March into Spring Break with family-friendly activities for all ages at the Museum. Info & Tickets

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This holiday season, there are so many reasons to bring the whole family to the Museum of the American Revolution! Visitors of all ages will enjoy the Museum’s special hands-on exhibit Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia and can participate in festive “History in the Making” crafts, activities and demonstrations showcasing life in the Museum’s neighborhood during the 18th Century. 

Two Asian American youths, one male and one female, interact with a child friendly activity in the Hamilton Was Here exhibit. The female holds the Flat Hamilton in her left hand, with the back of it facing the viewer. They are both smiling. In the background, a woman, with her back to the viewer, reads the exhibit panels.

The Museum is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The Museum will close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Tickets are available for purchase online here or at the front desk. All activities are free with admission, unless otherwise indicated.

Here are the top HamilTEN reasons to visit this holiday season:

  1. Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia
    Explore Alexander Hamilton’s Philadelphia! In Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia, playful interactives, scenic environments, and facilitated games engage visitors of all ages in the challenges of founding and maintaining a country. Visitors will be inspired to carry these lessons forward as they face the challenges of citizenship today. Running through March 17. More here.
     
  2. Black Friday: Retail & Rebellion
    This Black Friday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., experience the surprising political and global history of shopping in Revolutionary Philadelphia. Meet a costumed educator to find out what items early Americans bought at the market and what items they boycotted to voice their rights. Encounter rare survivals of consumer goods from the 1700s and see how national currency changed in Hamilton Was Here. More info here.
     
  3. Make a Paper Ornament
    Nov. 23 – 25, Dec. 1 – 2, Dec. 22 – 23 and Dec. 29 – 31 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

    Snip your way to shaping an ornament inspired by objects in the Museum's collection. Learn the art of paper cutting, “scherenschnitte,” brought to America by German immigrants. On Saturday, Nov. 24, watch paper-cutting demonstrations by artist Sara Russell.
     
  4. Get Illuminated! Activity
    Philadelphia artist and soldier Charles Willson Peale painted scenes on thin fabric or glass which were then placed in windows and illuminated with candlelight from behind. On Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 24 – Dec. 30, design your own dazzling window illumination to take home in the Museum’s Revolution Place discovery center. 
     
  5. Seashell Ornament Activity
    On Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9, make an ornament inspired by nautical details from the 1770s Bonnin and Morris pickle stand on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is on display in the Museum’s gallery until Dec. 31. During the 18th Century, shell motifs were popular in design and the Philadelphia-based porcelain factory cast real shells to include on their works. Also on Dec. 9, create your own seashell-inspired ice cream bowl at a ticketed workshop in partnership with The Clay Studio. More here.
     
  6. Gingerbread-Themed History After Hours
    On Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 5 – 8 p.m., guests will enjoy a special program featuring cookie and cocktail pairings with American Cookie author Anne Byrn, as part of the Museum’s gingerbread-themed History After Hours event. $10 for non-members, free for Members (includes full exhibit access). More here.
     
  7. Living History: Hessian Takeover
    Late on the night of Christmas Day in 1776, Washington’s army crossed the Delaware River and went on to attack Trenton, New Jersey. Alexander Hamilton's artillery company played a crucial role in capturing the Hessian garrison of Trenton. But who were these German soldiers, known as the Hessians, who fought with the British? On Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., meet costumed living history interpreters portraying Hessians and learn how they came to America and why some stayed. A Museum educator in the galleries will highlight objects and stories from these winter battles. Free with admission. More info here.
     
  8. Museum Shop
    Got a history lover in the family? The Museum has your holiday shopping list covered. From books, home décor, and apparel to toys and souvenirs, the Museum’s shop has unique gifts for the whole family at all price points. Shop in-store or online here.
     
  9. Historic Sewing 102: Make a Pair of Mitts or Mittens
    How did Alexander Hamilton keep warm during the bitter winter campaign of December 1776? What did Angelica Schuyler Church wear during winters in upstate New York? On Thursday, Dec. 27 from 1 – 5 p.m., participants can make a pair of men’s mittens or women’s mitts to wear during your own Hamiltonian winter. No prior sewing experience is required for this workshop is suitable for adults and families with children ages 10 and up. $30 per person. More here.
     
  10. Cross Keys Café
    Cozy up in the Museum’s Cross Keys Café with a hearty chicken pot pie, creamy mac and cheese with a panko crunch, or another one of the café’s grab-and-go soups, salads, sandwiches, and colonial era-inspired dishes. And be sure to try one of the café’s hot seasonal beverages, like a mulled cider or a pumpkin latte. Café hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. More info here.

About Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dramatic, surprising story of the American Revolution through its unmatched collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, documents, and works of art. Immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive digital elements bring to life the diverse array of people who created a new nation against incredible odds. Visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in the ongoing promise of the American Revolution. 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.