Witness to Revolution Audio Tour

Welcome to the audio tour for our 2024 special exhibition, Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent, narrated by Museum educator Andrew Wineman.

Below you will find the audio track stops. At the bottom of this page, we offer transcripts and a quick description of all the audio tracks. Enjoy!

Stop 201 - Introduction
Museum educator Andrew Wineman welcomes you to the audio tour for the Museum's special exhibition, Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent, and what to expect as your explore.
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Stop 202 - Home and Headquarters
Learn about the different ways General George Washington used his tent, from sleeping and personal space to working and office area.
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Stop 203 - Ordering Tents
Hear about the tents and camp equipment that General Washington ordered from Philadelphia upholsterer Plunket Fleeson.
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Stop 204 - Object Highlight: Camp Bed
Dive deeper into the craftsmanship that went into building General Washington's folding camp bed that travelled with his tent.
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Stop 205 - Object Highlight: Martha Washington's Trunk
Learn about the large leather trunk that Martha Washington used as luggage when visiting George Washington on campaign during the Revolutionary War.
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Stop 206 - Washington's Military "Family"
Discover the diverse people and their roles while travelling with General Washington and the Continental Army during the war.
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Stop 207 - Freedom and Slavery
Learn about William Lee, who was enslaved by George Washington and worked as Washington's valet throughout the Revolutionary War.
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Stop 208 - Object Highlight: Isaac Till's Baptismal Record
Hear about Isaac Till, the son of Hannah and Isaac Till who were enslaved and worked at Washington's encampment, and his baptismal record from a church that still stands in Philadelphia today.
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Stop 209 - Among His Troops
Learn about the Museum's 2017 discovery of an eyewitness watercolor painting of the Continental Army's encampment at Verplanck's Point featuring the only known wartime depiction of Washington's tent.
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Stop 210 - Object Highlight: Verplanck's Point Watercolor
Dive deeper into an eyewitness watercolor painting by Pierre Charles L'Enfant of the Continental Army's encampment at Verplanck's Point in New York.
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Stop 211 - Becoming Relics
Hear about what happened to Washington's tent and equipment after his death in 1799 and then after Martha's death in 1802.
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Stop 212 - George Washington Parke Custis
Learn about George Washington Parke Custis, Martha's grandson, who purchased George Washington's tent and began to capitalize on his legacy.
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Stop 213 - Object Highlight: Tent Fragments
View a wall of fragments cut from Washington's tent by George Washington Parke Custis to give away as souvenirs and mementos.
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Stop 214 - Lafayette's Return
Discover the Marquis de Lafayette's return to America in 1824-1825 and subsequent tour of the country as it neared the 50th anniversary of independence.
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Stop 215 - Witness to War
Learn about how Washington's tent and equipment survived a second war — the Civil War — while being stored at Arlington House in Virginia.
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Stop 216 - Object Highlight: Selina Gray Letter
Explore the role of Selina Gray, a woman enslaved at Arlington House who alerted troops about the Washington relics stored there to get them moved to safety.
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Stop 217 - National Treasure
Hear about the symbolism of Washington's tent and equipment as the nation approached and then celebrated its Centennial in 1876.
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Stop 218 - Centennial
Learn about the United States' Centennial celebrations held in Philadelphia and the development in Fairmount Park in order to host the event and leave a lasting legacy.
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Stop 219 - Reclaiming the Relics
Discover the Lee family's work to regain possession of Washington's tent and equipment after the Civil War ended.
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Stop 220 - Object Highlight: Mary Custis Lee's Trunk
Hear about Mary Custis Lee's luggage trunk that she used while travelling the world and her decision to sell Washington's tent to raise money for Confederate widows.
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Stop 221 - Purchasing Washington's Tent
Explore the story of Reverend W. Herbert Burk, an Episcopalian minister in Valley Forge who purchased Washington's tent to be part of a new museum he was building.
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Stop 222 - Still Bearing Witness
Learn about the conservation efforts of the Museum of the American Revolution and how more than 1,000,000 visitors have experienced the last significance of Washington's tent.
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Stop 223 - Object Highlight: Tent Poles
View a display of original wooden tent poles and stakes that helped hold up Washington's tent on campaign during the Civil war.
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Stop 224 - First Oval Office Project
Hear about the Museum's First Oval Office Project, a suite of handsewn, exact replicas of Washington's headquarters tent, dining tent, baggage tent, and common soldiers tent.
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Stop 225 - Conclusion
Thank you for visiting the Museum of the American Revolution and the temporary special exhibit, Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent.
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Do I need to use headphones in the galleries?
While we do not require guests to use headphones, we ask that you keep your phone at a low volume that is considerate of the guests around you. The Museum does not provide headphones for cell phones. Museum staff reserves the right to ask you to turn down your volume.

Can I switch to a Museum-issued audio tour wand?
Yes. If your personal device fails or you feel the wand would result in a better experience, you may return to the front desk to check out an audio tour wand.

Does the Museum provide free WiFi?
Yes! Log in to MoAR Guest to access the Museum's guest WiFi network.

Can I access the audio tour on an app instead?
The Museum's audio tour is hosted on Soundcloud. If you prefer to access the audio tour via the Soundcloud app, you can download the Soundcloud app from the App Store (Apple devices) or Google Play (Android/Google devices) and install on your device.

What other guided tour options does the Museum offer?
The Museum is happy to offer a wide range of guided tour options, including early access, highlights, family, and outdoor walking tours.

Do members get discounted audio tours?
Yes! The audio tour for our core galleries is just $3 for members. View more of your benefits as a valued Museum member or learn how to become a Museum member and join the Museum family.

My phone died. What are my options?
There are outlets in the lobby on the first floor and outside Washington's War Tent on the second floor where you may sit by your phone to relax and recharge. The Museum does not provide chargers for your device.