This Philadelphia Museum Leads the Charge for All Things 1776

One of many life-size scenes depicted throughout the galleries, this tableau depicts members of the Loyalist cavalry riding into battle in the War in the South gallery. Museum of the American Revolution

Named by the 2024 USA Today’s “Readers’ Choice Awards” as the nation’s “Most Walkable City to Visit,” Philadelphia is a leading destination for local and international travelers alike. The city’s short blocks make it easy for tourists to visit the 20 to 30 houses on the National Register for Historic Places, and historical roadside markers provide the necessary background information for visitors to go on self-guided tours.

For those who have not been in the area in the past seven years, you will notice a brick edifice on the corner of South 3rd and Chestnut Streets—a mere six-minute walk from the Liberty Bell viewing center—which now houses the newest museum on the block: the Museum of the American Revolution.

The Museum of the American Revolution opened to the public on April 19, 2017, the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Museum of the American Revolution

If Tents Could Talk

Each museum has its highlight and, for this museum, it is the tent that George Washington used as his private office when he was at camp. As one of the few surviving artifacts from the Revolutionary War, it has withstood nearly 250 years of wars, weather, and wear and tear. Because of the fragility of the tent, it is not a standard museum display under heavy light. Instead, the museum presents the tent, its travels, and its historical importance in an immersive theater experience that visitors should not miss. This exhibit is held on the second floor of the museum on the hour until 5 p.m., with the last show at 4:40 p.m.

On the ground floor is a detailed complementary exhibit called “Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent,” which runs until January 2025.

Visitors gather in the Alan B. Miller Theater to see the tent that General George Washington used as his mobile headquarters during the Revolutionary War. Museum of the American Revolution

Core Exhibit

The second floor is where all the permanent exhibits are housed. The first exhibit starts with the events leading up to the Revolutionary War: the Stamp Act (1765), the Boston Massacre (1770), the Boston Tea Party (1773) and, after the Declaration of Independence (1776) was read, the tearing down of King George III’s statue. In this section called “Becoming the Revolutionaries,” you will find a replica of the equestrian statue of King George III that was torn down in New York, as well as the metal fragments that remain from that statue.

As the army starts to take shape, visitors will see the struggles of a young Continental Army and the frustrations of a not-so-young Gen. George Washington as he learns to discipline and train a rag-tag group of Northerners and Southerners from various age groups and different walks of life. The Yankees were initially thought to be “exceedingly dirty and nasty people,” while the Mid-Atlantic riflemen were resistant to military discipline and were seen by Northerners as “savages.” Washington had his hands full trying to break up the infighting that often took place, and he had to adjust his leadership strategies in order to take command and earn the respect of a diverse group of people.

Visitors view a range of Revolutionary War weaponry in the Museum's Arms of Independence case. Museum of the American Revolution

Students on a school trip learn about the many people involved in the American Revolution. Museum of the American Revolution

One of many life-size scenes depicted throughout the galleries, this tableau depicts members of the Loyalist cavalry riding into battle in the War in the South gallery. Museum of the American Revolution

Starting with the first battle of the Revolutionary War in New York all the way to the Battle of Brandywine and on to Valley Forge and finally down to the Southern campaigns, visitors will become familiar with the names and backstories of such Revolutionary luminaries on both sides such as Gen. Henry Knox and the Howe brothers (Richard and William), as well as the military and artistic contributions of the Peale brothers (James and Charles Willson).

Through the interactive kiosks, get to know a few Loyalists and Patriots, such as Lewis Thibou, Nicholas Cresswell, and Mary Perth, to name a few, and find out why they supported King or Country.

Touch, See, and Smell

Unlike other museums where the alarm goes off when you get too close to a museum display, the Museum of the American Revolution encourages visitors to touch and feel certain objects, such as a piece of the Liberty Tree from Annapolis, Maryland. This tree was used as a symbol and gathering place for patriots, and this piece of wood is the only one left of the last surviving Liberty Tree. Young visitors will enjoy pretending to shoot from a 1700s cannon, and they get to sit on a replica of the “Rising Sun” chair—where Washington sat when he was president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 (the original being on display at Independence Hall).

For a truly sensory experience, there are also “Smell Me” boxes where visitors can be transported to the shipyards, where the smell of tea must have clogged their olfactory nerves.

Students gather around life-size figures representing leaders of the Oneida Indian Nation to hear about the difficult decisions that native communities had to make during the Revolutionary War. Museum of the American Revolution

Guests of all ages can explore Revolution Place, the Museum’s interactive discovery center, and explore four recreated historical environments. Museum of the American Revolution

Mini-theaters present a more in-depth look at certain aspects of the war. The one that visitors should not miss is a short film on the contributions of the Oneida Native Americans and their role in helping the Patriots. In siding with the Patriots, the Oneidas ended up having to fight other Indian peoples who took the British side. It became a hostility from within, not just from without.

Children will enjoy the privateer ship, where they may try on sailor outfits, man the cannons, and lift crates of tea.

End with a touching tribute to the Revolutionary War-era men and women whose photographs cover a wall in the last exhibit—putting a face to the names. Though most images we have from that war are memorialized in paintings, these black-and-white portraits help visitors truly come face-to-face with those who lived to tell the tale.

If You Go

When you visit, there is a short introductory film at the first-floor theater, which gives a great overview. The last show in that same theater is a more in-depth look at the role of the Oneida people during the war.

Visitors can easily spend four to six hours taking in all that the museum offers; make sure you queue up for “Washington’s War Tent” to experience first, as the lines get long when it gets closer to the show time.

There is an on-site café serving hot and cold sandwiches, as well as coffee and tea.

The museum shop is well-stocked, with proceeds going toward this worthwhile nonprofit.

Parking will cost an arm and a leg in the city. There are some parking garage options listed on the museum website, and if you decide to purchase a membership, parking could be validated for a discounted rate.

For more information on hours and upcoming exhibits, visit AmRevMuseum.org