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Witness to Revolution Big Ideas

Explore these short framing essays to learn about the complexities of the Revolutionary era and other periods in American history through the story of General George Washington’s headquarters tent.

Big Idea Essays

This graphic depicts a lightbulb and, by clicking, will provide you with short essays that put the stories of Andrew, Deborah, Eve, Jack, and London into historical context.
 
Witness to Revolution

Big Idea 1: Washington's Tent and the Revolutionary War

Learn more about the functions of George Washington's tent during the Revolutionary War and the people who helped make it happen.
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This graphic depicts a lightbulb and, by clicking, will provide you with short essays that put the stories of Andrew, Deborah, Eve, Jack, and London into historical context.
 
Witness to Revolution

Big Idea 2: A Revolutionary Reminder in a Changing Nation

Learn more about how George Washington's headquarters tent became a symbol of the American republic and survived the Civil War.
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This graphic depicts a lightbulb and, by clicking, will provide you with short essays that put the stories of Andrew, Deborah, Eve, Jack, and London into historical context.
 
Witness to Revolution

Big Idea 3: An Ongoing Symbol of the Revolution

Learn about how George Washington's tent made its way from the Custis-Lee family to Valley Forge to its permanent home today at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
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Additional Teacher Resources

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Witness to Revolution

Witness to Revolution Teacher Resources

Explore the modular activities and ready-made worksheets to help your students dig deeper into the complexities of the Revolutionary era and other periods in American history through the story of General George Washington’s headquarters tent.
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Witness to Revolution

Witness to Revolution Glossary

This glossary provides definitions that may be useful as you explore the Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent teacher resources, big ideas, and primary sources.
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Related Resources

These Big Idea essays can be used to support any of the following Museum resources.

A recreated of an end of Washington's tent displayed with his camp bed and additional camp items.
 
Exhibits

Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent

February 17, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent brought to life the journey of George Washington’s tent from the Revolutionary War to an enduring symbol of the American republic.
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Washington Field HQ Sleeping Marquee Exterior View
 
Virtual Tour

Washington's Field Headquarters

Explore the Museum's handsewn, full-scale replicas of General George Washington's Revolutionary War sleeping, dining, and baggage tents through 360-degree images in our Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters.
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A zoomed in section of Verplanck's Point featuring General Washington’s tent perched on a hill overlooking the encampment
 
Online Exhibit

Among His Troops

Explore the online exhibit inspired by French-born Continental Army engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1782 watercolor painting depicting the encampment at Verplanck's Point, New York, which includes the only known wartime image of General George Washington's headquarters tent. The online exhibit was adapted from the Museum's 2018 exhibition of the same name.

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