In the heart of Philadephia’s Old City is the new Museum of the American Revolution. It also forms the eastern edge of the Independence National Historical Park, so it’s not far from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, and all the historic Philadephia attractions.
Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution opened pretty recently, in 2017. In fact, it opened on the 242nd anniversary of the first battles of that war, at Lexington and Concord. Many of the exhibits are more theatrical in approach. There are several life-sized wax figure scenes, projections, and audio that make it a more immersive experience than your average museum.
The museum takes up two floors. On the ground floor, you can buy your tickets, visit the museum cafe, or the gift shop. There’s a large theater on this floor with a good introductory film. There’s also the Patriot’s Gallery with rotating exhibits. Right now, it’s a gallery of Don Troiani’s Revolutionary War paintings.
Up a grand central staircase are the main exhibits. (There’s also an elevator.) A circular path around this floor follows a chronological journey through the events of the war. You start with colonial unrest under a ruler an ocean away and hear dissenting voices under the shade of a Liberty Tree. After the war begins and King George’s statue comes down, exhibits walk you through different battles and the effects for different populations, including the black and native peoples. You can board a privateer ship, duck past the Hessians, and land in the new nation of the United States.
Washington’s War Tent
The most impressive artifact in the museum is President Washington’s actual war tent. During the Revolutionary War, he used this tent as an office and often to sleep. This is one of those “someone had it packed away in an attic for decades” finds every museum dreams about. And it came with lots of authenticating paperwork, so they know it’s the real deal.
There is an entire theater dedicated to showcasing Washington’s Tent. There’s a show with projections and screens, then a “reveal” moment of the tent itself. It’s very delicate, so this is an impressive way to display it without letting folks get too close.
Suggested Strategy
I recommend starting your visit in the main floor theater to see the film. Then head upstairs to see the main exhibits, followed by a Washington’s Tent show. Then check out the downstairs gallery if you have time.
I tried to cram a visit at the end of the day and felt like I was missing certain theatrical elements. I kept popping out of the main flow to try to catch one thing or another and felt like I needed a Disney-style times guide to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. Instead, I ended up in some things beside the point and didn’t necessarily add to my visit. Other than the main exhibits and Washington’s Tent, if you stumble on something else, go for it but don’t necessarily seek it out. On the other hand, don’t miss seeing the tent.
Parking, Plaza, & Amenities
There’s no dedicated parking for the Museum of the American Revolution. It’s just what you can find in the immediate area. If you’re making a day of Independence Park, there’s an underground parking garage under the Independence Visitor Center a few blocks away. Otherwise, the museum’s website has some suggestions.
Outside the museum is a small plaza with benches, cannons, and some bas-relief carvings on the walls.
The museum cafe is pretty robust, with several lunch-type options and plenty of snacks. The gift shop likewise is well-stocked. Bathrooms are on both floors. And again, if you don’t want to climb the staircase, there is an elevator.
Tickets & Hours
Though it is one of the more expensive options in the national park district, I would highly recommend a visit. It offers a fantastic overview of the events that place the historic buildings of Philadelphia in context.
Tickets cost $21 for adults walking in the door, or $19 if you buy online ahead of time. If you want an open-ended ticket that doesn’t specify a date (say, for a gift), you can pay $25. Ages 6-17 cost $13 each, and ages five and under are free. Seniors 65+, military, teachers, and students are $18 each. Online only, a “family four-pack” for two adults and two youth costs $51, putting each ticket at $12.75. All tickets are good for the day of the visit plus the following day.
The Museum of the American Revolution is open every day, 10 am-5 pm. It only closes for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and (uniquely) Election Day. The cafe closes at 4 pm.
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