Labor Day Weekend: Closing Weekend of Liberty Exhibit

Over Labor Day weekend, join the Museum for the closing weekend of Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War, family-friendly activities, and more as we wrap up A Revolutionary Summer. Children 12 years old and younger will receive free Museum admission throughout the holiday weekend (available for in-Museum purchase only).

Plus, learn about the Continental Army's alliance with France and comte de Rochambeau's march through Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 1781 en route to Yorktown with living history interpreters, hands-on crafts, a bilingual gallery guide, and a new French language audio tour.

Last Chance: Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War
Onsite (Patriots Gallery) & Online | Daily
The Museum's special exhibition, open through Sept. 5, 2022, immerses visitors in the dramatic and research-based works of nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani to bring the compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events of the American Revolution to life. Don’t miss the new “Brave Men as Ever Fought” painting, depicting a scene a young James Forten witnessed in front of the Pennsylvania State House on Sept. 2, 1781, Forten's 15th birthday. Plus, learn more about the French allies under the comte de Rochambeau, who marched through Philadelphia on their way to Yorktown that day. Liberty is now available as a virtual tour where you can immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the art and artifacts, and a guided audio tour.

Revolution Place
Onsite (lower level) | Daily, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, Revolution Place, will be open daily to explore the Museum’s lively, diverse Old City neighborhood during the 1700s through hands-on exploration in four key recreated historical environments, including a military encampment, a tavern, a home, and an 18th-century meeting house. Don’t miss the chance to make your own French cockade, a colorful, circular ribbon typically worn on a hat and a symbol of the French Revolution.

First-Person Theatrical Performance: James Forten
Onsite | Saturday & Sunday at 1:15 p.m.
Watch a performance about James Forten’s life and legacy as a free Black Philadelphian, Revolutionary War sailor, successful businessman, and stalwart abolitionist. The performance is written by local playwright Marissa Kennedy and performed by actor Nathan Alford-Tate. Following Alford-Tate's performance each day, he will be portraying Forten on the Museum's privateer sloop in the core exhibition as part of our Meet the Revolution series.

First-Person Theatrical Performance: Joseph Plumb Martin
Onsite | Saturday, Sunday, Monday at 12:15 & 2:15 p.m.
Experience a performance portraying Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin, performed by Jaried Kimberley and written by Ryan Schwartz. Martin was one of the thousands of teenaged soldiers in General George Washington's army and went on to write Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier, which was published in 1830 and is one of the best-known Revolutionary War memoirs depicting the life of an ordinary soldier. A copy of his memoir is on display in Liberty.

French Translation of Audio Tour & Gallery Guide
Onsite | Daily
The Museum will debut a French translation of the audio tour of our core exhibition over Labor Day weekend. The audio tour, which is currently available in English and Spanish, provides you with additional insight into the objects and exhibits, behind-the-scenes details of the Museum’s creation, and opportunities to dig deeper into the stories behind the art and artifacts on display. Plus, we will have a gallery guide available for visitors to dive deeper into the French connections in the galleries.

Costumed Living History: French & Continental Soldiers
Onsite | Daily
About half a dozen costumed living historians portraying French soldiers, Continental Army soldiers, and civilians will be roaming the Museum to show what life was like during the Revolutionary War.

Meet The American Friends of Lafayette
Onsite (Rotunda) | Daily
Meet The American Friends of Lafayette in the Museum’s Rotunda daily throughout the weekend to find out more about the organization’s dedication to Lafayette and his efforts to unite France and the United States. Author and historian Bruce Mowday will join The Friends on Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sign and sell copies of his recent book, Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero (Barricade Books, 2021).

10-Minute Talks: The Siege of Yorktown Painting
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator in the second-floor atrium to learn about this massive, full-size replica painting commemorating the October 1781 Siege of Yorktown in Virginia. The scene depicts French General comte de Rochambeau, General George Washington, and General Marquis de Lafayette standing in front of a striped officer’s tent surrounded by French officers and soldiers who fought alongside Washington’s army.

Discovery Cart: The American, Haitian, and French Revolutions
Onsite | Daily
Join a Museum educator to learn more about the surprising connections between three different revolutions in three different parts of the world — the American Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the French Revolution.