Who Tells Your Story? Explore Untold Stories from Black History at Museum’s “History After Hours”

Bring a Personal Item to Display in a One-Night-Only Pop-Up Museum

Who tells your story? This now-famous line from Broadway’s Hamilton musical sets the stage for the Museum of the American Revolution’s Black History Month-themed History After Hours event on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019 from 5-8 p.m.
 

Visitors will explore the often-untold stories of Philadelphia’s vibrant African American community from the Revolutionary-era through today with special guests from the Black History Untold project, Bethel Burying Ground Project, Mother Bethel AME Church, and the African American Genealogy Group.

The event is part of the Museum’s series of monthly History After Hours events which feature extended evening hours, special themed programs, happy hour food and drink specials in Cross Keys Café, and full access to the Museum’s exhibits. Tickets for History After Hours are $10 and can be purchased online in advance here or at the door.

From 6 – 7 p.m., former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter and award-winning storyteller Sofiya Ballin will discuss her identity series Black History Untold, which explores the black experience through personal essays and earned her the National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) Award for Best Feature: Series in 2017.

Guests are encouraged to bring an item that best represents themselves for a one-night-only pop-up museum. Throughout the evening, the pop-up museum will display these personal objects and inspire guests to think about how and why we view history through different lenses.

Throughout the evening, Terry Buckalew from the Bethel Burying Ground Project will showcase his research on the 19th-century African American burial ground on the 400 block of Queen Street and the personal stories it has brought to light about the more than 5,000 individuals interred there. Archivist Margaret Jericho from Mother Bethel AME Church also will be available to discuss her work with the Church’s archives and history involving the site.

The African American Genealogy Group (AAGG) will also be onsite to chat with about the various research methods available to use for those looking to dig into their family history or wanting to learn about local history.

In the Museum’s special hands-on exhibit Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia, visitors can learn about Ona Judge, enslaved by George and Martha Washington, and how she found freedom from the President’s House. In the Museum’s core exhibition, visitors will learn the many lesser-known stories of free and enslaved people of African descent who fought for freedom on all sides of the Revolutionary War.

In the upcoming months, History After Hours will include Burn After Reading on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 and Death and Taxes on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

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 digital touchscreens 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.