PHILADELPHIA — The Museum of the American Revolution, which opened April 19 on the edge of Independence Square near Independence Hall, brings to life the events, people and ideals of the founding of the United States with original artifacts, immersive galleries, theaters and re-created historic environments.
Among the most iconic of the surviving artifacts from the Revolution is General George Washington’s headquarters tent. The tent, which served as both his office and sleeping quarters throughout much of the war, is housed in a dedicated theater and is part of a multimedia presentation exploring Washington’s leadership.
The museum’s extensive artifact collection includes other personal items of George and Martha Washington, along with weapons, works of art, manuscripts, personal items and more.
Immersive experiences include a gallery featuring a full-scale replica of Boston’s Liberty Tree; the re-creation of an Oneida Indian Nation Meeting House, where the tribe’s leaders debate whether to join the American cause; the Battlefield Theater, where visitors are placed on the Continental Army’s front lines facing an attack by British soldiers; a view of Independence Hall in disarray during British occupation in Philadelphia; and a large-scale replica of an 18th-century privateer ship that visitors can board.
The three-story museum also includes a café, retail store and welcoming rotunda.
