed stars, stripes, and other symbols to represent the unity of the 13 states. Mottos in Latin or English referenced their justification and determination to fight to create an independent nation. Early in the war, before the Declaration of Independence, some American flags included the British union (a combination of crosses representing England and Scotland) to express that they remained loyal to King George III even as they fought to secure their traditional English liberties.
Curated by the Museum’s in-house exhibitions team, Banners of Liberty will feature:
The Commander in Chief’s Standard, the silk standard used by General George Washington to mark his headquarters and his presence on the battlefield, according to stories passed down through the Washington family. A key aspect of the Museum’s permanent collection, the standard is on display for only the second time since our opening. Collection of the Museum of the American Revolution.
The Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia Flag, carried by a unit of distinguished members of Philadelphia society formed in 1774 and is today one of the oldest active military organizations in the nation, now known as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. This flag waved at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, some of George Washington’s most famous victories. Originally designed with the British union in its upper corner, the flag was repainted with 13 stripes following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence to represent the new United States of America. Some of the original British union is still visible through the paint. At the center of the flag, 13 ribbons knotted together also represent that national unity. On loan from the Museum of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.
The Delaware Militia Flag, also known as the “Dansey Flag,” was captured by British Army officer Captain William Dansey in September of 1777 and brought back to England as a war trophy. It remained in his family’s possession until it was sold to the Delaware Historical Society in 1927. On loan from the Delaware Historical Society.
The 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia Flag, a rare surviving artifact from the war in the South, represents a unit that reflected the diverse society of the South Carolina backcountry they came from. John Biddie (or Biddle), a free man of African descent originally from Virginia, and Aquila Hollingsworth, a Quaker from Delaware, both volunteered to join the regiment and served with the unit at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781 where Hollingsworth was killed in battle. The exact origin and meaning of the dog and snake painted on the flag remain unknown, though snakes were often used by Revolutionaries to represent American liberties. On display courtesy of Nick Manganiello and Francine Carrick.
The Pennsylvania Militia Flag, known today as the “Brandywine Flag,” is the earliest surviving flag featuring stars and stripes, created just a few months after the Continental Congress passed a resolution regarding the design of the American flag on June 14, 1777. The Chester County Militia likely fought under this flag during the Battle of Brandywine on Sept. 11 that year, as the Continental Army fought to defend Pennsylvania from the British.
The two 2nd New Hampshire Regiment flags were purchased by the regiment in 1777 with funds from the New Hampshire Committee of Safety. One, a buff-colored flag, is painted with the “Chain of States” and the motto “We Are One” to represent unity among the states. The other, a blue flag, features the motto “The Glory not the Prey.” Each flag has a British union stitched in its canton. Captured by the British 30 miles away from where the regiment fought at the Battle of Hubbardton in 1777, these flags were sent to England as war trophies, and then donated to the New Hampshire Historical Society in 1913. While female flag makers like Rebecca Flower Young and Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross were working in the same neighborhood as this exhibit and possibly tasked with creating some of the banners set for display, their individual contributions cannot be confirmed. But the 2nd New Hampshire flags are known to be sewn by Boston-based milliner Fanny Johonnot Williams. On loan from the New Hampshire Historical Society, Gift of Edward Tuck.
Additional Resources:
Audio Tour: An audio tour (with transcriptions) is available for $5 per handheld device ($3 for Museum Members).
For Kids & Families: Families can enjoy the special exhibition with a printed scavenger hunt for younger visitors, as well as hands-on activities and crafts, pop-up talks, and a discovery cart with replica objects related to the exhibition.
Digital Resources: An online exhibit of Banners of Liberty is available on the Museum’s website. Online visitors are also invited to explore the Museum's digital resources about previous related exhibitions and programs that have explored the history of the American flag, including A New Constellation: A Collection of 13-Star Flags (2019), the True Colours Flag Project (2021), and Flags and Founding Documents, 1776-Today (2021).
Banners of Liberty will be open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The 5,000-square-foot exhibition is located in the Museum’s first-floor Patriots Gallery. Access to the exhibition is included with regular Museum admission. Tickets can be purchased at AmRevMuseum.org, by calling 215.253.6731, or at the front desk. Children ages 5 and under are free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. Group tickets for parties of 15 or more are available for a reduced price by calling 267.579.3623. Memberships are also available online or by calling 215.454.2030.
Banners of Liberty is presented by American Heritage Credit Union and Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company. Additional support is provided by Pritzker Military Foundation, Artist Preservation Group, Dick and Sally Brickman, Nancy and Morris W. Offit, Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution and its Color Guard, Rosalind and Mark Shenkman, and Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire, as well as Jeff R. Bridgman Antiques, Inc., Dean F. Failey Grant from Decorative Arts Trust, Brian and Barbara Hendelson, Jacqueline Mars, Society of the Cincinnati in Pennsylvania, and Daniel H. Wheeler and Amy A. Fox.
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.